Many manufacturers are starting to jump on the "green" bandwagon, and although these new products are likely to be less toxic than standard cleaning products, many of these are far from being truly non-toxic.

Studies show that many of the so-called "eco-friendly" or "green" products are actually highly toxic. They get away with the "eco-friendly" labelling because the products are bio-degradable, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they're non-toxic.

Can we really believe that the so-called "green" products recently introduced by companies producing some of the most highly-toxic products currently available are truly toxin-free? That's like claiming that foods manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts are totally peanut-free!

I believe that the only way we can use "green" and "eco-friendly" products with confidence is if we buy products that are manufactured by companies that are committed 100% to providing safe, non-toxic solutions to everyday cleaning challenges.

Two companies lead the field in eco-friendly non-toxic cleaning products: Seventh Generation and Method. While both companies develop good products, I have a strong preference towards Method for three main reasons:

• Method has a more diverse product line than Seventh Generation.
• Method products have many pleasant scents to choose from, and none of them are overpowering.
• Method products come in attractive packaging made from 100% post-consumer recycled content that Vanity Fair calls "hip". According to Vanity Fair, "Method has made cleaning your shower as Zen an experience as yoga." It's nice to be able to leave little soap dispensers out without them looking totally tacky!

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Using eco-friendly (green) products in the laundry is one of the most important, as well as one of the easiest, ways to "Go Green". The eco-friendly laundry detergents work just as well as the toxic variety, and they don't add nasty chemicals to your skin or to the environment.

Think about it... Your clothes are against your skin all day, and anything that your clothes may have absorbed (like toxic laundry detergent) is likely seeping into your body through your skin, creating a toxic waste dump of sorts. Using non-toxic eco-friendly laundry products is the best way to avoid any undue exposure to toxics from your clothes.

I like the Method products shown below because they're economical, they work well and their scents are never overpowering. I also like the fact that these products were developed by a team of eco-conscious young men who are truly sensitive to the environment. I tend to be cautious about supposedly "safe" products that are manufactured in the same facility as their more toxic counterparts.

While some of the Method products may be available in your local stores, typically the stores don't carry the larger size of laundry detergent or a full line of Method products. Buying online saves you time and money, since larger sizes are more economical and these products are generally discounted from the regular retail prices.

Method Laundry Detergent:
High Efficiency Free and Clear

Method Laundry Detergent:
High Efficiency Fresh Air Scent


Method Fabric Softener:
Fresh Air Scent

Method Fabric Softener:
Morning Bloom Scent

Method Dryer Sheets: Softener Infused
Calm Lavender + Juniper

Method Dryer Sheets: Softener Infused
Energize Nectarine Blossom

Method Dryer Sheets: Softener Infused
Refresh Sweetwater



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Cleaning your home with green, non-toxic, eco-friendly products helps to maintain the health of your family and your pets. Not only do toxic products leave a chemical film behind, they also pollute the air inside your home, which can lead to asthma attacks and other health disorders.

Especially important are your kitchen countertops, since food placed on the countertops will pick up any cleaning product residue that may be left behind. And remember that "eco-friendly" on the label doesn't necessarily mean non-toxic!

Once again, Method products lead the field for non-toxic clean-smelling products that do a great job of taking care of life's little messes. My faves are the cucumber and the unscented "go naked" all-purpose cleaners.

Method All-Purpose Cleaner:
Go Naked (Unscented)

Method All-Purpose Cleaner:
Pink Grapefruit

Method All-Purpose Cleaner: Cucumber

Method All-Purpose Cleaner:
French Lavender

The Method all-purpose cleaners are sufficient for most kitchen clean-ups, but for more stubborn messes as well as bathroom cleaning, I do prefer their Tub and Tile cleaner.

Method Tub & Tile Cleaner:
Eucalyptus Mint





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Microfiber cloths are one of the best inventions since paper towels first hit the market. According to Method, a single microfiber is finer than a human hair and is sliced 16 times, resulting in millions of microsopic hooks in each cloth to capture dirt, dust and even water. Cleaning microfiber cloths is easy: Just rinse and squeeze out the excess water, and throw them in your washing machine once in a while.

Standard multi-purpose cloths are great for cleaning walls, and all you need to add is water! With two dogs and a teenager in my house, the walls tend to get dirty around the corners and the stair rails have a tendency to go from white to black. A quick wipe of a damp microfiber cloth removes all of these messes, and without wasting papers towels or using any chemicals.

Need to give your home a quick once-over before guests arrive? Dash around with a damp microfiber cloth!

Windex Clean & Shine
Dry Microfiber Cloths




Microfiber cloths have also been developed for specialty purposes. Designed for leaving a streak-free shine, microfiber cloths for granite, stainless and windows make cleaning a lot easier. Method's microfiber cloths for wood have an added electrostatic charge to attract and trap dust.

Method Wood for Good
microfiber cloth

Method Daily Granite
microfiber cloth

Method Stainless Steel
microfiber cloth

Method Window + Glass
microfiber cloth



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