Product Description

Change the way you clean and keep your family's home wholesome and healthy with the help of expert and activist Deirdre Imus.

We all grew up thinking chemical smells like bleach and ammonia signaled "clean." But as Deirdre Imus reveals, some of the chemicals we use to maintain our homes are doing us and our families much more harm than good. In Greening Your Cleaning, the first in her Green This! series, Deirdre shows how cleaning house the environmentally responsible way can be as effective and often cheaper than the more traditional, toxic, means. This volume includes:

• Simple, efficient cleaning methods for every room of the house
• Spotlights on everyday products (all purpose cleaner, glass/window cleaner, laundry detergent) and the toxic ingredients you should be wary of
• Summaries of the latest research on the toxic effects of ordinary chemicals
• Resource lists of widely available "green cleaning" products and retailers

Filled with tips and testimonials, Greening Your Cleaning will show you how to streamline your cleaning products and practices, and how easy it is to make "living green" your way of life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #183402 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-10
• Released on: 2007-04-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781416540557
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
"Packed with practical insights and solutions to protect our families. Deirdre Imus asks the provocative question, 'Is the way we clean really good for us?' Read on to find the startling answer."-- Mehmet C. Oz, M.D., author of You: An Owner's Manual

Review
"Packed with practical insights and solutions to protect our families. Deirdre Imus asks the provocative question, 'Is the way we clean really good for us?' Read on to find the startling answer."-- Mehmet C. Oz, M.D., author of You: An Owner's Manual

About the Author
Deirdre Imus is the founder and president of the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology(R), part of Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) in New Jersey. She is also a cofounder and codirector of the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer, and the author of the bestselling book The Imus Ranch: Cooking for Kids and Cowboys.

Customer Reviews

Not the whole story...
I'm a huge fan of cleaning with more natural products, and use baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, etc to do so. In that way, I totally agree with the author's message. However, I don't agree with the presentation of the book. An example is the section on fabric softeners and dryer sheets. The author warns that these commercial products may contain limonene and linalool...as suggested alternatives, she mentions essential oils, such as lemon, lavender, bergamot, and rosewood. Throughout the book, she states that these chemicals, limonene and linalool, are scary and toxic...and then suggests essential oils which themselves have these chemicals in their makeup. (The recommendation of rosewood is another issue altogether as the author recommends it (several places) despite environmentalists' growing concerns for its endangered status and for the protection of the rain forests. Not a very "green" thing to do, IMO.) Her own commercial line of cleaning products contain essential oils as well, and I'm betting limonene and linalool can be found in them as a result.

There are dangerous products on the market, no doubt about that. And we as a society are guilty of "over kill" when it comes to "germs". And natural alternatives versus "man-made" chemicals are likely safer and better. I don't disagree with any part of that message.

Again, I am a fan of essential oils, however one must also understand that anything can be dangerous if applied incorrectly or without due care. I felt that many of the suggestions were overboard and failed to include proper warnings. For example, there are some essential oils that shouldn't be used around pets. Most, if not all, shouldn't be used around cats due to a cat's special physiology and the cumulative toxic effect the oils can have on a cat's liver. I didn't see this mentioned anywhere.

The author talks about the dangers of artificial fragrances, but doesn't acknowledge that many of the "dangers" can and do apply to essential oils as well. She constantly mentions "dousing" and "saturating" items with essential oils...which I makes me wonder if she has really ever been around them. Essential oils are powerful and I can't imagine ever having to "douse" anything with them. Generally, a few drops will do. I could go on and on, unfortunately. In the end, I was left feeling that the "homework" the book was based on had been incomplete and that it failed to tell the whole story. A shame as I said I do agree with the author's basic message. But regardless of where the profits go, I have to be honest with my review. I hope that it will be appreciated.

Terrific! Practical, thrifty and healthy cleaning guide
I am giving this book to members of my family and friends. It is a straightforward introduction to green cleaning. I learned a lot reading this book. I went out and purchased the Imus products and am delighted with the results. You can save space, money and time following Deirdre Imus' tips.
Moreover, it is a way to support the Imus ranch and the Imus family who have done so very much for children throughout the years.
I will never go back to the way I cleaned before (using toxic substances) - this way is faster, better, less expensive and healthier.

"Greening the Cleaning" really helpful
I have always been somewhat skeptical of using "green" products for cleaning---and some I have actually used in the past have not been as good as the regular products available. However, Deirdre Imus has written a very useful, well-organized overall review of products already in the home that can be used for "green cleaning" Green This! Volume 1: Greening Your Cleaning (Green This!). I have discovered that white vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda and salt, in various combinations can do a wonderful job of cleaning in bathrooms and kitchens, for example. Because I became acquainted with her on her husband's talk show, I was willing to buy Deirdre's book and am pleased that I did so.