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Sanitizing your Home

The transmission of these allergens as well as other harmful things like dirt, dust, viruses and fungi can be controlled by effectively cleaning and sanitizing surfaces that are in contact with food and also sanitizing other surfaces such as the walls, floors, drains and ceilings. Cleaning involves the removal of all the visible dirt from any surface, while sanitizing involves the use of a chemical product, after cleaning, to effectively reduce germs on these surfaces.

Using Natural Sanitizers

Most people resort to chemical means to sanitize their houses but these products are not the safest ways to achieve the goal of reducing germs from the surfaces. Even though they are readily available in stores, when you use chemical-laden household cleaning products and also disinfectants, you expose your children to the poisonous effects of these compounds.

Look out for Natural Products

Though many natural sanitizers may not have much aromatic fragrance like the chemical products which are loaded with a host of aromatic but toxic chemicals, natural products in fact, efficiently purify, disinfect and remove the stains, all without the use of any chemicals. While shopping for sanitizers, you can look out for natural products.

1. Essential Oils

Most of the plants and herbs can be found in aromatic essential oil forms – cilantro, tea tree, neem, vanilla, and grapefruit. While shopping for sanitizers, look out for these natural  antibacterial and antimicrobial agents, which are great for sanitizing floors and tiles. Don’t hesitate to mix different essential oils, like eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary and lemon, to get various aromatic blends.

• Lemon Essential Oil: Essential oils, which are derived from lemons, carry the rich, intoxicating smell of ripe lemons and help remove stains and brighten surfaces. Use this essential oil to clean your house and leave it smelling fresh.

• Peppermint Essential Oil: This essential oil, with its minty smell, possesses strong antibacterial properties. Add it to your cleaning agent to tackle your bacteria-infested surfaces. This essential oil is also a pest preventer.
• Tea Tree Essential Oil: The essential oil of Tea Tree is very effective as an antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal sanitizing agent. It can also be used to fight mold and mildew in and around the house. With its antiseptic properties, this essential oil is a winner as a sanitizing agent.

2. White Vinegar

Mix vinegar with hot water and use it on any type of floor – tiles, wood, linoleum or laminate, to clean it. In addition to leaving the floor shining, vinegar also does the work of a mild disinfectant and can cut grease and also remove mildew and stains on walls. Vinegar, baking soda and boiling water can be used to clean your drains. A mixture of white vinegar and water cleanses windows and glasses.

3. Lemon Juice with Olive oil

Lemon juice mixed with olive oil and hot water works two ways; the hot water and lemon juice do the work of cleaning the floor while the olive oil does the work of leaving your floor shining and spotlessly clean. It being one of the strongest natural acids, lemon can cleanse bacteria most effectively. This natural cleaning formula can be used mainly on wooden floors.

4. Borax

Borax in hot water is great for using in bathrooms which require good disinfecting. Borax is a strong disinfectant and is effective in any situation whether it be for cleaning, deodorizing, softening water, disinfecting, cleaning wallpaper, floors or walls. Borax with liquid castile soap is a natural toilet bowl cleaner.

5. Other Natural Cleaners

• Use a mixture of baking soda and liquid soap with hot water to prepare your own liquid cleaner.
• Baking soda in warm water makes an effective refrigerator cleaner.
• Dampen your oven with water and liberally sprinkle baking soda over it; scrub the oven after 20 minutes till it sparkles.
• Baking soda, castile soap and essential oil together can be used for scrubbing fixtures.

Your home is your sanctuary and it has to be a safe place; but with the store-bought toxic chemical-based products being used to clean and sanitize your home front, it no longer remains a haven for you and your family. So, while shopping for sanitizers look out for natural products which are non-corrosive, non-hazardous and non-poisonous and can be used for sanitizing your home without any threat to your loved ones.