Like many moms cleaning is something I take very serious. I don’t enjoy cleaning, it is a necessary evil. I work full-time in healthcare and understand how quickly bacteria can spread all over your home. Doorknobs, counter tops and walls all contain bacteria that can make you or your family sick. There are many disinfectants and cleaners on the market that can kill these bacteria, but most of these cleaners contain harsh chemicals and ingredients that can also make your family sick if consumed. There is a safe alternative, however, that can do the same job without harming your family.
Materials
32 oz spray bottle
1 ½ cup white vinegar
3 cups warm water
1 tbsp tea tree oil
Juice from 1 lemon
Mix the Ingredients
It’s easy to make this cleaner. Simply gather all of the ingredients and combine in the spray bottle. You can use an old spray bottle that’s been cleaned out or you can pick up a new one from the store. You can also adjust the amount of vinegar you use, as long the vinegar doesn’t reach over half the amount of fluids. The less vinegar you use, the more you’ll smell the other ingredients. Once the ingredients are combined in the spray bottle, your cleaner is ready to use. This cleaner can be used on any hard surface in the kitchen and even in the bathroom.
Benefits of Lemon
Lemons are all-natural ingredients, which means this is one of the greenest products you can use. If you were to wash the lemon juice down the sink, the lemon would not poison or taint the water supply. Lemon also won’t make anyone sick if it is accidentally consumed. Lemons can also naturally kill bacteria and can even act as a degreaser.
Benefits of Tea Tree
Tea tree is another natural ingredient made with the essential oils that come from tea tree leaves. This ingredient can be used for a variety of cleaning chores since it is an antiseptic, germicidal, anti-fungal and antibacterial product. This makes it a great product to kill such household nuisances as mold and mildew. Living in SE Louisiana mold is something we often have to battle due to our normal temps.
Benefits of White Vinegar
This ingredient is a cleaner that can kill bacteria and remove stains. Not only can white vinegar do this, it can also help remove odors from surfaces, making it a great product to use in the kitchen. This product is safe to use on most hard surfaces. A spot test can help determine its effectiveness without ruining a surface. Also, try using apple cider vinegar. You can find a variety of uses for that as well.
How do you keep your family home free of bacteria and germs this time of year?
Latest posts by Maria (see all)
- How To Get Older Children Involved in Halloween - October 29, 2019
- 5 Ways to Prepare Your Child for Kindergarten - August 7, 2014
- Tips to Encourage Summer Reading - April 21, 2014
Not only vinegar removes the bacteria and germs but also lemon juice. Sometimes I add vodka in my cleaning recipes. It is a strong disinfectant. Also I use wine vinegar when I don’t have another option but it helps too. Thanks for sharing!
Besides tea tree oil, other oils to try are clove oil and eucalytus oil. Both the natural oils are effective in repelling pests and preventing mold from growing. And most importantly, these are completely natural.