I heard a news report last night about how there are new concerns regarding the products we use to wash our windows with and a child’s health. As we all know, kids are naturally attracted to what’s happening outside — indicated no less by the handprints they leave behind on windows all over the home. Unfortunately, what kids touch can sometimes stick with them — and if they put those hands to their mouths (as they almost always do), those chemicals can then be ingested.

If you’re interested in making your home cleaning an even greener affair, take a look at these five, all-natural window cleaners.

1. Method “Best In Glass” Cleaner
Method creates all of their products with the environment in mind, and their cleverly titled “Best In Class” cleaner is no exception. Of course, it sports the famous Method design — but more than that it contains no “dirty ingredients” and is 100% biodegradable. Even better, Method’s website allows you to drill deep into their ingredients for full peace of mind that what you’re buying is truly good for health and home.

2. Green Works Natural Glass Cleaner
Greenworks is a new brand from Clorox — not the first company that comes to mind when hearing the word “green”. However, this offshoot does in fact do a decent job of offering some natural cleaning products. Their Natural Glass Cleaner is made with “plant and mineral-based ingredients” and is rated at 99% natural. We’re not sure what’s in that remaining 1%, but we’re sure it’s a fine alternative to the standard, nasty window cleaners.

3. Seventh Generation Glass & Surface Cleaner
Most people know of Seventh Generation, and their reputation as a green cleaning brand is strong. So it’s not surprise that their glass cleaner is biodegradable and non-toxic — with a mysterious plant-derived cleaning agent put to work in each bottle. Bonus: The website list the product as Kosher-certified.

4. Terracycle Window Cleaner
Terracycle is generally more well-known for their plant food (made from worm poop), but the company has also expanded into cleaners. Their window cleaner is biodegradable, non-toxic, and naturally derived. It’s a solid bet.

5. Make Your Own
It doesn’t take rocket science to put together your own natural glass cleaner — something the folks over at Natural Moms Talk Radio can help with. They’ve compiled five natural glass and window cleaner recipes that you can whip up at home. Have a look!

Update: We received this information from Green Works regarding that mysterious 1% I mentioned earlier.
Thank you for your support of Green Works. We are happy to see you enjoy our Natural Glass Cleaner, and we hope you get the chance to try all of the products in the Green Works line.

In creating Green Works, our team included moms and scientists who knew there were others like us that were looking to live a more natural lifestyle. That’s why we set the bar high to find a formula that would be natural and would work.  In doing so, we created a line of cleaning products made from natural, plant-based ingredients that, in just one year, has brought affordable green cleaning to millions of Americans.

Synthetics for preservatives or colorants make up the less than one percent of the formula in each of the Green Works cleaners.  Preservatives are important in keeping the formula stable and preventing microorganisms, like bacteria, from growing in the formula (product).  Additionally, our consumers told us that color in a cleaning product was important to them.  Currently, there are no natural preservatives and colorants that remain stable in natural cleaning formulas, so this impacts the entire natural cleaning industry, not just Green Works. Since there is no regulating body that oversees natural cleaners at this time, it was important to the Green Works brand to be as transparent as possible about what’s in our formulas. Even though other brands may also list their ingredients on their labels, we are the only brand to also list the percentage level of natural ingredients in our products.

For more information on Green Works ingredients, please visit http://www.greenworkspresskit.com/Green_Works_Ingredient_List.html

Green architecture activist Kamal Meattle recently gave a presentation at TED regarding three plants he would recommend for improved health and air quality. It’s a great video and worth watching — but it got me thinking about adding these plants to our own nursery. After all, as a paranoid father that wants only the best for his kid — and with the full knowledge that indoor air quality during the winter months is often poor — why not try something “organic”?

So, let’s look at the three plants recommended by Kamal Meattle!

Areca Palm: “The Living Room Plant”
These palms release copious amounts of water into the air, and remove chemical toxins too. They are consistently rated among the best houseplants for removing all indoor toxins tested. According to online info, the plant is non-toxic.

Mother-in-law’s Tongue: “The Bedroom Plant”
This is a truly perfect plant for anyone that is really terrible at growing plants. It grows well in low-light and requires little watering (only once or twice during the winter months!) According to the book “Baby Safe Houseplants and Cut Flowers”, the plant is mildly toxic — but only if your kid was eat something like 10% of his/her body weight of it. The general opinion over on GardenWeb is that your kids will be fine. Just teach them not to eat it — probably a good idea in general! This plant specializes in capturing CO2 at night and the converting it to Oxygen in the day.

Money Plant: “The Specialist Plant”
This plant does the job of filtering out removing Formaldehyde and other VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds). It doesn’t require much care. Hardy and extremely tolerant of low light and dryness. Bonus: It is the most popular plant for “feng shui” because it creates positive energy (chi). Your baby will be super happy! (grin.)

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, in announcing the companies’ decisions on Thursday, said he and the attorney generals from Delaware and New Jersey had written to the companies last year, urging them to stop using the chemical, which mimics the hormonal activity of estrogen and can alter the normal workings of genes. Health officials cautious about possible ill effects believe that infants and children are at the greatest risk because of their quickly developing bodies and sensitive systems.

Unfortunately, such decisions do not carry an international vibe. At least one firm, Avent, will continue selling polycarbonate baby bottles elsewhere in the world. Nevertheless, this is a great start — though we encourage all parents to choose glass bottles if given the option. Continue reading more here.

The first order of business for nearly all new parents is scoping out the room that will become the nursery. It’s an exciting task to imagine your new child growing up in such a space — and invariably, the first question asked is, “What color should we paint the walls?”

An even more important decision timing-wise, however, is when you should paint with regards to air quality. Consumer Reports has a great article up at the moment that addresses this issue. Here’s a brief highlight:

Paint the nursery at least two months before your baby arrives. That allows time for fumes to subside before your baby comes home. Use a paint that’s labeled low-VOC or zero VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which are solvents that are released into the air as the paint dries and may be irritating to a baby–and some adults.

With so many options available these days, it’s important to really strive for that low-zero VOC label. Here are some great options for expecting parents:

• Freshaire Choice Paint

• Olympic Premium Paint

• Harmony Interior Paint

• Real Milk Paint Company

The Little Seed blog has a great entry today gathering up all of the suggestions given by folks on Twitter for naturally curing the ills of runny noses, high fevers, etc. Here are some highlights:

Sleep, sleep and more sleep was at the top of the list, followed by, mommy’s hugs, nurturing, liquids, C, lemon, honey, ginger, zinc, organic mapel syrup, laughter, raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar, emergen-c, echinacea and goldenseal, salt water, steam, of course a selection of wonderful teas, olive leaf extract, canned peach juice by the spoonful, oregano oil, cartoons, sympathy, dark chocolate, parsley for a stronger immunity, fresh garlic, grapefuit extract, tumeric powder, flat gingerale, peppermint for tummy ache, and the famous chicken soup.

Jump on over to the site to read more — including some additional suggestions from moms and dads!

The good news: Angela Adams new sustainable, PVC-free wallpaper is beautiful. The bad news: It’s currently only available to the trade only!

While you couldn’t pay me enough (lie) to wallpaper my nursery, there are some who still prefer this method — and these designs make it a tempting option. Adams has created a product that’s breathable, 100% post consumer recyclable, and Greenguard certified. For colors, only water-based dyes are used.

You can see her new full range of new designs here. Hopefully, the public will be able to purchase them in due time as well.

via Re-Nest

Safe, effective and toxin-free, Ilumina Organics introduces a gentle, all-natural approach to skincare. Ilumina’s products range from the Baby Bottom Balm, containing herbs which are proven to prevent and heal skin irritation, to the Nursing Balm, a vegan formula that relies on specific oils and herbs to sooth soreness while remaining safe for baby to ingest during breastfeeding.

If you have a shower coming up, Ilumina also offers an “All About Mom Expecting Mother Gift Pack” ($47), with Soothing Body Lotion, Honey Lip Balm, a mild minimum fragrance Oats and Aloe Bar Soap and a Belly Balm stick to soothe stretched, itchy skin.

For more information, visit the official site here.