I was recently asked to make a presentation to a Child Study Group on recycling and "living green" at home.
From my research, I created some 'recipe cards' of Healthy Home Cleaning Habits, Home-made Substitutions, plus several Formulas for safe, alternative home care products. This information was obtained from the following internet sites: (eartheasy.com; hgtv.com; and planetgreen.discovery.com), as well as the Michigan State University Extension Home*A*Syst booklet.

Non-Toxic Home Cleaning - Today's modern home is loaded with toxic and polluting substances designed to make "domestic life easier". The cost of commercial, chemical-based products can be high - long term health concerns for the family, and environmental pollution caused by their manufacture and disposal.
As the health & environmental impacts of conventional cleaning products become more thoroughly understood, more and more brands of healthy, green, and effective cleaning products have started hitting the market and competing for that place under your sink. Many of these products are non-toxic, biodegradable, and made from renewable resources (not petroleum). But if designer labels aren't for you, home-made cleaners can get the job done too! Vinegar and baking-soda can be used to clean almost anything. Home-made Substitutions - There are many inexpensive, easy-to-use natural alternatives which can safely be used in place of commercial household products.

Formulas - Combinations of basic products can provide less harmful substitutions for many commercial home products. NOTE: These formulas & substitutions are offered to help minimize the use of toxic substances in your home, and reduce the environmental harm caused by the manufacture, use and disposal of toxics. Results may vary and cannot be guaranteed to be 100% safe and effective. Before applying any cleaning formulations, test in small hidden areas if possible. Always use caution with any new product in your home. Make sure to keep all home-made formulas well-labeled, and out of the reach of children.

Managing Household Trash - Why should you be concerned? As the U.S. population increases, the amount of trash produced each year also increases. Not only are there more people, but each person is producing more waste than in the past. Studies estimate that in 1990 each person produced around 4.3 pounds of waste each day, compared with 2.7 pounds in 1960. Surveys also found that most consumers do not realize what is in their own trash. If you don't produce trash, you won't need to get rid of it, it's that simple. But since we all generate at least some trash, we need to think about ways to make less.
That's where the three R's come in: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!