A Greener Method of Disinfection

Disinfecting certain surfaces in our home has always been important. Now more than ever people are paying special attention to how they clean their homes due to the pandemic. As things open back up and the number of COVID-19 cases rise a bit higher to meet it, it is still very important to be diligent with cleaning and disinfecting at home. Especially as we slowly go back out into society and bring things into our homes.  

As many people reach to stockpile store-bought cleaners with harsh chemicals, leaving the shelves bare for the next person, we thought we would share some safer “greener” home disinfecting methods with you.  

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Here are some great eco-friendly and less harsh ways to keep those frequently used surfaces in your home germ-free.  

Castile Soap 

This is a plant-based soap made from oils like olive oil. The way castile soap works is by lifting dirt, gunk, and bacteria off of surfaces. Castile soap is gentle enough to wash human skin, it can even be used to wash your face! It is safe to use on wood surfaces, countertops, floorboards, and more around the house. Castile soap does work differently than the more widely used disinfectants in that it does not kill germs, it grabs them and lifts them away from the surface. It is still an effective means of disinfecting because it will grab pathogens including both illness-causing bacteria and virus germs.  

• How to Make a Castile Soap Based All-Purpose Spray: mix up ¼ cup of castile soap and one quart of water in a spray bottle. That’s it! Super simple and ready to use on almost any household surface. If you want to boost the antimicrobial power of your spray you can add1/4 teaspoon of tea tree essential oil to your spray bottle.  

Rubbing Alcohol for Heavy Duty Disinfecting Jobs 

The CDC has stated that sanitizer with an alcohol content of 60 to 95% is effective to help kill coronavirus germs. Alcohols are considered organic compounds made up of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. Though alcohol can be quite strong and you need to be cautious of how much comes in contact with your skin, it is a much less toxic disinfectant than bleach. Alcohol evaporates into water vapor and does not have any lingering fumes that hang in the air. The best alcohol to use is 70% isopropyl alcohol. The water content is most effective at helping to kill germs. If you are unable to find 70% alcohol you can dilute a higher percentage of alcohol with water. 

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Hydrogen Peroxide is Another Green Deep Disinfecting Alternative 

Hydrogen peroxide is made up of two hydrogens and two oxygen atoms. It is a good non-toxic and odorless safe cleaner because it not only kills germs but evaporates into water and oxygen, two very safe and essential building blocks in human health. Hydrogen behaves as a weak acid and is used many times to clean wounds in first aid. It disinfects by oxidizing and causing spontaneous combustion of organic material like bacteria and virus germs. The CDC also recommends hydrogen peroxide as a virus killer.  

• Using hydrogen peroxide to clean and disinfect surfaces: pour undiluted hydrogen peroxide straight from the bottle into a dark-colored or tinted glass spray bottle and spray directly onto the surface. Let it sit a few minutes and then wipe the surface clean. It is important to use a dark or tinted spray bottle as hydrogen peroxide will break down when exposed to light and lose its ability to kill germs. This is why it comes in dark brown bottles. 

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It is possible to keep your home clean and disinfected without exposing you, your kids, your pets, your parents, and all of your loved ones to harsh chemicals.