Storebought disinfectants can contain some pretty horrible stuff.  For instance, it has been said that “women who work at home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than those who work away from home. The 15-year study concluded it was as a direct result of the much higher exposure rate to toxic chemicals in common household products!”*  Now, I don’t know how much of that is due specifically to disinfectants, but it is clear that many household products are not harmless!  And when we’re talking about a product designed to kill things…well, we probably want to make sure it’s not going to kill us, too.

Because manufacturers do not have to fully disclose what’s in those bottles, I prefer to use individual products I know I can trust.  Here are three options for disinfecting without buying a “disinfectant.”

Bleach Solution

When I say “bleach solution,” I’m not talking about straight bleach, or about bleach mixed with any other “chemical” (DO NOT mix bleach with anything else unless you know what you’re doing; you could create a fatal chemical reaction).  I’m talking about chlorine bleach diluted in plain water.  (Yes, I’m aware that water is technically a “chemical,” but when we talk about “chemicals” in the vernacular, we don’t typically mean water.)

This does work.  The diluted bleach then dissipates into the air and the surfaces are quite safe.  (You don’t have to worry about things like “bleach residue.”  Although I wouldn’t personally use a scented bleach or anything like that.)

However.  I prefer to limit my use of bleach around the house for a couple of reasons.  One, it’s just a pretty potent chemical to have around.  Maybe it’s safe the way I’m using it, but it’s not safe if my kids get into the bottle.  So if I can minimize it in my house, I consider that a good thing.

Two, although it’s safe to use even on surfaces that will come in contact with food, because it will evaporate away, it’s not good for the lungs while it’s still wet/drying.  Especially for those with asthma, it’s just not good for respiration.  Since there are other options that don’t have this effect, I prefer to stick with them.

But bleach solution is a viable option.

Peroxide & Vinegar

This option is one of my favorites.  I know I read a study a while back, but I can’t seem to find it anymore, so please excuse the vagueness of this as I don’t remember what anything is called.  The gist is that when hydrogen peroxide (the regular stuff like you find at the drugstore) and vinegar are mixed, they combine in a chemical reaction to create a new chemical that is highly disinfectant.  (If I recall correctly, the study determined it was more effective than bleach.)

This chemical is highly volatile and very quickly disintegrates, which results in this being a very safe method of disinfectant, but also means that the peroxide and vinegar have to be mixed at point of use.

What that means is, don’t mix your peroxide and vinegar in a bottle and expect to spray that on.  Keep a spray bottle of peroxide and one of vinegar.  When you need to disinfect something, spray the “something” down with first one and then (immediately afterward, while it’s still wet) the other.  I just leave it, then, until it’s dry.

One huge advantage to this is that hydrogen peroxide and vinegar are both pretty safe to have around the house.  (I don’t worry over my kids finding and getting into the peroxide the way I worry about them finding and getting into the bleach.)

Antibacterial/Antiviral/Antiseptic Essential Oils

Just to be clear, the FDA hasn’t approved anyone’s saying that essential oils are any such thing (that I know of).  They’re much too concerned about their own bank accounts for that.  But there are essential oils that have any or all of these therapeutic actions, and they (along with their respective herbs) have been used to disinfect for centuries.  (You know, since before the FDA was trying to run our lives by telling us that we should buy some drugs they own stock in.)

For instance, the so-called “Four Thieves” blends are so named because in the Middle Ages, during the bubonic plague, certain thieves were robbing the bodies.  They protected themselves against illness by using a concoction of disinfectant herbs.  Now, you can use the herbs today — in a tincture form or the like — but that tends to not be a very convenient way to disinfect; essential oils are easier because they store better.

You’ll want to dilute them in something that will spray.  Be aware that essential oils and water do not mix.  So if you dilute the oil in water, you’ll need to shake it vigorously immediately before spraying, to “break up” the droplets and distribute them throughout your bottle.  Water by itself is still probably not the most effective method, though.  Alcohol (like vodka) is a better option as a carrier for essential oils (and has the added advantage that it is somewhat disinfectant, as well, so you’re getting a double whammy).  You can use mostly water, but add some alcohol or witch hazel to the mix.

Try this:

4 oz. water (distilled or filtered, preferably)
4 oz. witch hazel or vodka
30-60 drops of your preferred essential oil(s)**

Mix well in a fine-misting spray bottle and shake well immediately before use.

An easy option would be a “thieves blend” like Thieves (Young Living), ProShield (Ameo), etc..  You can mix your own, though, if you don’t care for that scent, need to avoid one of the oils in the blend, etc.  (Most of these premixed blends are not baby-safe.)

Many essential oils fall into this category (of anti-“yuckies”).  “Herby” oils tend to be especially antibacterial/antiviral, like oregano, rosemary, & thyme.  Citruses — like lemon, orange, lime, & grapefruit — can tend to be good antivirals and “air cleaners.”  Mints, clove, cinnamon bark, helichrysum, pine, & lavender are all good options, too, and give you a variety of options depending on what you want things to smell like.  It’s good to use a blend, though, of at least three different oils, to give you broader-spectrum protection, as they all have slightly different properties.

(Think about what scents are typically considered “cleanser” smells.  Chances are, these traditions came about because originally those plants were actually used in the making of the cleansers, for disinfectant purposes.)

One Last Option

There is one final option I should probably mention, even though it’s not exactly a disinfectant.  Norwex Envirocloths are awesome for wiping down surfaces, because they remove over 99% of the nasties from the surface.  That doesn’t quite qualify as “disinfecting” because it doesn’t “kill” anything, but it often solves the same problem. 🙂

*Toronto Indoor Air Conference 1990
**This dilution is for spraying into rooms or on surfaces only.  Don’t use one this strong and apply it to a person.