• Biodegradable, non-toxic products are safer and healthier for humans, homes and the planet.cleaning and sanitation products studio isolated image by dinostock from Fotolia.com
  
  Biodegradable, nontoxic cleaning products provide health and safety benefits for yourself and for your home. According to the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, one in three people suffer from allergies, asthma, sinusitis or bronchitis. Switching to biodegradable non-toxic products will reduce health risks for sufferers. Health food stores have long carried biodegradable and non-toxic products. However, an increasing number of major manufacturers are producing products and making them available at major grocery stores to service consumers in their desire to use green products.
  
  

Laundry Products

• Biodegradable, non-toxic laundry detergents can be found in liquid, powder and special formulations to clean clothes, even with special formulations to clean clothes for babies. Unlike their chemical-laden counterparts, they do not contain chemical optical brighteners, fragrances, dyes or carcinogens that release toxins into the environment. When purchasing biodegradable laundry products, be sure to carefully read the label of listed ingredients and avoid ingredients with such names and associations such as sulfonate or ethanol. This will help you avoid using products that do contain ingredients that could pose a health risk for anyone in your household and to the environment.
  
  

Furniture Cleaners

• It is important to make sure that the labels of furniture cleaning products specifically state that they are non-polluting, biodegradable, non-toxic and made with natural ingredients. Many products use olive oil or beeswax as the base ingredient. If you prefer a fragrant smell, look for products that use natural ingredients like orange or lemon oil. Most products will not be contained in an aerosol can and will come in a spray bottle or in a jar or can to reduce emissions into the home atmosphere.
  
  

Multi-Surface Cleaners

• When selecting a "green" product to clean a variety of household surfaces, look for one that uses all natural, plant-based ingredients. Products with lemon or orange oils will help to degrease stoves, kitchen countertops and backsplash areas. To be sure that the product is biodegradable and non-toxic, read the label to make sure that it does not list chlorine bleach, ammonia or phosphates as ingredients. These ingredients are commonly found in non-biodegradable brands. You can use long-established products like borax and common baking soda to clean bathroom shower stalls, countertops and toilets with extremely comparable cleaning efficiency and results.
  
  

DIY

• In days gone by, common household ingredients were used successfully for household cleaning. Furniture was polished with oil and the natural juice from oranges and lemons, as can be done with the same excellent results today. Equal parts of vinegar and water make a fine window cleaner, along with recycled newspaper to clean glass and mirrors. Baking soda sprinkled in an oven scrubbed with hot water is a natural way to clean the oven and remove grease. In addition to the health and safety benefits, making your products will provide significant savings over name brand products.