It’s a no-brainer: your listing MUST BE CLEAN! And before we describe some “green” ways to keep your house spic-and-span, remember that you should do whatever it takes to remove built-up dirt, stains or other such remnants of life in your home.

That being said, traditional cleaning products (especially heavy stain removers, mildew-killers, and many aerosol sprays) can contain many harmful chemicals that are released into the air in your home and left on surfaces. If you are cleaning your home on a daily basis to stay showing-ready, you are building up a lot of these chemicals.

You don’t want buyers to walk into your home and smell strong chemicals, and some people may have allergies. What’s great about green cleaning products is that they are now very easy to find. Many popular products can be found at Target, Whole Foods and even Kroger.

The scent of your home is so important. You want it to smell fresh and clean, especially if you have pets! One great thing about many green products is that they contain essential oils instead of artificial fragrances and perfumes. These can help make your home smell great. (This doesn’t mean that they aren’t strong, though! You might want to sniff before buying.) Many of the scents are herbal or fruit-based.

Here are some really handy products you might want to stick in your shopping cart if you are preparing for showings.

• method Flushable Wipes, Eucalyptus Mint. These flushable wipes are so handy for wiping down a bathroom counter. The biodegradable wipes can then be flushed, so you don’t even have to worry about a full wastebasket. The scent is super fresh. There is also a toilet bowl cleaner in the same fragrance that wonderfully freshens the whole bathroom.
• Caldrea Wood Furniture Cream, Lavender Pine. This wood polish is great for your furniture, has an incredibly light scent and is not packaged in an aerosol can. It’s great to use with a reusable dusting cloth.
• Mrs. Meyer’s Window Spray, various scents. This is a low-streak window cleaner with fresh, herbal scents. Again, you can use this cleaner with a reusable rag (just make sure it’s not too dirty, or your glass will get streaky). Like method, Mrs. Meyer’s products are pretty easy to find in stores.
• Earth Friendly Products Everyday Stain Remover. This enzyme cleaner is helpful for pet stains and other organic messes.

Other brands that make eco-friendly products include Seventh Generation, Ecover and Natrics . Look for words like “biodegradable” and “non-toxic.”

You can also save money by using products like white vinegar and baking soda. White vinegar is a great odor remover, and baking soda makes a good scrub. (Of course combining the two creates fizzy results!)

If you are preparing for a moving truck, or just clearing out a closet or garage, remember that there are many products you should not throw in the garbage. Moving companies won’t even move some of these products on their trucks, so make sure you dispose of them properly. Hamilton County has drop off locations operating spring through fall (closes November 22.) [
You might just get addicted! I had a client who decided she would start fresh by keeping all toxic cleaning products out of her new home. It’s not a bad idea if you have pets or small children.

Here are a bunch of great links to help you green-up your cleaning process!

• Earth 911 is a great place to search for recycling locations and ways to dispose of those questionable items.
• Vinegar! Uses and “recipes” for cleaning with this super-cheap amazing product.
• Drugstore.com has an expansive green store, where you can find all the products mentioned and more.

Info and FAQs about toxic chems in cleaning products if you want to read more.

Related...

• April 20, 2010 -- Five Creative Ways to Go Green
• December 4, 2009 -- 3153 Fender Rd., Melbourne, KY 41059
• November 4, 2009 -- New Recycling Guidelines in Cincinnati
• November 3, 2009 -- A Big Part of the Small House Movement