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Nowhere is gunk more illuminated then on the white tiles of our bathrooms. Unfortunately, ingredients found in many conventional bathroom cleaners can pose environmental hazards when they are rinsed down the drain and have been associated with health risks ranging from burns to respiratory irritation and central nervous system depression. So how do you tackle nasty grime without equally nasty cleaning supplies?

Soap Scum

Yes, it's stubborn. It spreads across our sinks, tubs and shower walls, and we're always looking for products tough enough to take the sweat out of our scrubbing. Products that feature "scrubbing bubbles" rely on the sudsing agent sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which can penetrate the skin, causing irritation and opening a clear pathway for the absorption of other chemical irritants. Bathroom surface cleaners also often contain glycol ethers, industrial solvents that can cause central nervous system depression and can irritate the skin, eyes and nose. Low-level exposure to glycol ethers has been associated with birth defects and testicular damage in animal studies.

Made from feldspar, sodium carbonate, calcium carbonate and tallow soap, Bon Ami Cleaning Powder provides a safe way to scrub ($9.95/6 12 oz cans; www.agelong.com). Or try Sound Earth's The Velvet Hammer, made from baking soda, vinegar, borax, castile soap and hydrogen peroxide ($7.99/20 oz.; www.soundearth.com). Meanwhile, borax (a disinfectant and deodorizer made from natural minerals) and a scouring pad just as well.

Tile and Grout

Tile and grout cleaners are usually some toxic combination of glycol ethers and a caustic ingredient such as monoethanolamine (MEA). Inhalation of MEA has been associated with asthma, liver damage and chronic hepatitis (it's also a skin, eye and respiratory irritant). Other caustic ingredients, such as hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid, are found both in tile and grout cleaners and in toilet bowl cleaners. They can cause severe burns when splashed on skin, and may burn the throat and lungs when fumes are inhaled. Earth Friendly Shower Kleener uses tea tree oil and lavender oil to get the grime out of grout ($5.10/22 oz.; www.pristineplanet.com). Alternatively, you can mix one part salt, one part baking soda and one part vinegar to make a paste for polishing tile and grout.