Posts Tagged ‘green disinfectant’

Every minute I stay in this room, I get weaker, and every minute Charlie squats in the bush, he gets stronger.

Listening to soap commercials these days could lead you to believe that there are flesh-eating bacteria around every corner, on every child’s toy, on every doorknob, on every part of your body and in the very air that you breathe. This also seems to be the common consensus when you consider that around 75% of liquid soaps on the market have antibacterial agents in them. Antibacterial agents can also be found in large percentages of laundry soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, body washes, dish soaps, and many household cleaning products. And don’t forget all those little portable bottles of hand sanitizing gel all of the healthier-than-thou-eugenicists whip out every time they touch anything. These “cleaners” are actually making us dirtier and more susceptible to infection. That’s an example of real irony, Alanis!

Antibacterial soaps were created for use in Hospitals to prevent the spread of infections. Of course, a billion dollar industry was created by marketing them to the rest of us. Although soap industries would have us believe otherwise, the CDC has maintained through all the antibacterial hype that we all just need to wash with warm water and soap for twenty seconds to avoid harmful bacteria. (For more information on soap and how it works, see my previous Blog: Soaps vs. Detergents!) Interestingly, antibacterial agents need to be on a surface for at least two minutes to work completely. In fact, a study demonstrated that an antibacterial agent would have to be four times stronger than ones that are used in soaps and sit on a surface for four hours to kill 90% of an E-Coli bacteria.

So, if antibacterial soaps aren’t killing the really scary stuff, what are they doing? The component that makes them work is triclosan which inhibits the production of a fatty acid vital to life within bacteria cells. One problem with this is that useful bacteria is removed. Our bodies are full (inside and out) of a variety of bacteria that protects us from harmful bacteria. Most often we get sick from a virus rather than a bacteria anyway.

Risking your own immune system is one thing, but what about the rest of us? The primary problem with antibacterial agents is that the bacteria that survives will usually mutate into a new strain that resists the antimicrobial chemical effect. Let me make sure you got that: more resistant, stronger, more virulent bacteria are created through natural selection. That means that when we get sick, we get really sick. And here’s the kicker – most antibacterial agents go after the same bacteria as antibiotics. This means that you won’t get better when you take your meds if the bacteria that got you sick is one of these new super-bugs that slithered up out of the mushy, soapy wasteland of your shower and learned to walk. That is until, of course, a stronger antibiotic is made and then –  well, the cycle could go on and on. (This is the way the world ends / This is the way the world ends…)

Clean yourself, your children, and your pets on a regular basis with soap. Take your vitamins and get regular exercise. Eat a healthy diet and choose organic foods when possible. If you still feel you must disinfect something use 3% hydrogen peroxide or salt and warm water – only after you have removed any soil from the surface. You will be okay. Afterall, the big, scary man at the center of the heart of darkness is just a short, fat, bald guy.

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(from a comment to a previous blog)

In a Green way, how can I keep my kitchen sponge fresh and germ-free as possible? I read your blog regularly and pass along your advice. Thanks for teaching an old dog new tricks. : )

Andrea M.

Oklahoma

Dear Andrea,

Thank you for your question! It just so happens that I have a previous blog that will answer your question. Spongeworthy! . (boil your sponges for a few minutes in water, ½ cup of vinegar, and a few drops of tea tree oil to disinfect. You can also soak them in the same mixture and microwave for a minute – I would add kosher salt to this mixture too) At that time you commented  that you wanted to be spongeworthy. It has been quite a while since it was written so I understand that you have forgotten. A lot has happened since last summer for all of us. And, I understand, that while many incredible traits run in your family, a strong memory is not one of them! Besides, it is not you that needs to be Spongeworthy but Mike! Thankfully, you all have not been too concerned with spongeworthiness because I know for a fact that you have very handsome, creative, wise, and kind children. While that may be rare, I do not think it has anything to do with chance!

Love and Happy Cleaning!

Teresa

P.S. More on this later in a personal communication – just received your care package – LOVE two owls and a friend!!! Thank you!!!

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Recipes from previous blogs gathered here for quick and easy reference.

After Shower Spray

white vinegar in a spray bottle with 15 drops of essential oil

Litter Box Odor Control

baking soda with a few drops of essential oil

Air Freshener

spray bottle with equal parts water and white vinegar with 15 drops of essential oil

Sponge Cleaner

soak sponges in white vinegar and a few drops of tea tree oil then boil or microwave

Ant Genocide

• 1 tsp of boric acid
• 4 tsp of sugar
• 1/2 cup of hot water
• several cotton balls

Mix the boric acid, sugar and water. Soak the cotton balls in the mixture and place them near the entrance the ants are using.

Produce Cleaner

You will need two spray bottles, white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide (the 3% kind you find in the drugstore). Spray the produce with the hydrogen peroxide first and the vinegar second. Finally, rinse with water. (Do not combine the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide in the same bottle!)

Tough Shower Stains

I use 3 tbsps of baking soda and 1/4 cup of liquid castile soap. Mix these together with a fork to work out the clumps. Then spread it over the stained tub and scrub with a natural bristle brush. For extra abrasion, sprinkle kosher salt on the stain as well. (The salt mixed with water gives you an added anti-bacterial agent.)

Roach Control

• a hose end sprayer
• 1 cup of liquid soap (you may substitute baby shampoo and Murphy’s oil soap)
• 1 cup of tobacco tea (made by putting a finger of chewing tobacco in a nylon stocking and soaking it in a quart of hot water until the water is dark brown)
• 1 cup of antiseptic mouthwash
• 1/4 cup of Tabasco sauce

Place this mixture in your hose end sprayer and treat the outside of your house.

Meanwhile, you need to kill any roaches that are already in the house. This is a fun one! Mix equal parts granulated sugar and baking soda. Spread the mixture in out of the way areas in your home. The roaches will be attracted to the sugar and eat the mixture. This will kill the roach because the roach has an acid based stomach and the baking soda is a base. This is even more fun because roaches eat their dead so the solution cascades through the colony!

Strip and Clean Linoleum

• white vinegar
• cream of tartar (found in the baking or spice aisle at the grocery)
• water
• a few rags or soft cloths

First, mix 1 oz of cream of tartar with 8 oz of vinegar (1 cup to 1 gallon). Apply this mixture to the floor and buff the wax off with a cloth.

Next, clean any remaining dirt with equal parts vinegar and warm water using a damp cloth.

Clean Stone Counters

a mixture of ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide and a few drops of liquid soap

Clean Mold, Mildew, and Fungus

1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide, 3 tbsps of vinegar and a few drops of tea tree oil

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Dear Teresa,

I need your help in cleaning my lab. Admittedly, I run a very untidy lab. But after returning from vacation with my family, I found that some of my cultures of stephylococcus had been contaminated with some sort of fungus. What can I do?

Thank you,

Alex F.

The U.K.

Dear Alex,

Thank you for your question! First, if you are unable to keep your lab clean, you should hire someone like myself. A dirty environment, aside from being unpleasant, can cause the spread of bacteria and disease. You should know better!

Anyway, you need to clean petri dishes that have been contaminated with a fungus and I am here to help. You will need three things: 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide, 3 tbsps of vinegar and a few drops of tea tree oil. Both the hydrogen peroxide and the vinegar have anti-fungal properties and the tea tree oil is a natural disinfectant. Wipe the petri dishes (and any affected areas) with the mixture using a soft cloth, cotton balls or Q-tips. Rinse with water.

This same mixture can be used at home to disinfect and remove mold and mildew.

While accidents can happen, it is imperative to keep your environment clean and healthy!

Hope this helps!

Happy Cleaning!

Teresa

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