If there is one thing that can potentially derail my green life philosophy, it is the stomach bug. We recently had one of these lovely invaders in our home. When I heard the familiar retching from my youngest, I froze and my whole body tensed. My first instinct was to grab a role of paper towel and a bottle of bleach. But, after 6 hours of vomiting from my son, I got to thinking. What do I really need to clean up and prevent the spread of this bug? Can this be done in an environmentally conscious way?
As science advances, we are starting to realize that the majority of microbes (bacteria, viruses, fungus) will not cause us harm and, in fact, work with us in a symbiotic relationship. Only a small percentage of microbes cause illness if their growth becomes out of control. These microbes are called pathogens. We need the good bacteria around to fight the bad. Our gut is naturally inhabited by millions of these creatures and they help to prevent illness. But there is also another line of thinking that has gotten us into trouble. Some are under the impression that everything needs to be disinfected. Our homes, our bodies, our children. There is evidence that this practice has contributed to increases in allergies and autoimmune diseases. Overuse of antibiotics and disinfectants can lead to “superbugs” that are resistant to the very things designed to kill them. Additionally, many of the cleaners that we use to disinfect our homes and bodies have been found to be toxic to humans. Children are especially susceptible to chemicals and can be harmed by small amounts. So, for everyday cleaning, the objective is not to eliminate all microbes, but rather keep our environments at a healthy level of clean.
Before I really thought about what I was doing, I used to have separate cleaners for everything. Each supposedly for one specific task. I had a glass cleaner, a toilet cleaner, a tile cleaner, kitchen spray, bathroom spray, carpet cleaner, oven cleaner, bleach and bleach wipes, even stainless steal cleaner! Each cleaner also contained a plethora of toxic chemicals. But why do we need separate cleaners? Most contain similar ingredients and do the same things. Now I am armed with a total of 3 cleaners plus microfiber cloths and old towels. Yes, you read that right. Just three cleaners. And they are all safe for human use and the environment. They are cheap and can be bought in bulk to save on packaging. Drum roll please! These three super power cleaners are:
- Vinegar – 5% acetic acid; cuts through grease; 80% disinfection with a 5 minute dwell time; deodorizes. Use straight to disinfect and get rid of hard water stains. Combine 50:50 with water for an everyday spray for kitchen, bathrooms, tile, mirrors, windows, and as a toilet bowl cleaner. Boost the power by combining with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). Make a volcano, just like in elementary school!
- Hydrogen peroxide – 99% sanitizing to use on vomit, feces, blood, and raw meat/egg spills. Mix 50:50 with water or use straight with a 5 minute dwell time. This will work on COVID-19 also.
- Bac-out enzyme cleaner – has live enzyme cultures combined with plant-based surfactants to get into and breakdown natural substances such as dirt, urine, vomit, feces, and even wine. Great for carpets and baby spit-up as well as a stain remover for laundry.
I’ll let you in on another little secret: a wet microfiber cloth will physically remove up to 99% of pathogens (microbes that cause illness), that can then be washed down the drain. So without using any chemicals at all you can prevent most infectious pathogens. And, oh my, think of all of those paper towels you will save!! You will more than recoup your money spent on the cloth. For everyday cleaning that is all I use, a wet microfiber cloth. For the bathroom, I combine that with vinegar spray. If I happen to have raw meat juices or raw eggs, I follow up with spraying with hydrogen peroxide solution (50:50 with water) and allow it to sit for 5 minutes then wipe it off again with the microfiber cloth and then rinse the cloth well. Unfortunately, vinegar does not kill methicillin resistant staph aureus (MRSA, one of those antibiotic resistant bacteria, not typically present in the home) or salmonella, but hydrogen peroxide will.
But what about those pesky stomach bugs? Well, for our latest infestation, I used straight vinegar, which I sprayed on counters, the backs of chairs, light switches, faucets, doorknobs, and other high contact areas. I let it sit for five minutes then wiped off with a wet microfiber cloth. I then sprayed with hydrogen peroxide solution and let sit for 5 minutes and wiped off with a microfiber cloth. I repeated this several times for the 48 hours after my son was sick. CAUTION: do not mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide in the same container as the resulting solution can be irritating to skin and also dull or damage some surfaces such as unfinished stone or grout as well as travertine and granite. So if you spray on these surfaces, be sure to wash off well with water.
For our latest outbreak, I also frequently laundered kitchen and hand towels as well as sponges (put in the dishwasher) and made a point to soak toothbrushes in hydrogen peroxide. The toilets also were cleaned frequently with straight vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, separately. So far, so good. A week later and no one else in the house has contracted the bug. Be aware if it is a norovirus, neither vinegar nor hydrogen peroxide can kill it and you will need to use a bleach solution (1/2 cup added to 1 gallon water). But for most pathogens bleach is not necessary. And NEVER mix bleach with other cleaners, especially ammonia as this can produce toxic gases. Always wear gloves and a mask while cleaning with bleach.
Here is a list of the most harmful cleaning ingredients from the Environmental Working Group. Many can cause severe lung or skin irritation, have been linked to varying types of cancer, or are known as endocrine disruptors, which can lead to early onset puberty, diabetes, autoimmune disorders and more. It’s best to get rid of these, although I admit I keep bleach on hand for desperate situations.
- Triclosan
- Quaternary ammonium compounds (look for names similar to benzalkonium chloride or that contain ammonium, chloride, and bromide)
- Benzalkonium chloride
- Ethanolamines (MEA, DEA, TEA)
- Bisphenol A
- Parabens (e.g. Propylparapen, Isopropylparapen, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben )
- Phthalates (e.g. dimethyl/ethyl phthalate DMP/DEP, dibutyl phthalate DBP and many others ending in phthalate)
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs, often found in aerosols, benzene, ethylene glycol, formaldehyde, methylene chloride, tetrachloroethylene, toluene, xylene, and 1,3-butadiene )
- Fragrance (often contains several of the above ingredients)
- Sodium hypochlorite (bleach)
Here is a list of safe cleaning ingredients and common names you may find on labels. Most are staples in your kitchen cabinets. As a disclaimer, even though they are safe for cleaning purposes, they still should be kept out of the reach of children since in large quantities they may not be safe for consumption.
- Vinegar (acetic acid)
- Hydrogen peroxide (used in some oxygen bleach products) – works on COVID-19
- Alcohol (ethanol, 70% isopropyl alcohol=rubbing alcohol) – works on COVID-19
- Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
- Salt (works to create friction when scrubbing the toilet)
- Cream of tartar (mix with hydrogen peroxide to make a cleaning paste for tiles and stainless steel)
- Lemon juice (citric acid)
- Soap nuts (soap berries, aritha)
- Plant based surfactants (decyl/lauryl/coco/capryl glucoside, sodium coco sulfate). Don’t confuse with synthetic, petroleum based surfactants.
- Live enzyme cultures (bacillus cultures)
- Water – yes really! Use a steam cleaner to disinfect and loosen dirt on tile surfaces. Combine water with a microfiber cloth for everyday cleaning. Follow up with a dry cloth on windows for a shine without any cleaners at all.
So, go clean out under your sinks and toss or donate all of those toxic cleaners you’ve been hoarding. Recycle the containers. Get three empty spray bottles and fill one with straight vinegar, one with hydrogen peroxide solution, and one with Bac-out. Store them under the kitchen sink. Additionally, store a spray bottle with vinegar/water mixture in each bathroom. Keep a pile of microfiber cloths in each location so you will always be ready. That truly is all you need to clean!!
