When you're doing a DIY woodworking project, it's a good idea to start with a fresh, clean surface. But whatever you do, if you're working with untreated wood, don't use a Clorox wipe to clear off dust and dirt. Because untreated or unpainted wood is porous, disinfectant wipes can leave it with a big, ugly stain.
Lysol disinfecting wipes are specially formulated to be safe on most finished wood surfaces such as cabinets, tables, and floors. However, they aren't recommended for untreated, unpainted, or unfinished porous wood surfaces. It's always best to do a quick spot test before applying wipes to your wood furniture.
Don't use them on other absorbent surfaces.
Like most disinfectants, Clorox wipes are approved to disinfect only non-porous surfaces. It's best to avoid unfinished, unsealed, unpainted, waxed, oiled, or worn surfaces.
For small spills, try Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes. They even work on wood floors! For a deeper clean, vacuum or sweep the floor before mopping to remove the excess dirt, crumbs and other floor-dwelling particles.
Tips for Disinfecting Cabinets
Our first quick fix involves a rag or towel dampened with a solution of 3/4 cup of bleach per one bucket of water. Once applied, carefully wipe all cabinet surfaces. Next, go over everything again with a plain, wet cloth.
A simple solution of half a cup of distilled white vinegar, half a cup of warm water and a teaspoon of mild dish detergent like Dawn will also do the trick. Be sure to test the mixture first in a hidden area of the wood to make sure it does not damage the finish.
If you want to disinfect this area of your home but you don't want to bring harsh chemicals into your house, consider a more natural cleaning solution such as a vinegar solution. To create this, make a 50/50 solution of warm water and vinegar. Spray the solution on your cabinets and wipe them clean.
Can You Use Clorox Wipes on Any Surfaces? Many consumers think Clorox wipes have one common ingredient in many cleaning products have – bleach. According to a representative from Clorox informed that the wipes actually don't have any bleach in them. Thus, they are safe on all hard, non-porous surfaces.
A mixture of 1 part Chlorine Bleach, (Clorox) to 32 parts water (½ cup bleach per gallon of water, or 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water) will need to sit on surfaces for 5-10 minutes in order to disinfect them. We found this did not harm either of our wood finishes.
Lysol claims you can use All-Purpose Cleaner for cleaning or disinfecting your hardwood floor without any damage to the wood. The company says you can also use Lysol Clean & Fresh Multi-surface Cleaner for non-porous hardwood surfaces.
His recommendation is to “use it and lose it” when using Clorox wipes. In other words, wipe down a single surface and then toss the wipe. In the end, you can continue using Clorox wipes as long as you want, provided you follow the instructions on the label.
Clorox wipes may kill bacteria and viruses, but they can also lead to allergic reactions and can be harsh on the skin.
What Surfaces Can You Use Clorox Wipes On? First things first, a revelation—the composition of Clorox Wipes doesn't include the one ingredient you thought you knew. A rep for Clorox informed us that the wipes “actually don't have any bleach in them, so they are safe on all hard, non-porous surfaces.” Mind…
When you're doing a DIY woodworking project, it's a good idea to start with a fresh, clean surface. But whatever you do, if you're working with untreated wood, don't use a Clorox wipe to clear off dust and dirt. Because untreated or unpainted wood is porous, disinfectant wipes can leave it with a big, ugly stain.
Rubbing alcohol, also called isopropyl alcohol, poses a hazard to most wood furniture finishes. Even in small quantities, such as spatter drops, rubbing alcohol does more than leave a stain on wood. The alcohol acts as a solvent, destroying wood furniture finishes on contact.
To sanitize a cutting board, either plastic or wood, use a dilute chlorine bleach solution (1 tablespoon per gallon of cool water). Be sure to rinse it well with warm water.
For an easy-clean, spray Clorox Clean-Up Cleaner and Bleach on a towel and wipe down your cabinet handles, refrigerator door, and microwave door. These surfaces get used multiple times a day, and using this spray is an easy solution to get rid of any germs that are left behind.
Water (with a pH of 7) and dish soap (with a pH between 7 and 8) are always good options. The best cleaner, the one that is less likely to do damage to the wood is good old-fashioned elbow grease. Applied with a damp cloth, elbow grease should be effective at removing dirt and dust and even oil and grease build-up.
Mix a 50/50 solution of vinegar and warm water and put into a spray bottle. Mist on cabinets, let sit for a minute or two and then wipe clean with a soft cloth. This step is optional. Add a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent to the vinegar and water solution to clean extremely grimy cabinets.
Dilute ¼ cup of Pine-Sol® in one gallon of warm water. Dampen a sponge in the mixture, wring out so it's just damp to wipe away grease, grime and dirt. Optional: Scrub stubborn messes or stains with full strength Pine-Sol®, using a sponge or soft cloth. Finish by rinsing with water and wipe kitchen cabinets dry.
Mix a tablespoon of vinegar into a spray bottle containing a few ounces of water, then squirt the solution onto the affected area, wiping away with a damp cloth. Wipe the cleaned area with a dry cloth afterward to keep the moisture from soaking into the wood.
Rubbing alcohol can help remove sticky gunk and also acts as a disinfectant—a big reason why we have it in our medicine cabinet. It is cheap, effective, and multi-purpose, making it very attractive to use. But whatever you do, never use it on your wood furniture.
Some people may develop reactions on their hands or other skin surfaces after using disinfecting wipes. Household cleaning products can often contain preservatives and fragrances which can cause allergic reactions, including rashes, after contact with human skin.