Cleaning. The mere word is enough to create dread and fear in many a ten-year old, anxiety in many a mother, and absolute bliss when someone is doing it for you (unless of course, you're a bit neurotic like me and see cleaning as therapy). However you feel about cleaning, the products you use to clean your baby’s nursery, and indeed the whole house, can have a significant impact on your family’s health and the health of our planet. So good for you for looking into healthier alternatives!

Conventional cleaners say POISON, DANGER and WARNING for a reason. We would never give them to our children to drink or bathe in but the residue after we “rinse” makes its way into their bodies just the same. A 2002 US Geological Survey found antibiotics, synthetic hormones, detergent metabolites, plasticizers, insecticides, and fire retardants in 80 percent of the streams sampled. That’s water that goes into the plants we eat, the meat and seafood we eat, the oceans we swim in, and so forth. Numerous scientific studies show that which goes down the drain, eventually makes its way back into our bodies.

Fortunately, there are so many new eco friendly options out there that work just as well, and smell so fabulous, that it’s easy – and sometimes even less expensive – to clean green. Clean and Green: The Complete Guide to Non-Toxic and Environmentally Safe Housekeeping by Annie Berthold-Bond is a fantastic resource if you’re interested in more detail, as is Naturally Clean by Seventh Generation's Jeffrey Hollender and Geoff Davis.
Here are some of my favorites that have also scored high in our EcoMom Circles:

Seventh Generation: A pioneering brand in green cleaning, widely available, and made with the future of seven generations in mind so this stuff is deep green.

Method: Their products look and smell so good you’ll feel fresh even if Junior kept you up all night. Admittedly light green but non-toxic and highly rated on all levels.

Mrs. Meyers: “Cleaners that work like the dickens on dirt” and really, they do. The smells are delicious too and the company’s transparency (corporate accountability) is commendable.

Now I know I am kind of a nerd (as several past boyfriends were all too happy to point out), but I truly feel a sense of joy when I use products that I know will not harm my son or my planet – or me – so I’m also fond of baking soda in place of harsh abrasives, hydrogen peroxide to disinfect, and vinegar for those objects that must shine. Mixing in borax helps with stubborn stains and lemon juice adds a nice scent. Eco-Me has a starter kit for making cleansers at home if you’re really motivated.

If you have trouble finding any of the above mentioned products at your local stores, remember the collective power of mommies and ask. Get all the moms you know to sign a petition and give it to your local grocer (vote with your dollars). Until you have more choices, you can always order online. It takes a bit more effort and planning, but you will feel so much better about the air you are breathing and the home you are living in - it’s well worth the effort!

About The Author

Kimberly Danek Pinkson is the founder of the EcoMom Alliance and a popular media guest and keynote speaker on issues of green living and sustainability. A longtime social entrepreneur and freelance writer, she is a frequent contributor for parenting magazines and websites such as BabyCenter and iVillage. Kimberly works with her team of EcoMom Leaders to bring forth the organization’s positive and proactive messaging, including teaching Sustain Your Self workshops nationwide. She is the proud mommy to son Corbin, a doting auntie to two nephews, and very happy to be a part of The Cradle. To learn more about Kimberly and join the EcoMom Alliance, please visit ecomomalliance.org.