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How can you choose safe cleaning products? There is no doubt that the majority of the cleaning products on the market pose a threat to the health of the environment and ourselves, however it can be challenging to decipher the bad products from the good.  Marketing can be deceiving, especially with "green" products, and just because a product is labelled "natural" certainly does not mean we can trust that is safe.

The Environmental Working Group created a guide to help consumers purchase safe products, and to provide information about the consequences of using harsh chemicals in their daily lives. We love the work that EWG has done to provide education to the public about health safety, and we highly recommend that you take the time to view their guide.

Below is our summary of key takeaway's from their guide,  for more information please check out EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning. On their website you can also find a list of EWG approved cleaning products.

Top 3 health concerns affected by using toxic cleaners

• Asthma - Air contaminants from fumes of cleaning products can trigger asthma in healthy individuals and worsen symptoms of asthma sufferers.

• Allergens - Many ingredients in cleaning products can cause people to have mild to severe allergic reactions of the skin, eyes and lungs. Nausea and light-headedness can also occur from exposure irritating chemicals

• Cancer-Causing Ingredients - Many cleaning products contain carcinogenic (cancer causing) ingredients such as formaldehyde and 1,4-Dioxine

Reading ingredient labels

Decoding the labels on cleaning products is a dubious task, but keeping informed and aware of what to look for when reading labels will help you when purchasing products. For more information please see  EWG's Decoding Labels guide.

• Directions / Warnings- look out for fine print health warnings on cleaning products such as corrosive, do not induce vomiting, or combustible. If a label directs consumers to take extreme precautions such as masks it is likely you do not want to be using these products in your home.

• Ingredients - fragrances/scents- products that are scented can contain irritating chemicals, always avoid products that market as antibacterial- they contain pesticides.

• Labels / Claims - Biodegradable, Organic, Natural, Green Seal, EgoLogo- familiarize yourself with these claims and logos. It is important to understand what each means and how companies can sway your buying decision through false advertising.