The results of our educational experiment seem to suggest homemade cleaners are less effective at disinfecting surfaces. Or, at least, you need to be especially prudent about your recipe. “My initial thoughts from the homemade cleanser were that it didn't work at all,” said Dr. Renk.
"Vinegar or baking soda does work, but you'll need to put more effort in to get the same effect of a commercial product," Dr Musgrave says. "If you have adverse reactions, or don't like the smell of commercial products, [home-made products] can be your go to."
To make it, combine half a cup of distilled white vinegar with 2 cups of water. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil or a squeeze of lemon for scent; since these are in low concentrations, they'll be safe for more surfaces.
To reduce waste and avoid unnecessary plastic bottles and chemicals — and to save money — many people are opting to make cleaning products from scratch at home. You can find an abundance of recipes for household cleaning products online, along with reusable glass spray bottles designed to hold them.
Cons. However, cleaning grime with natural products may take time and work. This is because they don't have the harsh chemicals that can quickly break down dirt and require a bit more elbow grease to fully clean the materials. Therefore, the best practice is to clean quickly and often.
Natural cleaning materials hold some advantages over their manufactured counterparts. For starters, you don't need a dictionary to explain the ingredients. Plus, natural materials are friendlier to people with allergies, may be less harmful if swallowed and less toxic to the environment.
The verdict. While natural cleaning products tend to be safer for you and for the environment, they might not clean as quickly and they might cost a bit more.
Preparations with hydrogen peroxide, too, will break down quickly and lose their effectiveness, which is why I say to toss the remainder of my (super-effective) Tub, Tile, and Grout Cleaner after using it. That being said, most products will work great for at least 3 months after mixing them up.
To save money
In many cases, making your own cleaning and personal care products is cheaper than the conventional, store-bought alternatives. That's not always the case though. If your main reason in making homemade products is to save money, you'll want to be sure to add up all the costs before starting.
Some of the items in your pantry (like baking soda and vinegar) work as effective homemade all-purpose cleaners and, even better, cost next to nothing.
The best everyday cleaner is a gentle one that's safe for many surfaces. Some top choices include Mr. Clean Clean Freak Mist, Mrs. Meyer's All-Purpose Cleaner, and Method All-Purpose Cleaner.
Use microfiber cloths for everything.
Better yet, they reduce the amount of cleaning products you'll need to use, and they leave surfaces dry and clean with a minimum of wiping. Some professionals believe so strongly in the power of microfiber cloths that they only use water or vinegar to clean many surfaces.
Clean a Little Every Day
For most people, it's far less overwhelming to clean for 20 to 30 minutes a day than it is to set aside several hours on a weekend or give up your entire Saturday to do a deep-clean. So, consider tackling a single room or set a timer for a certain amount of time each day to maintain your home.
Rinsing is not necessary! If you're simply using a vinegar and water solution to wipe and disinfect, you won't need to rinse. However, if there's also plenty of dirt and grime you're wiping away, you may also want to rinse with some extra water.
Spills and trash get taken care of on an as-needed basis every day or two. Vacuuming and mopping should happen at least once a week. Clean carpets every three to six months. Living rooms and bedrooms should be attacked at least once a week.
A: We do not recommend mixing any Pine-Sol® product with other cleaning products or chemicals. Mixing cleaners can result in the release of hazardous gases.
1 - Vinegar
It's made up of 95% water and 5% acetic acid, which kills about 80% of germs. As such, it's a powerful, natural disinfectant that can be used to clean your sweat-stained clothes, wash your dishes, clean rusty tools, and remove hard water deposits.
Cleaning vinegar or white vinegar – not apple cider vinegar or wine vinegar – is most commonly chosen for cleaning. However, it's important to remember that while vinegar does work as a disinfectant to some degree, it is not as effective as bleach or commercial cleansers when it comes to killing germs.
Here's how to do it: Combine 1 1/2 cups rubbing alcohol with 3/4 cups water and 15 drops each of lavender and lemon essential oil in a metal or glass spray bottle. You can use this spray to disinfect everything you would typically use Lysol for, including toilets, laptops, bathrooms surfaces, door handles, and more.
Green cleaning is the process of choosing cleaning products that are better for both people and the planet. Switching to green cleaning products is good for the health and wellbeing of your people, and it also prevents unnecessary chemicals from being released into the environment.
White Vinegar
To use vinegar to disinfect your laundry, try adding 1 cup to the rinse cycle. Not only can it kill germs and bacteria, but it's also a great natural deodorizer. White vinegar can be used on colors and whites, keeping clothes bright, and works as an effective fabric softener, too.