If you thought your home was a haven from the pollution of the city, it's important to note that levels of pollutants inside the home can actually be almost 20 times higher than outdoors. Indoor pollution is due in large part to volatile organic compounds that off-gas from home cleaning and decorating products. Taking care to eliminate toxic cleaning products from your household will have a great impact on your indoor air quality. Luckily there are numerous healthy cleaning alternatives to choose from, or you can even make your own with a few simple ingredients.

Toxic cleaners have a lifelong impact on the health of our families and our planet. Many detergents are petroleum based and do not degrade over time. This can translate to heavy pollution of waters. Many cleaners also contain chemicals which are known hormone disruptors, neurotoxins, and even carcinogens, and having any residues of these can leave your house toxic.  Make sure to avoid aerosol sprays in any product, as they disperse ingredients through the air and make them easy to inhale.

On the bright side, there are many great cleaners that are free of toxicity. There are a handful of products today that are truly green, meaning they are non-toxic, biodegradable, made from renewable resources ( not petroleum), leave behind no harmful residues,  can be used with greywater recycling systems, and have a minimum impact on aquatic life. A quick search online will find you any green cleaning product you could dream of. We must be careful when making purchases; just because a product says it is natural doesn't mean it is non toxic. "Natural" is undefined by the government and no standards exist for defining nontoxic, eco safe, and environmentally friendly. Check labels for eco-friendly, plant-based ingredients. These include grain alcohol instead of butyl cellosolve; coconut or other plant oils in place of petroleum detergents, and plant oil disinfectants such as eucalyptus, tea tree, and rosemary in place of triclosan.

If you are looking for an all-purpose cleaner, glass & surface cleaner, laundry detergent, fabric softener, non-chlorine bleach, stain remover, dishwasher liquid or powder, dish soap, hand cleaner, disinfectant, cleaning wipes, carpet cleaner, bathroom cleaner, limescale remover, floor soap, or other non toxic cleaning product, look to these brands who are committed to producing cleaners in an ecological, economic, and socially responsible way.

Ecover- huge selection of cleaning supplies for dish washing, laundry, household cleaners, and personal care. Created products in the world's first ecological manufacturing plant. Available at Whole Foods, specialty stores, and online.  www.ecover.com

Seventh Generation - full spectrum of laundry, dish washing, cleaners, paper goods. Available at Whole Foods, specialty Stores, and online. www.seventhgeneration.com

Dr. Bronner's- all natural, multipurpose vegetable oil-based  soap/ detergent. Available at Health Stores, REI, and more. www.Drbronner.com

Earth Friendly Products- award-winning natural, pet, household, and industrial cleaning products. Available at Ralphs, Trader Joe's, and other health food stores.www.ecos.com

Melaleuca- household and personal care products available in large quantities and very affordable. Purchase online at www.Melaleuca.com

It is also easy to create your own cleaning solutions. Vinegar and baking soda can be used to clean almost anything-- mix in a little warm water and you've got an all purpose cleaner. Baking soda acts as an abrasive while vinegar is the deodorizer and sanitizer--it's mildly acidic and will clear away bacteria and mold.  A little bit of castile soap will go a long way too.  For more information on homemade cleaning solutions and healthy products visit www,treehugger.com and www.care2.com.