4. Consider if a product could be damaging to the item being cleaned. For example, when cleaning hardwood floors, you will want to be careful of certain products so as not to strip the sealer, warp the wood, or change the color.

Here are the questions you will want to ask yourself in order to choose a cleaning product:
1. Will something less toxic work?
2. What do you have on hand, or what solution can you make?
3. What are you cleaning? Can you use something abrasive, or would that scratch, tarnish, or ruin the surface?
4. Was this specifically made to clean this surface, or is there something that is made specifically for this purpose (such as cleaners for stainless steel)?

The following are some guidelines for choosing and using cleaning products:
 Choose the least toxic product first, and try to make that work before moving to something that is more toxic. This is better for you, and better for the environment. For example, if you are cleaning your oven, start with some baking soda and water solution, use this first. If this does not work then you can try a commercial oven cleaning solution that includes corrosive chemicals and ingredients such as lye.
 Do not buy a ton of cleaning products to store. Cleaning products lose effectiveness if they are stored for too long. So, when you buy your cleaning products, only buy enough for a month at the most.
 Keep all cleaning products in their original containers. This not only gives you access to their instructions for safe use, but it also gives you instructions for how to properly dispose of the containers. Not to mention, it is safer, less likely to spill, etc. If you have a cleaning product that spills, or that the container breaks, you will want to just throw it out, do not try and replace the container.
 Do not ever mix cleaning products. Combining cleaning products can be deadly, or can cause the cleaning products to be rendered ineffective. So, just use one kind. Also, if you switch products, be sure to thoroughly rinse the surface.
 This is obvious, but keep cleaning supplies out of the reach of children.
If you choose the right cleaning products, and use them the right ways, you will have a cleaner, safer environment. Never use something that will cause you harm, and be sure to follow the guidelines listed above as they have safety in mind. A clean house is not going to console you if you have a dead child, an illness, or something similar due to misuse of or neglect of cleaning products. So, pick the right tool for the job, and use the tool the way it was intended for best results.

Have fun cleaning!