Two words are about to solve a few of your top problems as a parent — natural disinfectant.
You spent the afternoon making the latest, greatest play dough recipe that Pinterest has to offer. Everything went great — until your tot licked the grime-covered kitchen counter. Ewww! Sure, spraying on a chemical cleaner gets those tummy-turning germs gone, but do you really want your 3-year-old licking something with a list of ingredients that look like they belong in a lab?
Eliminating chemical-based products in your home is the safest choice for your family — no chemicals for little ones to get into and no chemicals on surfaces and in the air your family breathes.
What’s the solution? After all, some homemade disinfectants actually have chemicals in them (for example, alcohol or hydrogen peroxide) because disinfecting (killing viruses and bacteria) takes strength. That said, you don’t need mega-amounts of man-made ingredients to get the job done. Think green and check out these natural disinfectant products!
Lemon Juice
Homemade natural cleaning products can be easily and quickly made with products that you probably already have in your house. Ingredients like water, vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice and essential oils (optional) can be mixed together in various combinations to clean just about anything.” For a solution that’s strong enough to disinfect a grimy toilet, mix lemon juice and baking soda into a paste.
Hydrogen Peroxide
You already clean off your little guy’s scrapes and skinned knees with the stuff, so why not use it to clean your home as well? Hydrogen peroxide can destroy some bacteria, viruses, spores, yeasts and fungi. Use a 3 percent formula, and allow it to sit on the surface for one full minute or longer.
Keep in mind, hydrogen peroxide may stain or discolor some surfaces. Always test out this cleaner on a small (out of the way) patch before spraying it everywhere. Screw a spray nozzle directly onto a hydrogen peroxide bottle for easy cleaning.
White Vinegar
You’ve probably already got some white vinegar in your kitchen cabinet and when used properly this household ingredient can clean and disinfect just as well.
Tea Tree Oil
Do you remember spotting this stuff on pimples during your adolescent days (or maybe in more recent times)? The oil isn’t just for skin, it’s also a natural disinfectant.
Ready-made Products
Look for natural products that include natural germ-fighting ingredients such as citric or lactic acid. For kitchen messes, try natural soaps for disinfecting. Adding natural liquid soaps helps to degrease.
Natural disinfectants can work better than chemical-based products. There are no fumes, surfaces are cleaned and you can breathe the air while cleaning. Always remember, these are still cleaning products and should never be left out where your young child could get a hold of them. If ingested, any disinfectant — including the natural ones — could cause health problems for you or your child.
If you need help around your home, browse local home cleaning on Care.com.
