You might be aware of the controversy around the widespread use of antibacterial soaps and the concern that they may create drug-resistant strains of bacteria. More recent research is also suggesting thattriclocarban, a common additive in many antibacterial soaps and deodorants, has an unusual effect on hormones. This chemical is considered to be one of the suspected "endocrine disruptors" that may interfere with human sex hormones and reproductive development, causing reduced fertility, early puberty and increases in breast, ovarian and prostate cancers.

Another chemical under scrutiny is triclosan, also found in some antibacterial soaps. While it is thought to be safe for most people, research suggests that it might cause subtle harm to humans in critical developmental stages including in utero, early childhood and adolescence. It has been named as a target for further research into the environmental contributors to autism.

Manufacturers of antibacterial soap products, of course, claim that their products are safe and have been thoroughly tested for human use.

Studies show that these chemicals are being dumped into the environment at an alarming rate, with more than one million pounds of triclosan and triclocarban coming from use in America alone. And with a recent CDC study detecting triclosan in the urine of 75% of Americans aged 6 and older, we can't deny that these chemicals are entering our bodies.

In my household, we have stopped using all antibacterial products. I have found a natural product that fights germs and bacteria and does not contain any potentially dangerous chemicals. CleanWell is made with "Igenium," a plant-based essential oil formula that claims to kill 99.99% of germs, including MRSA (staph), E.coli and salmonella on contact.

The CleanWell story is touching. The product was developed by a family with a child who has a rare disease that causes severe immunodeficiency. Since his immune system only functions at about 10%, they needed to protect Conor from exposure to germs but did not want to expose his fragile system to harsh chemicals. After eight years of research and development, they patented the CleanWell with Igenium formula.

CleanWell products are environmentally sound. Being plant-based, they are alcohol-free, chemical-free and 100% biodegradable. They are also certified cruelty-free and never tested on animals. There is also no ingestion risk for children.

CleanWell offers hand sanitizing sprays in several sizes, hand sanitizing wipes and pump soap bottles in lovely scents. You can order online or locate a store on their Web site.

As consumers become more aware of the toxic chemicals that can be present in everyday household cleaners, the demand for non-toxic and environmentally friendly cleaners has surged in recent years. Simplyneutral is one company that meets that demand by offering various non-toxic household cleaners. Here we put their all-purpose cleaner, non-VOC glass cleaner, non-abrasive cleaner, and biodegradable wipes to the test.

Both the all-purpose cleaner and glass cleaner come in a 32-oz. spray bottle. One thing I appreciated about the spray bottles is the way that the nozzle sprays. Each spray covers a wide area, cutting down the amount of cleaner needed to cover a surface, which I find important when I want to let the cleaner to sit for a bit before trying to wipe up dried up bits of food stuck to a table or counter. All the bottles are made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic and are recyclable.

The all-purpose cleaner is a lovely citrus and tree tea oil scent. It contains a cleaning agents derived from corn sugar and palm kernel oil, and only two other ingredients, water and organic essential oils. I appreciate the simplicity of the ingredient list - there's no need to read a list twenty ingredients long to try and figure out if it contains something I don't want to use. The cleaner worked well on the various surfaces I tried it on, including the stove, kitchen countertop and bathroom countertop. When you run out, you can buy refills in a concentrated solution. Each refill bottle is good for six refills!

The non-toxic cleaner I currently use for my mirrors and windows contains vinegar. Though I don’t mind the smell, it was nice to use the simply neutral no-VOC glass cleaner and not have to smell vinegar. It cleaned my mirrors without leaving any streaks. You can also buy a refill bottle of concentrated glass cleaner that is good for six refills.

The non-abrasive cleaner comes in packaging that reminds me of the container that my large spices come in. I had a bit of trouble when trying to shake some out of the container because it was full and clumping together some. Once I had sprinkled some on my sinks, it did a good job of scrubbing away the dirt and leaving a clean sink. I usually use baking soda at home, which is the main ingredient in this cleaner. It also contains the cleaning agent derived from corn sugar and palm kernel oil and organic essential oils. I’ll probably stick to the baking soda because it is so affordable and readily available.

I’ve never seen anything like the biodegradable wipes that we received for review, although they are the same concept as those towels or sponges that expand once you add water. The wipes come in a bag of fifty. For each wipe, all you need is a tablespoon of water to hydrate the wipe and it is ready to use. The idea is a cute one and would be great for those emergency purposes since they can sit without the worry of drying out. But for every day use it doesn’t seem as practical since you do need water to use it and I don’t always have water on hand. And when parents need a wipe to use on their little one, having to find water, especially if they are somewhere such as the mall, would not be the most convenient. Once it is wet, the wipe is a mesh texture with lots of little holes, which I didn’t care so much for. Overall, it’s an interesting idea and greener option that could be useful for certain situations, but not to replace your regular wipes.

I would definitely recommend trying out simplyneutral’s line of cleaning solutions, especially if you are looking to replace toxic household cleaners that you might currently be using. You can find simplyneutral products at select stores listed at their website, or you can order online.

For the rest of the house, I prefer using old rags and microfiber cloths. But when it comes to the toilet, I’d rather not be reusing something, especially if there is the chance it could accidentally be used to clean another part of the house (yes, I am a germaphobe). Thank goodness that Method helps me avoid reuse, but also keeps me green.

Method’s tub + tile wipes. As mentioned in one of my previous posts, Method is a company that has created a whole line of green cleaning products. Not only are they better for the environment than traditional disposable wipes, but they come in eye-pleasing packaging and yummy essential-oil based fragrances like pink grapefruit and lavender. They are also widely available in your local stores and at Amazon.

One of the things that drew me to the Method wipes was its packaging. When purchasing products, one way to avoid creating garbage is to look for products that come in the least amount of packaging. Many products come in multiple layers of packaging that are often unnecessary and will immediately get tossed in the trash. Instead look for items that have minimal amount of packaging, or its packaging can be recycled. Many cleaning wipes that are sold, including another type sold by Method, come in big plastic containers. And although most of those plastic containers are recyclable, I’d rather avoid having to recycle it in the first place. The wipes package, when empty, is very small. It’s also supposedly recyclable, although there isn’t a symbol telling me what kind of plastic it is made of.

The wipes are scented a lovely eucalyptus mint scent that isn’t too strong.

Instead of lugging out the gloves, spray bottle and a paper towel or rag, all you do is pull out the pre-moistened wipe. There is no need for gloves since there are no harsh chemicals to worry about. Just make sure to close the resealable opening so your wipes don't dry out. If they do, you can just wet them with some water, although you may lose some of the wipes' effectiveness.

Once you wipe and clean, it gets tossed right into the toilet. I love that they are flushable (wait until something else, ahem, needs to be flushed in order to not waste water) and biodegradable, making them a great, fairly green solution, particularly when compared with other forms of disposable wipes.

Do you use any products that are a "pretty green" solution that makes your life much easier? Or do you have any other bathroom cleaning tips to make the chore less of one? Share them here!