Natural Solutions - Spring Cleaning

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and that means one thing...Spring cleaning!   Okay, we admit, it wasn't the first thing everyone thought of...but it was a close second, right? Spring cleaning, especially those in colder climates, means opening windows and airing out the house. It means de-cluttering and deep scrubbings to get rid of those "winter germs." But what are you putting in your home when you use cleaners with highly toxic chemicals? Have you ever thought about going green to clean your home?     Going Chemical Free As our perceptions of cleaning gradually change from "we must kill all germs everywhere" to "can it really be healthy to spread these chemicals on every surface in the house?" consumers have rightly shifted their attentions to green cleaning products. With that has come a flood of companies wanting to rush something to market to jump on the trend. They can slide in under umbrella terms like "all natural," but that phrase is often deceptive. This practice is called "greenwashing."   DIY Green Cleaners You don't have to be a mad scientist to make your own household cleaning products. Starre Vartan, author of The Eco Chick Guide to Life (St. Martin's Griffin, 2008), and Kimberly Delaney, author of Clean Home, Green Home (Knack, 2009), share their simple cleaner recipes made from common ingredients. From a "universal cleaner" to mold killer - find several helpful recipes for homemade cleaners here!   Green Clean Fun Call me crazy, but I love cleaning. Not in an obsessive, Monica-from-Friends kind of way, but I love that feeling of satisfaction I get after a good scrub session. A wave of bliss washes over me as I sink into the couch and survey the fruits of my labor—a spotless house but recently, my mom (who else?) tipped me off to some startling information about what's in my go-to, all-purpose cleaner: carcinogens and glycol ethers, among other things. Here's the dirt behind your favorite cleaning products—and alternatives that are better for your health.   Free Yourself Follow these 7 simple steps and you'll finally be free from harsh chemicals that are destroying your health and the environment. Click here to find out how.