Green House Cleaning With Kids

Meet the challenge of cleaning safely around children with these green tips.

Avoid aerosols. Fine mist emitted by aerosol products is easily absorbed in the lungs—and aerosol propellants can be highly irritating. Use pump sprayers instead.
Skip the scents. Commercial cleaning products with added fragrance offer a double dose of potentially harmful chemicals. Often, fragrances are more toxic than the cleaner they're intended to mask! Opt for unscented to reduce chemical levels at home.
Home in on homemade. Cleaning recipes from the pantry offer cleaning power without harsh chemicals and are safe, inexpensive, and green alternatives to commercial cleaners.

Excerpted from Houseworks, by Cynthia Townley Ewer