A clean home is a happy one, unless the hygienic materials contain dangerous chemicals. Many household cleaning products utilize ingredients that can be considered toxic, especially when it comes to small children. Obviously, ingesting such a toxin isn't advisable, but lots of parents neglect harmful residues that are left over after a cleaning session. Kitchens are probably the worst area of home when it comes to this problem because eating mere traces of a toxin may cause illness. Children with allergies are particularly susceptible to even benign substances. Keep these items tightly sealed and preferably in a lock box where kids can't get to them.

Another way to safeguard children and pets is to use alternative cleaning products. These cleaners are also considered green, meaning they do not harm the environment. These can be made from scratch at home or purchased at a department or grocery store. Homemade versions don't require bizarre stuff, either. Common ingredients include baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice, club soda, vinegar, and corn starch. To make a general purpose cleaner, mix a half of a cup of vinegar with one quarter cup of baking soda in a half gallon of hot water. This will take care of light jobs in the kitchen or bathroom.

Eco-cleaners are becoming more popular, which means they are about the same price as the familiar brand names. Stores carry a wide variety of non-toxic soaps, detergents, and spray bottles comparable to 409. Seventh Generation is an example of a company that makes sustainable cleaners that are sold on the mass market. They offer a complete line of cleaning and personal care items, so consider replacing everything with Seventh Generation's assortment. CLR, or Calcium Lime Rust, is among the cheaper alternative selections that can be found at retailers like Wal-Mart.