Walking into your local store, you will find an endless supply of household cleaning products. You find a different cleaning solution for every room in your house, and most of these products are all filled with Ammonia, Sodium Carbonate, and Ammonium chloride, to name a few. This wide variety of cleaning solutions makes cleaning your home quick and easy. All you have to do is aim, gently pull the trigger, and that’s it—the soap scum, mold, and germs magically disappear without considering the effects these chemicals might have.
These chemicals pollute the air we breathe inside our homes. It leaches onto our countertops, floors, carpets, bathtubs, sinks, and walls, and we absorb them into our bodies when they come in contact with our skin. Our homes have become toxic habitats. We regularly breathe, smell, and touch these chemicals.
We are all concerned about chemicals in and on our food – but have you considered the chemicals in your home?
Vinegar and Bicarb are two fantastic cleaning products we use in the house. The combo can cut through grease and lift stains. Hydrogen Peroxide and Ethanol are the other two products that we use constantly. Let’s face it: sometimes, we need something to get blood from a bloody nose out of the sheets. Bathrooms do need a good disinfectant to get the tiles clean. Hydrogen peroxide and Ethanol are chemicals, but they are not as toxic, kinder to nature, and better for your home.
What is Hydrogen Peroxide?
Hydrogen peroxide is water (H2O) with an extra oxygen molecule (H2O2). The extra oxygen molecule oxidizes, which is how peroxide gets its power. This oxidation kills germs and bleaches colour from porous surfaces like fabrics.
When you use peroxide, use medical-grade peroxide, which is 3% strength. That means it’s 97% water and 3% peroxide. Medical grade is strong enough for household use. Peroxide can irritate the skin, so I would suggest wearing rubber gloves when using peroxide.
How to use Peroxide
To disinfect, first clean any visible dirt or grime off the area with plain soap and water. Then, spray surfaces with a 50/50 mix of peroxide and water. Let it sit for five minutes or longer. Rinse surfaces that touch food, like cutting boards, but let other surfaces air dry, especially kitchen countertops.
Hydrogen peroxide is a great germ-killer for bathtubs, sinks, showers, and kitchen countertops. Peroxide has serious bleaching power, making it an effective stain remover. However, don’t use it on colored items; always test it on a hidden area first.
Here are a few ways peroxide gets rid of annoying spots and stains:
- Whitens carpet: If you have a white or off-white carpet, spray peroxide directly on carpet stains. Rub lightly with a clean cloth.
- Removes clothing stains: Soak white or off-white clothes in a bucket of water mixed with 1 cup of peroxide for 30 minutes. You can also add peroxide directly to the bleach compartment in your washing machine.
- Brightens tile grout: Spray peroxide directly onto the grout and let it sit for several minutes. Scrub with a stiff cleaning brush. Repeat if needed.
- Makes ceramic cookware gleam: Sprinkle pots and pans with baking soda and spray them with peroxide. Let them sit for 10 minutes, rinse and dry.
What is Ethanol?
Ethanol is an effective disinfectant at concentrations between 70% and 90%. Even though you may think the higher concentration is more effective, experts say 70% is better for disinfecting. It has more water, which helps it to dissolve more slowly, penetrate cells, and kill bacteria. The disinfecting power of rubbing alcohol drops at concentrations higher than 80%-85%
Ethanol evaporates quickly, leaving little residue behind. This quick evaporation is important in cleaning products because it removes contaminants without leaving surfaces overly wet or requiring
A few ways to use Ethanol in your house
- Window Cleaner and Glass Cleaner: Ethanol has amazing compounds that, when used as a window cleaner, leave the windows streak-free.
- Removes Grease and Stains: Applying ethanol to a cloth and working into the area will remove grease and uplift stains. Then, use warm, soapy water to remove the excess for a perfect finish.
- Used as an Antibacterial Cleaner: Ethanol’s antibacterial properties make it awesome for disinfecting wood, plastic, and glass surfaces.
Studies have shown that using a household cleaning spray can increase the risk of asthma and exacerbate allergies. As you clean, your skin absorbs the chemicals in your cleaners that might cause skin irritation and rashes.
We started getting rid of all chemicals when the kids were young. Children’s bodies are much more sensitive to everything, including household cleaners. The airborne toxins released when you clean are inhaled by your child and taken in by their still-developing lungs. Any residue left behind after cleaning can get on their skin and hands and, inevitably, in their mouths.
Cleaning products packed with nitrogen, phosphorus, and ammonia are dangerous to our earth. You may think that the damage is isolated to your home, but the effects of chemical cleaners go far deeper than that. They exit your home through your drains and pipes and into the sewers.
Most homes can be dusted, cleaned, and sanitized with the same solution. We do not need to increase our monthly grocery bill with all those cleaning solutions. Cleaning solutions can be made from some of the cheapest items in the home – baking soda, lemon juice, vinegar, and water. Your costs are cut even more when you buy these items in bulk.
There is no benefit to using chemicals in your home. All these chemicals will only help you use a little less elbow grease, but the impact of using fewer chemicals on your family and nature is something to be proud of, even if a little more muscle is required.
Our preferred Hydrogen Peroxide and Ethanol70% supplier is Reflecta Laboratory Supplies.
Reflecta has an online store, and for those of us staying in Cape Town, they have a store in Montaque Gardens where you can buy directly from Reflecta.
“We consider nature a vast chemical laboratory in which all kinds of compositions and de compositions are formed.” – reflecta
Happy Cleaning Friends!
Tash and Family
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