Right now I have a list of household chores that I'm crossing off, slowly but surely. Near the top of that list is getting our carpet cleaned. The carpet needs a serious deep cleaning, but I'm wary of toxic commercial cleaning products. What's a conscientious mother to do?

It's a good thing there are plenty of green options out there. Many companies have heeded the call to clean up their act and offer alternatives to the usual chemicals. National chains like Chem-Dry use carbonated cleaning bubbles instead of PERC, a carcinogen and common chemical used to clean fabrics. A quick search online should give you options in your neighborhood.

You can clean the carpet yourself by using non-toxic products. Biokleen, one of my favorite green brands, makes an earth-friendly carpet shampoo. You can also make your own carpet cleaning and deodorizing solution by combining baking soda and essential oils like lavender or tea tree. Sprinkle a thin layer directly on your carpet and vacuum as usual. Renting a steam cleaner and using an earth-friendly clean solution is another solution.

Do you have tips for green carpet cleaning?