Best “green” cleaners, paper products for your family

The thing I struggle with the most in trying to convert to an eco-friendly lifestyle is knowing which products to use that will either provide the same or better results than the current "not so eco-friendly" products that I've grown to love and cherish.

I ran across this article from Consumer Reports that rated the best "green" cleaners for your home, and everyone knows that when Consumer Reports says that it's the best, well it's gotta be the best right? I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and will purchase these on my next grocery run so here's the list of eco-essentials:

Dishwasher detergents: Biokleen With Natural Oxygen Bleach Powder, Method Smarty Dish, Ecover Tablets

Laundry detergents: For conventional top-loaders: Method Squeaky Green 3X Concentrated HE, for high-efficiency washers: Seventh Generation Natural Powdered HE

Dishwashing liquids: Ecover Ecological Dishwashing

Shower cleaners: Green Works Natural Bathroom Cleaner

Paper products: Nonrecycled TP and paper towels still get the top overall scores in our tests. But we recently found that a few recycled brands are catching up in price and performance.

Toilet paper: Marcal Small Steps

Paper towels: Smart Pick White Cloud Green Earth

Sheets and towels: Textiles like sheets and towels with green claims are now easier to find and more affordable. But there are no standards for terms like "natural" or "eco-friendly." Here’s how to find legit green products:

* Look for organic labels USDA-certified organic textiles must be grown without most synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Organic cotton is an especially green choice because regular cotton is one of the most pesticide-intensive crops.

* Check processing methods "Organic" textiles can be processed with chemicals like formaldehyde or synthetic dyes. The "Oeko-Tex Standard 100" certification offers some assurance that formaldehyde and other chemicals are restricted.

* Don’t be misled by claims on "bamboo" products The origins may be natural, but turning those fibers into fabric isn’t. It usually takes strong chemicals to convert bamboo into rayon fabric—a process that’s not environmentally friendly.