• Safe and effective cleaning supplies create a safer home.cleaning image by Allyson Ricketts from Fotolia.com
  
  The best and safest household cleaning supplies to use are homemade and all-natural products. Depending on the homemade product, you can determine its effectiveness by how you use it in conjunction with other products. Going green and using all-natural products for your household cleaning will help make your home a safer and healthier place for you and your family. As with anything, be sure to follow instructions and test all products before use.
  
  

Chemicals vs. All-Natural

• Chemicals in various cleaning supplies can be very harmful to the residents of the home. Breathing in these fumes can cause the members of the household to acquire asthma or upper respiratory problems in the future. By using an all-natural or organic cleaning product, you can reduce risk of problems in the future caused by inhalation and absorption of fumes.
  
  

Homemade Substitutions

• Standard soap will clean anything and is safe for the environment.soap image by ivan kmit from Fotolia.com
  
  A wide array of homemade substitutions exist that can help you clean your home safely and effectively.
  
  Standard soap will clean just about anything with a little elbow grease, and it is biodegradable making it safe for the earth as well.
  
  Baking soda and borax are effectively used to both clean and deodorize, while white vinegar and citrus solvent can be used to cut grease and remove mildew.
  
  Isopropyl alcohol and lemons--yes, the citrus food you eat--are extremely successful disinfectants.
  
  As a furniture polish, window washer and carpet cleaner, try cornstarch as a better and safer substitute for harsher chemicals.
  
  

Homemade Formulas

• Mixing the ingredients above in various combinations can create stronger formulas for tougher household cleaning. For safety concerns, be sure to labels your formulas and only mix as instructed.
  
  To create an all-purpose cleaner, mix 1/2 cup of vinegar, 1/4 cup of baking soda (or 2 teaspoons of borax) into 1/2 gallon of water. By putting this into a spray bottle and marking the outside, you have a cleaner that you use can use immediately and store for future use.
  
  As for air fresheners, store bought products simply hide smells. To freshen up your home safely, try mixing baking soda or vinegar with lemon juice, put some into small dishes, and leave the dishes scattered throughout the house to absorb unwanted odors.
  
  

Safe Commercial Household Cleaning Products

• For greener homes and safer living, several commercial household cleaning products are now available. Though some may seem more expensive up front, they are safer for you and the environment and many will help lower costs later on with recycling and such.
  
  Some of the best and safest commercial household cleaning products are from companies such as Seventh Generation, Maggie's Soap, Nellie's All-Natural and Skoy Eco.
  
  

Healthy Cleaning Habits

• Even the best household cleaning products will not work like miracles. To keep your house clean and safe from harmful chemicals and cleaning products, you need to focus on creating healthy cleaning habits. Clean your home regularly with your homemade substitutes and formulas, and not only will it be spotless, the air will be clean and your family will live healthier.