Ok, I'll kick this one off. I use a combination of homemade cleaning products and Myers Clean Day products. I love the whole "baking soda and Borax" approach to cleaning supplies, but the Geranium scent from Myers makes me happy! I order mine in bulk from Amazon for a really good discount.

I also use a mix of homemade cleaning products and traditional ones. Vinegar is an awesome cleaning tool and I would say I use that the most for everything, plus it's the cheapest cleaning tool out there! I do to try to use organic or all natural for carpet cleaning, due to all my pets and it's probably a carry over from when the trio were babies, since they were on the floor so much and one of them had severe respirtory problems. Price is always a factor!!

Ok - well for me, I look at it, like this...if I am still here and my mother and grandmother are still here, than those cleaning products that were commonly used around all of us, ie. Clorox and/or ammonia, are ok. I don't use ammonia really...what I do use is a combination of things...clorox, is a big one for me as I think it covers most basis. I also use vinegar and baking soda for a lot...vinegar to clean equipment like the washer machine and coffee pot, and baking soda for the carpets. However, if I find a cleaning product that smells nice and is mild, I don't mind buying and using it, however, I do watch, how potent and toxic the smell is. Being I do have animals and children in the house, I choose not to use anything that has a lingering odor or that when inhaled is intense. I don't mind the clean smell of light clorox...or a light general cleaner (lemon scented or something similar)...but I guess, I do take all things into account. A little bit of one, a little of the other...and yes...definitely price makes a determination too. I would love to try the soaps and all the new generation cleaning supplies that look pretty in the bottles and cost $25 a bottle...but, honestly, I trust what I have been using and for me to spend $25 on something that I may or may not like in the end at this point, I usually steer clear from...however, if it was $5...I would probably give it a whirl depending on its scent.

I am going to go on record and say I love bleach! I use soft scrub almost everywhere. I use a steam based cleaner on all my floors. I love 409 for windows and mirrors.

I recently borrowed a book from the library that basically prompted me to detoxify (as much as possible) my entire house and everything that my family comes in contact with. So just in time for spring and Earth Day, I went through my house and collected all the cleaning products that I felt contained harmful toxins (as well as bug sprays, hair products, and many other personal care items.) I put them all in a bag and donated them. I am now using vinegar, baking soda, and/or other natural products to clean my house, with the exception of the toilet. (For that, I admit I hung onto the toilet scrubbing pads.) I have also switched to "Seven Generations" products for dish soap, dishwasher detergent, and fabric softener. All of these products are unscented, and I don't much care as long as they do the job. They are definitely more expensive, but I feel that I am saving money overall by buying less cleaning products in general.

I try to promote and use all natural type cleaning products as much as possible: Arm and Hammer, Seven Generation, Myers, and Method primarily. I get Clorox GreenWorks as well. I also use white vinegar; especially for lime build up. The more natural the better. However, I do use Clorox and Windex. I like to switch it up. Let me go on record though...I wish I had a cleaning person!!!

My top two cleaning products are white vinegar and Windex. My grandma always swore by the vinegar and the older I get, the more I agree with her. I can't say my reliance on vinegar is sparked by the children -- it's more because I can't stand the smell of most "chemical" cleaners. A little vinegar and water and a mop to clean the floor works just as well as the chemical cleaners and doesn't make me want to run out the door for fresh air. You can also buy a vat of white vinegar for pennies and anyone who knows me knows that A. I am kinda cheap and B. my trips to the supermarket aren't all that regular, making the long-lasting jug o' vinegar a better option for my house. We do use Clorox to clean the bathroom, but my husband does that (yes, I do know how lucky I am) because, as I said, I don't like the smell of the chemicals.

I use clorox spray in my bathroom and kitchen and then on my floors, all hardwood, I use a mix of water and vinegar in a spray bottle with a microfibre mop. Two weeks ago I started making my own laundry detergent and have been using a tin foil ball in my dryer for the softening part. We try to limit our papertowel use and stick to microfibre or towels.

ZEP has a complete line of GREENLINK cleaning products which include USDA Biopreferred SOY items. ZEP also has it's NE US Headquarters based in Breiningsville right here in the LHV.

Great information!

We use a local company's products...Sun & Earth. We love their Laundry Detergent and All Purpose Cleaner. Their stuff is great for my little Max's sensitive skin. We get their products Giant...and they're cheap.

I no long have kids at home however I make my own laundry soap, clean with baking soda, salt, vinegar, lemon and vodka (yes, it kills all kinds of germs). Buy really cheap vodka put it in a spray bottle and clean you bathroom with it! No odor, no germs. Works great on all surfaces. I use Method funiture polish because I love the smell. I buy multipe bottles of it. I also use Method leather furniture wipes (again the almond fragrance), however, any babywipe that contains lanolin and no alcohol does a great job on leather. Kmart had the best price over grocery stores and Lowes for the Method products that i use. I don't know if Walmart carries it since I don't shop there.

"There are a lot more “natural” cleaning products on the supermarket shelves these days, which made Josh wonder if today’s parents are more concerned about exposing their kids to chemicals the effects such chemicals might have on their children years down the road than parents have been in the past."

They should be but many are not and with all of the 'greenwashing" that is happening in the "green" market the parents who think they are making their homes safer for their children have been duped by the marketers of such products as Clorox Green Works, Seventh Generation, Zep, and more. I don't include Method because they have never said they sell "Natural" products like the others.

Or, he ponders, in today’s economy does saving money and the price tag determine what is being purchased?

It should...it is much cheaper to use 100% natural products in your home than it is to use the so called "natural", green, eco or conventional cleaning products. A spray bottle of home-made all purpose costs less than 20 cents.

Before you disparage companies that manufacture cleaners, do some homework. Everyone needs to educate themselves about what "Green" truly is. As far as "natural" goes, crude oil and "natural gas" that gets pumped from the ground is "natural" so why not use gasoline? Point is there is no duping going on by manufacturers. The State EPA's have done plenty of regulating pushing the Industry to "green" products. I doubt very much home made formulas work very well at all. You may get the warm and fuzzies but you also may be leaving your place not very clean.

I'm a Mrs Meyer's girl too - Lemon Verbena. I am also a huge fan of Scrubbing Bubbles - that stuff is fabulous. I have hardwood floors, so Murphy's Oil Soap for them.

I have no children, but I do try to limit the chemicals because I have a dog (he doesn't use the bathroom, so I am safe with the Scrubbing Bubbles in there!).

I use olive oil with a little lemon to polish my wood furniture.

Companies that install hardwood floors say to use diluted vinegar and won't honor their warranty if you use Murphy's soap. Seems counterintuitive but there it is.

How odd. Maybe it's the newer composition wood floors that are the problem; I have "real" hardwood floors in my place and they really look fabulous after a go-around with Murphy's Oil Soap. I use a firmly wrung-out terry mop and the squirt "pre-mixed" version of MOS, and have never had an issue.

My name is Deanne Hoenscheid, and I am an independent consultant for a company called Chartreuse. (www.hip2bgreenpa.com) This company offers earth-friendly products and lists the ingredients for all of their products right on their labels, in their catalog, and on the website. I felt compelled to comment on this article as I spend much of my time as a Chartreuse consultant informing consumers about reading labels on products (ingredients to avoid) and to be aware of marketing tactics. There is no government regulation over our home keeping products or ingredients, and many are terrible for our health. Many cleaning products do not even list the ingredients. Our company's newsletter had included an article regarding Spring cleaning tips that I wanted to share with you below. I hope this information is helpful.

http://www.imakenews.com/chartreuse/e_article002082804_13.cfm?x=bjpmmSd,bmPfvs5B