Latest news with #disinfectant
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
6 Things You Should Never Clean With Bleach, According To Cleaning Pros
Using bleach, a powerful disinfectant, may be part of your cleaning routine. But there are some surfaces and places in the home where using this strong chemical may cause more harm than good. Getting rid of grime and making sure everything is germ-free is important but you'll also want to make sure it's the appropriate cleaner for the job. 'People should be cautious about using bleach on some surfaces or areas of the home because it can be corrosive, cause discoloration, damage surfaces, release toxic fumes or harm materials,' says Armeka Townsend. According to Marla Mock,'Most times, there are alternatives to bleach that are more natural and gentler to use around the house."Meet the Expert Armeka Townsend is a cleaning expert and senior consumer relations representative at Zep Cleaning, a trusted brand of cleaning supplies sold at grocery stores and mass retailers. Marla Mock is the president of Molly Maid, a franchise of independent cleaners nationwide. Tonya Harris is an award-winning toxin expert and author of The Slightly Greener Method. Carol Mehas is the founder of arbOUR Products, a line of natural cleaning Countertops and Surfaces Thinking about using bleach on your beautiful stone countertops? Think again. Otherwise, you risk ruining them. Stone surfaces, including marble, granite, and quartz, are porous and bleach can wreak havoc of these beautiful materials. 'Bleach can damage the sealant of [stone] surfaces, as well as dulling the surface or even change the color of the stone,' says Tonya Harris. And not only can it cause harm to your stone countertops or surfaces, bleach usually soaks in and stays, Mock explains that with a protective sealant gone, it 'exposes your countertops to deterioration and stains.' How to Clean 'Use a couple of small squirts of mild liquid dish soap mixed into warm water and rub gently, then rinse,' recommends Harris. But don't use too much dish soap thinking it's better! 'Too much soap can dull the surface," she explains. Also, choose a dish soap without a fragrance to ensure unexpected staining doesn't occur. According to Carol Mehas, natural cleaning products, 'Scent free is preferred because most scents are made up of oils and that will create a ring around the area you are cleaning!' Stainless Steel and Metals Want to get your stainless steel pots and pans or even forks and spoons disinfected and cleaned? Don't reach for bleach. This strong chemical will leave you with ruined cooking vessels and an unexpected trip to the store to buy new ones. 'Bleach can oxidize and corrode metals, causing surfaces to rust,' explains Harris. The rust causes discoloration. 'Bleach can corrode and damage stainless steel, leaving it discolored and potentially impacting its structural integrity,' adds Townsend. How to Clean 'Never use steel wool or a scouring pad on stainless steel to avoid scratching the surface,' says Mock. She suggests using microfiber cloths and dish soap. 'Mix warm water and a few drops of dish soap or mild cleaner in a small spray bottle,' she says. 'Mist the stainless-steel surface with a light coating of the spray and using a soft microfiber cloth, wipe off the dish soap mixture in the direction of the grain.' The way you clean is important to avoid damaging stainless steel. 'To prevent scratching and improve shine, always clean in the direction of the grain, she says. 'Stainless steel has faint lines that are called the grain.' Wood Bleach and wood don't go together so make sure to avoid this harsh chemical on any wood surface, whether it's cutting boards or wood floors. Once you use bleach on any type of wood, it's near impossible to remove. 'The porous nature of wood will only absorb the bleach, and you can't safely remove it or rinse it," says Mehas. "Not only will it continue to erode over time, it's also dangerous for hands, feet, or the furry paws of your lovable pet!' 'Do not use bleach on wooden surfaces,' says Townsend. 'Bleach can cause discoloration, weaken the wood fibers, and damage the finish of the wood.' How to Clean 'Use a gentle cleaner specifically designed for wood,' says Townsend. 'Be sure to wring out the cleaning cloth well to avoid water damage.' And if you're cleaning a wooden floor, how you clean will depend on if the wood floor is sealed or unsealed. 'To clean sealed wood floors, mop with a mix of ¼ cup of mild or pH-neutral soap with water in a bucket,' says Mock. 'With unsealed wood floors, you should only sweep, dust mop or vacuum regularly, being careful not to use water.' Grout Noticing moldy grout lines lining the shower or bathtub? Sure, you think, I'll just pour some bleach on the grout lines and problem solved. Stop right there. Bleach may make the grout lines look better but it won't get to the bottom of the problem. 'While bleach can brighten the area and kill the mold at the surface, it doesn't get to the roots of the mold,' says Harris. Wondering what an alternative to bleach is? Reach for a bottle of white vinegar to remove the mold. 'White vinegar can kill about 82% of mold and can penetrate porous surfaces to kill the 'roots' of the mold,' says Harris. 'If you have some mold in tiles or on shower walls, this is an easy way to get rid of it.' How to Clean 'Pour white vinegar into a spray bottle and thoroughly spray the surface and let it sit for an hour,' says Harris. 'Follow by rinsing the area with a damp cloth with warm water (do not soak the area with water).' Sometimes scrubbing may be necessary. She suggests combining baking soda and water in bowl to make a paste and then scrub the area with a sponge. However, if there is a lot of mold, contact a mold professional, she says. Colored Fabrics or Paint If you've ever accidentally used bleach on a printed tee or an entire load of colored clothing, you know that bleach permanently stains. Have a tough stain? Bleach is not the solution. 'Do not use bleach near or on colored fabrics, painted surfaces, or any surface susceptible to discoloration and damage,' says Townsend. Areas Where Children and Pets Play Bleach is a powerful chemical so it's important to use it in areas where kids and furry friends won't be exposed to it or touch it. Think about where your children or pets spend time or play and make sure not to use bleach in these areas of the home. 'Children and pets are more likely to accidentally ingest bleach from surfaces from touching toys or other areas where bleach has been used, or from pets licking paws on a bleached floor or area,' explains Harris. Having a clean home is important but it's equally important that it's healthy and safe. If you need another reason to think about how and where you use bleach in the home, Townsend explains, 'Bleach can release toxic fumes and cause respiratory issues, skin irritation, or even poisoning, if ingested.' Tips for Cleaning With Bleach When it's the right disinfectant for the job and it's safe to use bleach, it's important to dilute this strong chemical for everyone's safety. 'Bleach should only be used with caution and should always be watered down,' says Mehas. 'A safe ratio is 1 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water.' You don't ever want to handle bleach without protection. 'Wear gloves and even a mask to avoid any interaction with your skin or risk inhaling the caustic gas in the nose or mouth, which may cause burning of the mucous membranes along your respiratory tracts,' says Mehas. And equally important is airflow. 'Ensure proper ventilation in the area being cleaned,' adds Townsend. Read the original article on Southern Living
Health Line
11-07-2025
- Health
- Health Line
Vinegar: The Multipurpose, Chemical-Free Household Cleaner You Should Know About
Vinegar is a powerful multipurpose cleaner that you probably already have sitting in the pantry. Learn more about its benefits as a household cleaner and common uses around the home. Multipurpose cleaners are convenient because they're usable on many different surfaces. But while effective, some of these cleaners aren't exactly healthy or environmentally friendly. Vinegar, on the other hand, is nontoxic and eco-friendly, making it the ultimate multipurpose cleaning solution. And the best part? It's super cheap. Keep reading to learn what types of vinegar to use, along with nine ways vinegar can be used to clean and disinfect your home. Benefits of vinegar as a household cleaner You probably have a bottle of vinegar sitting in your cupboard right now. But like so many, you might only use it as a salad dressing or a marinade for vegetables, meat, poultry, or fish. Made from acetic acid Vinegar isn't only useful for cooking — it also makes a great cleaner and disinfectant because it's made from acetic acid. Acetic acid is a colorless organic compound that gives vinegar its sour taste and pungent smell. It's also an ingredient in some store-bought household cleaners. The acidic nature of vinegar is so powerful that it can dissolve mineral deposits, dirt, grease, and grime. It's also strong enough to kill bacteria. Different types of vinegar include: apple cider vinegar white distilled vinegar balsamic vinegar red or white wine vinegar Best type of vinegar to use White distilled vinegar is considered the best vinegar for cleaning because it doesn't contain a coloring agent. Therefore, it won't stain surfaces, which can occur when cleaning with a darker-colored vinegar. Plus, distilled white vinegar has about 5% acidity, which is also similar to the acidity level in many everyday multipurpose cleaners. About that vinegar smell The strong odor of white vinegar can be unpleasant, so you can use apple cider vinegar instead. It has the same cleaning properties as white distilled vinegar, but since it's made by fermenting apple juice, it also has a slightly sweet scent. Apple cider vinegar is darker in color, so dilute it in water before using it as a cleaning agent. If you're using vinegar as a cleaner, the scent may linger for about an hour or so. However, this might be a small price to pay for a cleaner that's nontoxic, natural, and environmentally friendly. You can mask the smell by adding a few drops of essential oil, such as lemon oil, lavender oil, or peppermint oil, to a spray bottle containing a vinegar-water solution. Or, open a window and let some fresh air in to help remove the scent quicker. Here's a look at a few common uses for vinegar around the home. 1. Glass Consider using vinegar to make your own glass cleaner. Combine 1 part water with 2 parts vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on glass surfaces and wipe clean for a streak-free finish. 2. Countertops Because vinegar is a natural disinfectant, it can clean and disinfect countertops after food preparation. For tough stains, try adding a few drops of soap to 1 part water and 2 parts vinegar. Vinegar can also remove odors from countertops, but it shouldn't be used on granite or marble. Use a natural stone cleaner instead, as the acid in vinegar can diminish the luster of natural stone. Vinegar can also deter ants that may scour countertops at night in search of food scraps. 3. Faucets Combine 2 teaspoons of vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt to remove calcium deposits on faucets and fixtures. This solution can also remove hard water stains from showerheads. To get rid of stubborn stains, try spraying fixtures and faucets with vinegar and then tying a bag around them overnight. Scrub and rinse the next morning. 4. Showers and tubs Thick soap scum and mildew can be challenging to remove. Spray undiluted white vinegar over tub and shower walls. Let the vinegar sit for several minutes, then scrub and rinse away. Or, combine baking soda and vinegar to create a paste and scrub away tough grime. 5. Toilets Pour 2 to 3 cups of undiluted vinegar into the toilet bowl and let it sit for up to 3 hours. Scrub with a toilet brush and flush. This helps eliminate rings around the bowl and deodorizes the toilet. 6. Floors Vinegar also makes a great floor cleaner, but only on certain types of floors. You shouldn't use it on hardwood floors because it can dissolve the finish and leave watermarks. The natural acid in vinegar can also damage natural stone floors. However, you can use vinegar on no-wax linoleum. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to 1/2 gallon of water. To clean ceramic tile, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to 1 gallon of water. 7. Dishwasher To break through soap scum in a dishwasher, add 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse compartment and let the dishwasher run for an entire cycle. 8. Appliances To eliminate odors in your microwave, place a bowl containing a 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water inside the microwave and heat for a couple of minutes. This solution can also loosen any stubborn stains. Vinegar is also great for cleaning the inside and outside of appliances, including stainless steel. Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle, then spray down appliances. Use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe away the solution. Don't use abrasive pads, which can scratch the surface of appliances. 9. Laundry Distilled white vinegar is also a great choice for removing fabric odor and stains. Don't use dark vinegar, or you might stain your clothes. Add 1 cup of vinegar to the wash cycle.
The Sun
03-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
The £3.50 M&S buy homeowners are using to make their whole house smell like a ‘boujee candle' without a single flame
A HOMEOWNER has revealed how she gets her whole house to smell like she's had a "boujee candle" burning all day - without lighting a single flame. Hannah explained she's a big fan of the cleaning products in Marks & Spencer, with the green tea and bergamot £3.50 concentrated disinfectant among her favourites. 3 3 And as well as using the liquid in its intentional way, she's also figured out a clever hack to make her home smell like the scent. "Fill a sink with some M&S disinfectant and your house will smell like you've burnt a boujee candle all day!" she wrote over a video on her TikTok page. "I'm sorry but this smell..." she captioned the video. And people were quick to comment on the clip, with one writing: "Need to try this, love their cleaning products!" "The almond toilet gel as well," Hannah replied. "Ooh this would be great in my hand steamer too," another added. "Just need to check it's pet friendly!" "I fill a dishmatic brush and do my radiators and skirtings every few days too," a third revealed. "We do this too!" someone else added. "Yessss I do this with Zoflora when it's on sale," another admitted. Shoppers are racing to buy 'nostalgic' homeware from M&S - it's like being 'transported back in time' & looks 'designer' And the positive reviews of the disinfectant kept on coming in the reviews section on the Ocado website - where you can nab the product online. "I just love the floral fragrance- doesn't smell like a disinfectant at all and makes the house smell clean, fresh and lovely," one wrote. "This product smells amazing ,subtle but also fragrant enough that a little goes a long way," another added. "I always add a couple of capfuls to my weekly wash and makes the laundry smell really fresh. "I also add some to my reed diffusers when they are running out of fragrance and they make the whole house smell clean and fresh." "Lovely long lasting smell, smells divine," a third commented. "Good value when compared with leading brands," someone else wrote. "Very long-lasting fresh and floral fragrance." The disinfectant also comes as a spray, in the same scent, with one person writing in their review on Ocado: "Always keep this spray handy for holidays and trips and completely blitz wherever were staying. "Toilet flush, tv remote, door handles, light switches etc. "It smells really nice and seems to last a long time too!"
