It seems everywhere you turn these days, you're reading about going green, living green, being eco-friendly and saving our environment. All praise-worthy efforts, to be sure. But does it have anything to do with allergy control?

Well, the answer is, yes, quite possibly. Of course, any time there is a hot trend, as "green" is these days, you're going to hear a lot of hype and get people who are taking advantage of the trend to make money for themselves. So, don't believe everything you hear and read.

But there is some evidence that using more eco-friendly products may also be more allergy-friendly as well. For example, using eco-friendly, or green cleaning products may reduce the number of irritating fumes and chemicals in your environment.

An article on AchooAllergy.com, a website that sells allergy products, quotes a Dr. Jeanne McLughlin, who is a certified building biologist, as saying, "The cleaner your home is, the more toxic it can be." Interesting viewpoint.

Spring cleaning is a good idea in the next few months, to rid your home of the accumulation of dust, pollen, and animal dander that tends to gather during the closed-in winter months. But using traditional cleaning products can actually detract from your indoor air quality by leaving behind noxious fumes and residues that can irritate already inflamed airways.

Now, those fumes won't bother everyone with allergies, but they do bother quite a few of us, me included. They can also aggravate skin allergies if they come into contact with your skin during use. The idea behind green cleaning products is that they don't contain the same kinds of toxic chemicals, things like:

• Ammonia
• Phospates
• Sudsing agents
• Petroleum-based chemicals
• Bleach
• Sulfates
• Aerosols
• Fragrances
• Formaldehyde
• Chlorine

All of those substances, while effective components of cleaning solutions, can spell allergy triggers for those who are sensitive. And they're quite toxic to our environment as well.

Tips for Going Green When You Clean

Used to be, green cleaning products were hard to come by or you had to pay an arm and a leg. Fortunately, that's changing. But, as I mentioned above, there will be unscrupulous manufacturers trying to take advantage of you. So, buyer beware -- make informed decisions if you decide to go this route. Here are some tips.

1. Learn how to read cleaning product labels & know what to look for. Just because a label says a product is green or "natural", doesn't mean it is. There are no regulations controlling this at present, so false claims can be made. Organic is not necessarily good, as products labeled organic often contain what are known as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which are know to pollute air quality. Plant-based products are usually green and safe for people with allergies. By the way, if a product doesn't list its ingredients, proceed with caution. Look for the Green Seal of Approval, from an organization that tests products to be sure they are both green and effective.