Review by Megan Henderson:

This is a fantastic book! A friend of mine got this book for Christmas and let me borrow it. I liked it so much I have since bought my own copy and a copy for my mom. It has saved me tons of money because the ingredients in the recipes for the organic cleaners are very inexpensive. I can make a bottle of all purpose cleanser for pennies where I use to pay or at the grocery store. Also it has a great section on stain removal listing different types of stains and different places where the stains might be. Did you know that you can get the nasty yellow armpit stains out of white shirts?? I’ve been throwing away white shirts for years because of that!!! Just this week we used the recipe to make drain cleaner and now our tub is draining like a champ! Do you know how expensive Drano is??? And I made this recipe with stuff I had under my kitchen counter! The book also talks about how often you should do different cleaning chores which is helpful for me because I was using the “clean it when it looks dirty method” which was not working out so well. You must buy this book!!

Review by Christian B. Spear:

Who knew that WD-40 can be used to remove tar from a car, to polish furniture, and to kill cockroaches? I had no idea that I could use Pam Cooking Spray to clean soap scum from shower doors, loosen rusty tool, or preventing ice cubes from sticking to the tray. I’ve now cleaned paintbrushes with Downy Fabric Softener, cleaned wallpaper with a slice of Wonder Bread, and cleaned crayon marks from the walls with Colgate Toothpaste. It’s already saved me a fortune. This book is a must-have. It’s the perfect reference book for solving any problem you’re having around the house (from dirty laundry to filthy ovens) and the solutions are always a hoot. There are 30 uses for Coca-Cola alone, including cleaning oil spots from your driveway and unclogging a drain. Ingenious! I love this book, and will be giving a copy to my mother-in-law for her birthday – she’ll appreciate Mr. Green’s practicality and humor.

Review by book junkie:

A very informative read using alot of everyday household items on hand along with being user friendly and eliminating the use of hazardous cleaners…some products use some interesting combinations needless to say but i feel that this book is certainly a worthwhile read and can save you some money overall..

Review by C. Wong:

Green Clean provides an excellent resource to greening your home environment. The book briefly begins with the history of cleaning, the toxic chemicals that are contained in our modern cleaning agents, and an introduction to green cleaning including the tools needed and steps to the process. Next, the book dives into a room-by-room green guide to cleaning. Included are how to clean different types of surfaces such as walls, floors, countertops, sinks, appliances, furniture, carpeting and clothing. The latter part of the book talks about storage, disposal, and recycling of hazardous household products including a handy chart with the type of product listed with the best way to dispose of it.

Many recipes for creating your own cleaning products such as an all-purpose cleaner, carpet cleaners and deodorizers, dishwashing, disinfectants, drain cleaners, floor cleaners, air fresheners, furniture polish, laundry detergent, metal cleaners, window cleaners, oven cleaners, sink, toilet and tile cleaners. There is a stain guide for how to get out tough laundry stains naturally as well. Additionally, a product guide along with resources and readings are included.

This book includes an index and is made out of durable synthetic paper. You could leave the book in the bathroom and not have to worry about it getting wet and ruined. Using the tips and recipes contained in the book can save your family money, but more importantly you’ll learn how to green your environment. I had already been using cleaning products similar to those recommended (baking soda and vinegar can do wonders) and find they work excellently, and I do not have to worry about having toxic cleaning products in my house near my child and dogs. Overall, I learned from this book and highly recommend it to anyone looking to green their cleaning routine.

C.J. Wong, M.S.(Biology), M.S. (Lib. Info. Sci.)

Editor, Organic Family Magazine

Review by Erika Larson-Bean:

This is an excellent resource for those of us wishing to remove the pollutents from our homes. The authors give detailed information on exactly what is in those ‘wonder products’ we currently use, like dishwashing liquid, floor waxes & cleaners and innumerable other items we use on a daily basis. The information in this book will shock you, prompt you to change the way you clean and give you the necessary tools and information to not only purchase SAFE products but create your own and live a ‘greener’ life.

Creating your own cleaning products is not only less expensive then purchasing premade cleaners, but you KNOW what went into them!! You know how safe they are; for example – would you rather accidently drink windex and hope for the best? Or accidently ingest home made window cleaner (club soda)? Did you know that dishwashing liquid is the number one cleaning product accidently ingested by children? I didn’t. And even though my cleaning products are kept well away from my 2 year old son, it is possible that accidents happen and I am not willing to take that chance.

This book is filled with information so that you as a consumer can make informed choices about what you will and will not tolerate in your home, the chances you are willing to take with cleaning products and how to change what you use…and even our impact on the planet.

Review by Shaz:

Did you know that you can stop sunburn pain by adding Cheerios to your bathwater (please don’t recycle!)? Also, stop a shaving nick or canker sore in it’s tracks with Alum (a spice by McCormick). These and other bizzare but useful tips can be found in this new book by Joey Green, author of “Polish Your Furniture With Panty Hose” and “Clean Your Clothes with Cheez Whiz”. Learn how, in a pinch, you can shave with Jif peanut butter, or use a credit card to scrape your tongue when out in public and plagued with hallitosis. Gatorade can cure a headache? You bet. Then, there are some no-brainers in here (e.g. use a Q-Tip as a substitute eye shadow applicator, shrink a zit with toothpaste- all us 80’s girls know this one! But, I had no idea toothpaste could reduce redness and speed the healing of a hickey!)If you love waterproof mascara, but hate removing it, simply keep Johnson’s baby Shampoo on hand and remove mascara with a small amount of it on a cottonball. This book also has “Strange Facts” at the end of each chapter; did you know Abe Lincoln’s Mother died from drinking the milk of a cow that ate poisonous mushrooms? The phrase “cold shoulder” originated in the Middle Ages when Europeans fed unwanted guests leftover beef shoulder to get them to leave. If for no other reason, get this book and find out how using McCormick food coloring can help you clean your teeth better. A fun book, great to give as a gift.

Review by E. Chapa:

I had seen an ad about this book with some of the remedies listed. I went and bought it just to see what I could find in there. As I started reading it, I saw ones my MOM used.

Say you’re cooking and some grease gets on you, try Colgate toothpaste(regular). Canada Dry Ginger Ale is great for upset stomach (generic brand works just as well) for clearing up congestion. There were quite a few old family remedies in this book that I’ve used before. The author also lists interesting facts about the companies whose products he lists. He also explains in many of the remedies why they work.

The book is really helpful, but don’t feel you can only use the brand names he lists. For example, the one about using Canada Dry Ginger Ale – I’ve used generic brands for years and you will get the same result. The Colgate one – I’ve used gel types and that works too. I’ll probably be going through this book again and again. It’s a nice reference for the price

I recently picked up another copy for a relative. Her kids found the book and SHE didn’t see it again for a week. I didn’t realize the kids would be so fascinated with the book. It’s really a great way to have kids explore how things work. Again, a great reference.

Review by Jessica L. Sroka:

I love this book. Super helpful without being over the top. Easy to find ingredients and the cleaners really work!! Every recipe that I’ve followed in this book has worked better than anything I find in the store, and they’re a ton cheaper too. I would highly recommened this book to anyone who wants to save money and not give up quality cleaning products.

Review by T. Smith:

This book contains recipes for any cleaning product a person could ever want to use around their home, including carpet shampoo, laundry soap, garden and pest control (even deer), potpourri and sachets, tarnish remover, wood cleaners and polishes, computers and office equipment, oven cleaner, BBQ grills, wicker, cars, exterior siding (including stone and brick), and garden tools! And all of the ingredients are completely nontoxic. Not only that, it teaches you HOW to do the jobs and properly care for your home and items you own. It is an excellent all-around instruction book for green housekeeping in every sense.

Review by D. Moriarty:

“The Joy of Green Cleaning” by Leslie Reichert has changed the way I clean. I now clean and do laundry with all homemade products and I love it!

I’d thought about doing this for some time, but didn’t take the time to research all the formulas. Leslie’s book has made it so easy. All the formulas for the cleaning products are in this book and contain simple, inexpensive ingredients.

Leslie’s philosophy on cleaning is that she uses ingredients that her Grandmother would have used – most of which you could eat!

Thanks to “The Joy of Green Cleaning” I no longer wear rubber gloves when I clean, open the window or hold my breath – especially while disinfecting the bathroom! This book has simplified my life and saved me money. I highly recommend this book.

Review by Betsy Blueberry:

As a librarian this book goes out alot! It is filled with recipes you have around the house to clean green. Perfect in everyway and all of them work! Don’t believe the ads that tell you that their products works – people are smarter than that – don’t throw your money in wallyworld either. Clean smart – clean easy.

Review by datSplat:

I’m a huge fan of cleaning with more natural products, and use baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, etc to do so. In that way, I totally agree with the author’s message. However, I don’t agree with the presentation of the book. An example is the section on fabric softeners and dryer sheets. The author warns that these commercial products may contain limonene and linalool…as suggested alternatives, she mentions essential oils, such as lemon, lavender, bergamot, and rosewood. Throughout the book, she states that these chemicals, limonene and linalool, are scary and toxic…and then suggests essential oils which themselves have these chemicals in their makeup. (The recommendation of rosewood is another issue altogether as the author recommends it (several places) despite environmentalists’ growing concerns for its endangered status and for the protection of the rain forests. Not a very “green” thing to do, IMO.) Her own commercial line of cleaning products contain essential oils as well, and I’m betting limonene and linalool can be found in them as a result.

There are dangerous products on the market, no doubt about that. And we as a society are guilty of “over kill” when it comes to “germs”. And natural alternatives versus “man-made” chemicals are likely safer and better. I don’t disagree with any part of that message.

Again, I am a fan of essential oils, however one must also understand that anything can be dangerous if applied incorrectly or without due care. I felt that many of the suggestions were overboard and failed to include proper warnings. For example, there are some essential oils that shouldn’t be used around pets. Most, if not all, shouldn’t be used around cats due to a cat’s special physiology and the cumulative toxic effect the oils can have on a cat’s liver. I didn’t see this mentioned anywhere.

The author talks about the dangers of artificial fragrances, but doesn’t acknowledge that many of the “dangers” can and do apply to essential oils as well. She constantly mentions “dousing” and “saturating” items with essential oils…which I makes me wonder if she has really ever been around them. Essential oils are powerful and I can’t imagine ever having to “douse” anything with them. Generally, a few drops will do. I could go on and on, unfortunately. In the end, I was left feeling that the “homework” the book was based on had been incomplete and that it failed to tell the whole story. A shame as I said I do agree with the author’s basic message. But regardless of where the profits go, I have to be honest with my review. I hope that it will be appreciated.

Review by M. Benjamin:

I am giving this book to members of my family and friends. It is a straightforward introduction to green cleaning. I learned a lot reading this book. I went out and purchased the Imus products and am delighted with the results. You can save space, money and time following Deirdre Imus’ tips.

Moreover, it is a way to support the Imus ranch and the Imus family who have done so very much for children throughout the years.

I will never go back to the way I cleaned before (using toxic substances) – this way is faster, better, less expensive and healthier.

Review by R. A. Ward:

This book is good. BUT…there are way too many recipes with no explanations for the beginning green cleaner. I was a little lost in the vast forest of different ways to clean everything. Also, there are no detailed instructions on just how to mix together the ingredients. As Karen Noonan Logan points out in “Clean House, Clean Planet,” there are times (especially when mixing baking soda and vinegar) when you must put the ingredients in a specific order for the cleanser to work.Don’t get me wrong, this *is* a very good book! Chemically sensitive people and those who already make their own cleansers will find it a valuable source. But, for the beginner, it would probably be better to get “Clean House, Clean Planet” first because it has detailed instructions, some chemistry lessons and effectiveness ratings. After you become more familiar with how green cleaning works, this book would be an excellent addition for more recipes and ideas.

Review by K. L. Stone:

Clean and Green by Annie Berthold-Bond

My third choice of the three I purchased. The author uses borax, zeolite, kitty litter, alum, and washing soda not chemicals of choice to use in standard household cleaners. The only one of these are used in the others is washing soda in laundry soap. It is not an easy read not due to content but font choice and the way the recipes are presented. A Little short on instruction and technique. There are tons of them however 485 aprox recipes or suggestions, she numbers them. All this on only 161 pages!! It is a good book to have but the other two would be a better choice to get started. I rated Clean Home Clean Planet first choice and Naturally Clean Home second above this one.