Household cleaners are among the most toxic. Everything from your dishwashing detergent, glass cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, ammonia, and disinfecting wipes are bad for the skin and/or if inhaled. There are some natural cleaners out there that are just as effective without increasing your toxic burden. These natural cleaners are based on things like vinegar, plant-based surfactants, citric acid, and other more natural substances. Look for products from Seventh Generation.

The ingredients for household products are not always listed on the packaging. To find out what chemicals are in your products, you can look for it in the Household Products Database, operated by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Here you can get the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) information and also learn about the side effects of each ingredient.

On a side note - when you choose to do all you can for your health, you'll quickly see the relationship between your personal health and environmental responsibility. Many products which are good for you are also good for the environment. Organic and non-toxic products reduce the harmful chemicals that make its way into our food, water, and the air we breathe. So once you come to this realization, you'll probably find yourself strengthening your commitment to recycling, reducing pollution, and environmentalism in general.