We have a weekend project. This weekend, we are not only going to get a jump start on our spring cleaning but we are also going to improve the air quality of our homes (and consequently our family?s health).

Sounds like a huge undertaking, but it?s actually really simple and will take under an hour (and that includes traveling to the grocery store to replace toxic cleaners with healthy, natural alternatives).

Home trends in 2008 are all about healthy lifestyle. Knowing this, and having access to all the information out there about improving our health and making home the safest of all of our environments, makes this a trend that can?t be ignored and one that every household can easily adapt to.

In fact, as an added benefit your home will be cleaner, and you?ll save a bundle of money which you can then use to improve your shoe collection or buy new home decorating item like that fabulous pair of lamps you saw last week at the decor center.

Start by gathering all of your cleaning supplies from their various storage areas (under the kitchen sink, the bathroom vanity, the laundry room, the garage, etc) and loading them onto the kitchen table for sorting.

Start to read labels; anything that says do not breath fumes should go straight into the trash including your chlorine bleaches.

I grew up working in swimming pools and changing chlorine bottles required lots of safety gear including a partner watching from outside the sealed room to pull you out in case you inhaled any of the gas fumes - doesn?t that say it all?

Fifty percent of all the chemicals we use at home are carcinogenic- now that?s scary.

To keep a clean home, one that sparkles, shines and smells great you really only need white vinegar, lemons, baking soda, borax, linseed oil, washing soda, salt, castile soap and of course some favorite essential oils. It is honestly that simple and that inexpensive, give it a shot and see the difference for yourself, what do you have to loose? Not much, just your health.

Buying natural products is also the greener alternative. Although they?re readily available at the grocery store, if you want to try to make your own here?s what I do: For laundry, try equal parts borax and washing soda; to whiten whites add a little more borax to the load or add lemon juice to the water and soak overnight; for a soft scrub, mix liquid Castile soap with ? cup baking soda and twelve drops of a favorite essential oil.

To clean your floors, walls, and countertops mix one cup of vinegar to a gallon of water, wash and then rinse with clean water.

To polish furniture, mix three parts olive oil to one part vinegar. Add a couple of drops of lemon juice or your favorite essential oil.

I am anti-synthetic air fresheners, so make your own with 6 drops of essential oil and one cup of water. Using Eucalyptus Globulus essential oil will disinfect your air - perfect during this high cold and flu season.

Instead of dish soap, use castile soap. Simply grate a small amount into warm water. Start the New Year off right and go for a green clean at home.

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