As a parent you are right to be concerned!

Everyday household cleaners that can make cleaning faster and perhaps simpler, are full of chemicals. These chemicals have their costs. Many give off unhealthy fumes that can irritate the eyes, nose and lungs. Some cleaners are corrosive and can harm your skin. Many contain ingredients that are suspected of causing cancer.

Many cleaners can leave behind chemical residues. Children tend to touch everything and then put their hands in their mouths or pick up food dropped on the floor. They may be putting chemicals in their mouths along with their toys and food. Small amounts may not be immediately harmful but can accumulate to cause health problems over time.

As a parent, you are right to be concerned about the kinds of cleaning products used in your home and your child's day care or schools. Cleaning products contribute to the contamination of indoor air, especially those containing solvents, perfumes or other irritating or harmful chemicals. Chlorine bleach can be irritating to the airways, especially to young children. Given the need to protect children in day care programs from disease, it is also important that the facility is cleaned well.

Because germ-killing products, or antimicrobials, are considered pesticides, all disinfectants sold in the United States must be registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In terms of regulation, antimicrobial pesticides differ from pesticides used to kill insects and weeds: Disinfectants, for example, must be shown to be effective in killing disease-causing bacteria.

Note that there are two types of disinfectants: hospital disinfectants and general use disinfectants. In addition, sanitizers are used to reduce microbes to safe levels. However, they are not required to eliminate them.

EPA registration doesn't guarantee that the product kills germs. Many EPA-registered antimicrobial products are registered because they kill algae, odor-causing bacteria, bacteria that causes spoilage or deterioration, and microbes that are infectious only to animals.

For that reason, you should read the label carefully and contact the manufacturer. The manufacturer should be able to provide you with data on the kinds of disease-killing microbes the disinfectant kills and its level of efficacy. You should be able to find a customer service number on the product label or on the company's Web site.

If you want to hear more by attending a free online workshop on how you can change to safer and more effective products in your home, contact Marcia at GoingGreen@earthlink.net and say you want to attend a go green workshop.