Deirdre Imus Is 'Cleaning Up' With New Book
By Carol King
Article Launched: 05/30/2007 04:08:45 PM EDT

Last month, Deirdre Imus released the first book in a five-volume series on greening. "By the time I am done, you will know how to green your entire life," she promised.

Green This! Volume 1: Greening Your Cleaning is a guide to keeping one's family healthy by cleaning the home in an environmentally friendly way. The 256-page book, published by Simon & Schuster, debuted April 10 and, according to Imus, has already been named a New York Times bestseller.

Using nontoxic cleaners can save lives, according to the author. "Children are not healthier than the planet, and the planet is pretty sick," she said. "We are exposed to pesticides and carcinogens in the foods we eat and the clothes we wear; in the air we breathe; the water we drink and the substances we use to clean our houses. The deadly chemical cocktail building up in our bodies is causing great harm, manifesting itself in everything from asthma to cancer."

In a presentation last week at the Westport Public Library, Imus reported that:

Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children

One out of six children is obese

One out of 150 children has autism

One out of 400 to 500 children is diagnosed with diabetes

One out of eight babies is born premature

Asthma leads chronic illnesses in children, is a major factor in absences from school and is the cause of many deaths

"The United States has the third highest rate in the entire world for infant mortality," Imus said. "This is disgraceful." She believes there is a direct link between these conditions and the contaminants and toxins used in many commercial cleaning products.

In Greening Your Cleaning, Imus describes how housecleaning in an environmentally responsible way is not only safer and healthier for people and the environment, but also can be an effective and often cheaper method of cleaning than traditional, toxic means.

The book includes:

Simple, efficient cleaning methods for every room of the house

Spotlights on everyday products (all purpose cleaner, glass/window cleaner, laundry detergent) and the toxic ingredients readers should be wary of

Summaries of the latest research on the toxic effects of ordinary chemicals

Resource lists of widely available "green cleaning" products and retailers

Filled with tips and testimonials, Greening Your Cleaning is designed to streamline household cleaning products and practices, and make it easy to adopt a "living green" way of life.