It doesn't take a mountain of bubbles or a fresh lemon scent to get your house clean, says Michelle Keenan, of Greensburg. All you really need are a few items you already may have in your cupboard. Keenan, 38, is among the growing number of Americans who have quit using chemical-based cleansers at home. Instead, she relies on less toxic, more "natural" products, such as baking soda, vinegar and other so-called "green" cleaners. Keenan made the change when she became pregnant with her son, Jordan, who's now 5. "The smells of stuff really bothered me. I felt like these chemicals were not safe for my unborn child and for myself," she said. "So I started to do my homework. I couldn't believe that you didn't need Comet (scouring powder), that you could use baking soda (instead)." Proponents say that "cleaning green" is better for a family's health and safer for the environment. And it's catching on across the country. • Under an executive order signed last year, public buildings in New Jersey must be cleaned with less toxic products "that are safer for people, animals and the environment." "Green cleaning practices can provide improved indoor air quality, reduce health risk from exposure, and protect the environment, while maintaining a healthy level of cleanliness and disinfection," the nonprofit N.J. Environmental Federation reports. • This year, like last, schools in New York are required by state law to avoid cleaning products whose scents could trigger a student's asthma. Products containing even trace amounts of known carcinogens and reproductive toxins also are banned, although no federal law requires manufacturers to list all the ingredients in its cleaners. • The Department of Public Health for Seattle and King County, Wash., notes that "commercial cleaning products often contain irritants that can trigger an asthma episode," and it posts "recipes" for all-natural cleaners on its Web site. The demand for low-impact cleaners is reflected in the marketplace, too. Household cleaners labeled "green" or "natural" are no longer found only in mail-order catalogs or natural foods stores. An increasing number of grocery chains and big-box stores stock them alongside more traditional cleaning products. No government agency rates the effectiveness -- or the safety -- of either green or traditional cleaners. Information online and in magazines helped Keenan learn how to get her house clean while avoiding harsh chemicals. "I am no scientist, but a lot of literature is out there to help," she said. A change in lifestyle Keenan, an administrative assistant, said she has long been concerned about working toward a healthier environment. Giving up commercial cleaners was part of a lifestyle change, she said. "Around the same time, I started to eat a more whole-foods diet. I have been practicing yoga for many years. So I guess it all kind of seemed like a normal thing for me to do." Keenan believes the switch may have health benefits, too. For example, her son has never needed antibiotics, which she links to her family's use of regular soap, not ones labeled "antibacterial." "The antibacterial soaps have a chemical in them that actually kills all the bacteria in our bodies. It kills even the good bacteria that our bodies need," she said. the U.S. Food and Drug Administration seems to agree. In 2005, it found "a lack of evidence supporting the benefit of consumer products, including handwashes, bodywashes, etc., containing antibacterial additives over similar products not containing antibacterial additives," according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Frequent handwashing is "an essential part of preventing the spread of infection in the community and at home," the CDC says. But regular soap and water can do the job. Dr. Rizwan Jabir, a pediatrician with Indiana Regional Medical Center, takes a different approach. "I absolutely tell my patients to use antibacterial soaps," he said. "It has ingredients that might help children not get sick." Only a few parents have asked about the effects of cleaning products, Jabir said. "But I see no harm in using substances such as bleach and other cleaners in the home." Still, he often reminds parents that cleaning products can be harmful if ingested. "Be careful and watchful," as you would with any potentially harmful material, he advised. Take it easy Should a family decide to "clean green," Keenan suggests starting slowly and doing some homework first. "This isn't for the person who decides to clean every six weeks," she said. Although natural products work well, they aren't as strong as most chemical cleaners, so they may need to be used more often. To scour countertops, bathtubs and other hard surfaces, Keenan depends on vinegar poured straight from the bottle. She uses a paste of lemon juice and baking soda to polish brass, and says oranges are great for cutting grease. When she needs something stronger, Keenan looks for products such as the peroxide-based dishwasher detergent made by Seventh Generation, which lists the ingredients for its cleaning products on the label. Other "green" brands include BabyGanics, HealthyHome, Ecover, Earth-friendly and Citra-Solv. In the long run, Keenan says, going green has saved her family money. Although some natural products may be more expensive than conventional cleaners, they usually are concentrated, so a little goes a long way. And the savings have encouraged her husband, Pat, to make the transition. "If you use baking soda and vinegar, I mean, how expensive are they?" she asked. "We can't live in a bubble, either," she added. "We are going places where there are germs. I would never try to shelter my son from that. But I think a lot of this stuff we use is unnecessary, and our bodies need to build up a natural resistance to things." In the end, she hopes the products she uses to clean her home will keep her family healthy and safe. "As parents, we do the best we can with the info we have, but there are alternatives out there," she said. "My wish is just that people look for alternatives."

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