Many home cleaning products – especially those with fragrance – are toxic to the environment. Aside from that, some cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that could endanger not only your health but your family’s too.
Cleaning vs. Disinfecting
The first thing that you should realize is that there is a difference between cleaning and disinfecting.
Cleaning
Cleaning is the process of removing dirt, debris, grime, germs, and other impurities from surfaces. Cleaning alone will not kill germs – it will only remove them. But this will still help lower the risk of spreading them.
Disinfecting
When you disinfect, you use chemicals to kill the germs and other microbes on the surface. Disinfecting alone does not make the surface clean.
So, if you aim to clean and disinfect to keep you and your family safe from germs and viruses, you should do both. Clean first, then follow with disinfection.
Disinfect with Hydrogen Peroxide
One of the most non-toxic and safest disinfectants that you can use at home is hydrogen peroxide. This is a common household item and also usually comes in most first aid kits.
Hydrogen peroxide is water (H2O) that has an extra oxygen molecule (H2O2). It is a gentler solution often used to replace chlorine bleach since it breaks down into water and oxygen.
The hydrogen peroxide products that are available in stores usually have a 3% concentration. This is strong enough for it to be as effective as a disinfectant.
How to do it:
- Put on gloves for your protection.
- Clean the surface first before you disinfect.
- Pour the hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle or use a spray nozzle and place it on the original bottle. Most bottles can fit spray nozzles to keep the hydrogen peroxide in their original containers when being used.
- Spray the hydrogen peroxide onto the clean surface and let it sit for at least 5 minutes. This dwell time will be enough time for hydrogen peroxide properties to kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
- Wipe the surface all over with a clean cloth. If you are cleaning hard to reach places, it is okay to simply spray and leave as is. The hydrogen peroxide will eventually decompose into water and oxygen.
As you can see, using hydrogen peroxide is a simple and very easy process. The fact that a bottle of hydrogen peroxide is very cheap also makes it a cost-friendly disinfectant.
Additional tips for cleaning and disinfecting
Prioritize high-touch areas
You should always clean and disinfect high-touch areas like doorknobs, light switches, handles, faucets, toilets, sinks, tables, desks, appliances, and electronics. The frequency will also depend on how much you touch these things.
Know which products are safe
When you are shopping for cleaning products and disinfectants, take the time to read labels. Look for biodegradability designations, eco-certifications, ingredients, and make sure there is a hotline or other contact information.
Store products safely
Make sure you know how to properly store the products that you use. For instance, hydrogen peroxide is sensitive to light and should be stored in a dark container and place. If you do not follow proper storage, the products may lose their potency and will no longer be effective when you use them.
Always wash your hands with soap and water
Frequent and proper handwashing is recommended to help protect yourself from viruses. Soap works well on most viruses. They even perform better than wipes, gels, and disinfectants because soap can dissolve the fat membrane of a virus.
If soap is not available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend using a hand sanitizer containing 60% alcohol. However, note that hand sanitizers do not eliminate all germs, and they do not work on greasy or soiled hands. Aside from hand sanitizers, you can also use 70% isopropyl alcohol to clean your hands.