What you choose to clean your home with is very personal. I have told people what I use and I have gotten some turned up noses.
It feels like a personal attack and then I feel like what I am doing is not “the right way,” but I know better.
I read an article entitled, Are natural cleaning products as effective as those with strong chemicals? This caught my eye since I had recently switched to natural cleaning products. This article is an eye opener. To read the full article click here.
***This post contains affiliate links which means that, at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission on your purchase through these links. I only recommend products that I use, truly love, and excited to share!
Why I started using natural cleaning products
I started using natural cleaning products because I wanted to improve the health of my family. Once I started researching my cleaning products on EWG I got scared, thinking that even though I used products that seemed safe, like Method and Seventh Generation, they in fact didn’t score as high as I thought they would. I looked at the word natural in these products and equated that to being good. I said goodbye to Comet and other chemical laden products and hello to baking soda and essential oils and now hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen Peroxide, say what?
I had gargled with hydrogen peroxide when I had a sore throat (it kills the bacteria) and poured it in my ear when there was water in it but I never knew about the cleaning benefits.
In the article I read, (here is the link so you can read it if you wish) Annie Pryor conducted the experiments and wrote the article. She has a Ph.D. in biochemistry so I figure she knows what she is doing. Here is a brief rundown on her experiment.
How the Test was Conducted
- she made 9 squares (the # of products tested) on her countertop with masking tape
- made germy water with mud from her backyard and purified water
- placed 1 mL of the germ water onto each square, rubbed it over the area and let dry
- rubbed cleaning product over square and let sit for 5 min.
- took a sterile swab, swabbed the square and then scribbled the swab over an agar plate
- incubated the plates for 24hrs
The results of the test found that hydrogen peroxide (3%) worked the best in killing the germs.
Products Tested and Score they Receive from EWG
- Lysol disinfectant spray [D or F (depends on scent)]
- Method All Purpose Natural Surface Cleaner [B, C, or F (depends on scent)]
- Thieves Spray (no rating)
- Zylast Hand Sanitizer (no rating)
- White Vinegar [A]
- Isopropanol [B]
- Hydrogen Peroxide [B]
- Clorox Clean Up with Bleach [D]
- Clorox Anywhere [C & D]
There are many other products that Annie tested, I just chose a few to highlight. I found this article to be extremely informative and interesting. If you read the original article she has pictures of the agar plates showing the bacteria growth. It’s pretty disgusting to see and to know that the cleaning products on the shelves in the stores are not as powerful at killing bacteria and germs as we are told.
Hydrogen peroxide not only is an excellent cleaner it is also very inexpensive. I bought my spray bottles on Amazon (pack of 2/8oz for $11.97) and I buy the larger bottles at Costco (pack of two for $1.99) to refill my spray bottles.
Yes, I would say that is very, very inexpensive. I spent a few extra dollars on the trigger bottles because I wanted to be able to spray the area I am cleaning and also you need to keep the hydrogen peroxide in a dark bottle.
If you make the switch please be sure to do your own research before using.
Here’s to better health!
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