Cleaning Products

About a year ago I decided to be more intentional and informed about what products I bring into the house and expose myself and my family to. It was a little overwhelming to tackle so I decided to begin with the cleaning products we use. I have been making and using homemade cleaning products since then and have been happy with their effectiveness and how easy they are to make.

I look for as much transparency as possible from a company when I am buying their products. That means not having vague phrases like “fragrance” or “natural flavoring” which is regarded as a trade secret. My concern is the potential for hormone disruptors, contaminating your air quality, irritation to ones eyes/lungs/skin…….I feel especially strong about this as I have young kids touching all sorts of surfaces and then their faces/mouths and being close to me as I spray these things into the air while cleaning, therefore breathing some of it in. (more information on that linked below)

https://www.epa.gov/greenerproducts/greening-your-purchase-cleaning-products-guide-federal-purchasers

There are options out there you can buy that are safe but I wanted to be as frugal as possible. I also like that I can buy the ingredients, which are common and easily found (before coronavirus came around) and also available in bulk so I really never run out. When I need more, it’s no more than a five-minute trip into the laundry room to mix up more and I ‘m ready to go again. During the corona virus quarantine I’ve been more thankful for that than ever before.

I have been doing a bit of research to make sure that the recipes I am making are using effective methods and products so that I’m not wasting my time or putting my family at risk of inadequate cleaning. It’s not the easiest to find solid evidence related to using these products for household cleaning but I did find several that supported their use. One of the common themes I read about as the fist step in adequate cleaning was that friction helps rid of viruses and bacteria. This is because it disrupts the outer layer of the virus/bacteria disabling it’s ability to stay alive. The recommendation is to use a cleaner with good ‘ol elbow grease to clean a surface and then to follow that with disinfectant. Common disinfectants include 70% rubbing alcohol or 3% hydrogen peroxide with contact for at least 3 minutes. Generally just letting the disinfectant air dry is a good rule.

https://www.consumerreports.org/cleaning/common-household-products-that-can-destroy-novel-coronavirus/

The main products that I go for in my cleaners and/or as disinfectants are white vinegar, rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide. Below I will share some sources backing their effectiveness in cleaning and disinfecting along with the links included and my take-aways from the research articles.

Acetic acid is what actively disinfects in white vinegar – FYI if vinegar is 5% (common for household use) that means its 5 grams of acetic acid.

https://mbio.asm.org/content/5/2/e00013-14.full

E.coli is killed by white vinegar after 5 minutes with agitation (friction, elbow-grease) or 10 minutes without agitation.
I would take from this that I would clean with vinegar based cleaners to help disrupt the E. Coli and follow that with a disinfectant if deemed necessary

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12380754/

Alcohols have broad spectrum antimicrobial activity – against bacteria, viruses and fungus. NOT sporicidal. Good for hard surfaces and skin antisepsis.

Hydrogen peroxide is environmentally friendly because it rapidly degraded into water and oxygen. Has broad spectrum activity against viruses, bacteria, yeast and bacterial spores. But 10-30% concentrations and longer contact times for sporicidal activity.

https://cmr.asm.org/content/12/1/147?ijkey=7609b49be08bd02c8d29fb8236c97915114c1188&keytype2=tf_ipsecsh

I will start with the disinfecting spray I use since that has been so important to have on hand to ensure killing any virus that could be lingering. The CDC recommendations are that you have 70% alcohol content to be effective in disinfecting. Right now it can be hard to come buy rubbing alcohol – it’s a hot commodity. I prefer to buy the 91% rubbing alcohol and dilute it down to my preference. I keep it in a spray bottle labeled and ready to use on frequently touched surfaces, allowing it to air dry for full effectiveness.

Disinfecting spray – 70% alcohol

91% Rubbing Alcohol – 1 cup
Distilled Water – 1/3 cup

Mirror and Glass Cleaner

Distilled Water – 2 Cups
White Vinegar – 2 Tbsp
Rubbing Alcohol – 2 Tbsp
Essential Oils – 10-15 drops

Distilled water is used in these recipes to prevent bacteria growth and the essential oils can be used or omitted as desired. I use different combinations of oils based on preference, price and availability. Some of my favorites for this are lemon, orange or peppermint which are all inexpensive. The oils help mask the vinegar and alcohol smell but honestly, the strong alcohol and vinegar smell dissipates quickly and does not linger.

All Purpose Cleaner

White Vinegar – 1 Cup
Distilled Water – 1.5 Cups
Essential Oils – 10-20 drops

Floor Cleaner

Rubbing Alcohol – 1/2 Cup
Castile Soap – 1 tsp
Distilled Water – 1.5 Cups
Essential Oils – 10-20 drops

Toilet, Sink and Shower Scrub

Bon Ami – sprinkled on surface and wiped/scrubbed off

Wood Dusting Spray

Olive, coconut or almond oil – 2 tsp
White Vinegar – 1/4 Cup
Essential Oils – 5-10 drops

Wood Polish

Olive, coconut or almond oil – 2 Tbsp
White Vinegar – 1/4 Cup
Essential Oils – 5-10 drops

White vinegar should NOT be used on natural stone, marble, or granite, as they are too porous. I do keep a bottle of white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide available for various household cleaning needs. Hydrogen peroxide needs to be kept in a dark bottle to prevent its breakdown, just like the bottles it is sold in from the store.

I use lint free cloths mostly for the bathrooms and mirrors; however, microfiber is another great cleaning cloth. The mop I use has reusable microfiber cloths and work wonderfully. Below are some links touting the effectiveness of microfiber in cleaning.

EPA Microfiber fact sheet – often used on hospital mops

Microfiber dries fast to prevent bacteria growth.

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/201308/documents/fact_sheet_whats_so_great_about_microfiber.pdf

Microfiber removes up to 99% of germs from a surface and can be washed up to 1,000 times so it is environmentally friendly in that way. (some debate about microfibers in water supply)

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/201311/documents/green_cleaning.pdf

simple, inexpensive super handy label maker!

When looking to make changes in your life I usually recommend changing a few things at a time as to not get overwhelmed or overburdened. Slowly we have changed to vetted cleaning products, with some trial and error, and now it’s a comfortable new routine. I have really enjoyed having more self-reliance and control over this area of our lives as well as peace of mind.

products linked below!