Non-toxic cleaning in the bathroom keeps mold and mildew at bay.

Green Tub, Tile & Sink Cleaners
Sink, tub and tile cleaners can contain ammonia and dimethyl ethylbenzylamonium choride, both strong irritants, ethylene glycol, a neurotoxin and reproductive toxin which may also cause kidney and liver damage, sodium orth-phenylpenol, a carcinogen and irritant, and trisodium nitrilotriacetate, a carcinogen.  Some brands use highly caustic chemicals like sodium hydroxide, sodium hypochlorite (bleach) and phosphoric acid that can burn eyes and skin.  Breathing vapours can burn lungs

Less-toxic Alternatives
• Bon Ami Scouring Powder
• Arm & Hammer  - Washing Soda
• Down East Cream Cleanser
• Down East Scouring Powder  (use sparingly on scratchable surfaces)
• Energy-Wipe - microfibre cleaning cloth
• 20 Mule Team - Borax
• Nature Clean - Natural Kitchen and Bath Spray Cleaner
• Nature Clean - Tile and Bath Cleaner
• Nature Clean - Tub and Tile Cleaner

Make your own Alternatives
Tub and Tile Cleaner
Mix 1/4 cup baking soda with 1/2 cup white vinegar.

Spray Cleaner
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
Wipe on, or use non-aerosol spray bottle.

For tough bathroom surfaces such as shower walls, increase cleaning power by removing sprayer element and heating the solution in the microwave until barely hot. Spray shower walls and allow to stand for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrub and rinse. The heat helps soften stubborn soap scum and loosens hard water deposits.

Tips
• Use abrasive cleaners sparingly.  Abrasives scratch enamel  over time, causing more dirt to collect.
• Flat nylon scrubbing pads with a liquid cleanser clean well without scratching.
• Microfibre cloths are especially good on tubs, sinks and stoves because they won't scratch the surfaces, but the tiny (finer than silk) wedge shaped fibers will cut through dirt. Where there is a lot of dirt build up, they can be used with a small amount of cleaner.

Mold and Mildew Cleaners
Mold and mildew cleaners can contain formaldehyde, a carcinogen and sensitizer, phenol, kerosene, pentachlorophenol,chlorine and fungicides. The Environmental Protection Agency has classified more than 300 different active ingredients found in antimicrobial products including mold and mildew cleaners as pesticides. Although labels often warn that these cleaners can be hazardous as eye irritants,  they are often sold as aerosol sprays, creating fine mists which can be deeply inhaled or contact eyes.

Less-toxic Alternatives
• Borax
• Hydrogen peroxide - drug store dilution.  Apply full strength.
• Nature Clean - Natural Laundry Bleach (powder)
• Nature Clean - Natural Liquid Bleach
• Nature Clean - Natural Kitchen and Bath Spray Cleaner
• President's Choice - Active Oxygen Bleach
• Soapworks - Safe Bleach
• TSP (trisodium phosphate)- available at hardware stores
• Zephiran Chloride

Make your own Alternatives
Strong All-Purpose Cleaner
1 teaspoon liquid castile soap
1 teaspoon TSP
1 teaspoon borax
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 litre hot water.
Mix in a refillable spray bottle. Good for grease and mildew.

Tips
• To keep mold under control, wash area with a mixture of borax , TSP, zephiran chloride  or vinegar  and water to inhibits mold growth. Stronger solutions of the same substances will kill mold.
• Ultra-violet light (blue bulb) will kill mold.
• Wash with very strong black tea and let dry.


Toilet Bowl Cleaner and Deodorizer
Many toilet bowl cleaners are often highly caustic and form toxic gases when mixed with water.  They can contain ammonium chloride, a corrosive, 1,4-dichlorobenzine, a carcinogenic pesticide which can cause liver and kidney damage, hydrochloric acid, whose vapours can cause coughing and breathing difficulties, and sodium dichloroisocyanurate dihydrate which is a severe eye, skin and respiratory irritant, which can form carcinogenic chlorine gas. Sulfate-based products containing sodium sulfate or sodium bisulfate may cause asthmatic attacks.

Less-toxic Alternatives
• Hydrogen peroxide - drug store dilution
• Nature Clean - Natural Laundry Bleach (powder)
• Nature Clean - Natural Liquid Bleach
• Nature Clean - Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner
• President's Choice - Active Oxygen Bleach
• Soapworks - Safe Bleach

Make your own Alternatives
To remove mineral buildup, put 1-2 denture cleaner tablets in bowl and let sit overnight, then clean .
Pour 1 cup of borax and 1/4 cup vinegar into toilet and let sit overnight before scrubbing.
Pour one can of Coke in toilet.
Use undiluted white vinegar to scrub the inside of the toilet bowl. First dump a bucket of water into the toilet to force water out of the bowl and allow access to the sides. Pour undiluted white vinegar around the bowl and scrub with a toilet brush to remove lime, stains and odor.