Vinegar Cleaning - Your Thoughts

[blessedmess8]

We are required to use a bleach solution, too, for the changing table. I've read baaad stuff about chlorine bleach, though. The vinegar does smell bad, but ironically it deodorizes better than anything! The smell goes away. Honestly, I LOVE the smell of commercial cleaning products, but I know they aren't good for the kids - especially the ones with respiratory problems. I LOVE the steam cleaner! OMG! It is a dream come true! I.E. I steamed the couch in my daycare room. How else do you kill the lil germies on furniture?? Anyway. I don't want to debate about which is better - I use bleach, too. I just wondered if anyone has actual info or research on the disinfectant properties of vinegar.

[sharlan]

I think I would stick with bleach.

"Vinegar is a great cleaner, but we didn’t know how well it could kill germs. We asked germ guru Charles Gerba, PhD, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona, Tucson. He has done field studies on household germs.

Dr. Gerba said that vinegar is useful as a cleaner and has some antimicrobial properties, but it is not considered a sanitizer or disinfectant. For disinfecting, dilute bleach is still best.'

[blessedmess8]

I think I would stick with bleach.

"Vinegar is a great cleaner, but we didn’t know how well it could kill germs. We asked germ guru Charles Gerba, PhD, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona, Tucson. He has done field studies on household germs.

Dr. Gerba said that vinegar is useful as a cleaner and has some antimicrobial properties, but it is not considered a sanitizer or disinfectant. For disinfecting, dilute bleach is still best.'

Well, thanks, Sharlan! Exactly what I was looking for! Can I ask where you got that info?

[sharlan]

http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2008/01/14/can-vinegar-dis/

[LittleD]

Great website!

Yes, I use vinegar for disinfecting to a certain degree.

Does anyone know anything about using Vinegar & Peroxide together? Not really together, but within close proximity to each other. I heard long ago that they make toxic fumes. I have been trying to prove myself wrong for a while now, but I can't find anything about it. I would love to start using Peroxide again for certain things.

Last year I looked into this, and using peroxide and bleach together was better at disinfecting then vinegar alone. The article said it is a disinfectant. Now as to where the article is...I don't know. I ran out of vinegar and went back to bleach.
Here is a website for different uses for cleaning/deodorizing with vinegar:

http://www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com/cleaning-with-vinegar.html

Here is another website who quotes"University tests show that this technique killed more potentially lethal bacteria, including Salmonella, Shigella, and even E. coli, than chlorine bleach or any commercially available kitchen cleaner."

http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/2006/04/05/super_disinfectant_spray_using_peroxide_vinegar.htm

[Unregistered]

I clean with soap, water, baking soda and vinegar or use something like a microfiber cloth or steam. Do you guys use cleansers or bleach on your silverware or cutting boards? This would be similar to using them on items that a child may put in his or her mouth.

[sahm2three]

I'm all for being natural. I actually think having a lot of chemicals around the kids is bad. However, I just can't bring myself to trust vinegar. For cleaning and deodorizing, sure! But, not for disinfecting. Some people do, though! I haven't found any sound scientific research on the disinfecting properties of vinegar yet. That's not to say it is not out there; I just haven't found it. I just disinfected our room with vinegar AND steam. I feel pretty good about the combination of the two. And I love that, although it smells like Easter in here, the fumes are not harmul to the kids!

Do any of you actually use vinegar as a disinfectant? Or some other natural product that is proven to disinfect? I would love to, I just want to know FOR SURE that I am killing all the nasty germs!

I keep no toxic cleaners in my house. This is what I use:

http://www.secretofthieves.com/thieves-cleaner.cfm

It smells awesome, kind of cinamonny. I do use a lot of vineager too, to soak toys in and etc.

[blessedmess8]

Great website!

Yes, I use vinegar for disinfecting to a certain degree.

Does anyone know anything about using Vinegar & Peroxide together? Not really together, but within close proximity to each other. I heard long ago that they make toxic fumes. I have been trying to prove myself wrong for a while now, but I can't find anything about it. I would love to start using Peroxide again for certain things.

From what I'm reading from links posted above: DO NOT mix peroxide and vinegar in one spray bottle. However, spraying with vinegar, then spraying with peroxide and rinsing has been found to disinfect better than chlorine bleach! Good to lnow! Thanks for the links!!!

[littlemommy]

If you use vinegar for cleaning and don't like the smell, you can add a few drops of tea tree oil. Makes it smell better, and tea tree oil is also a antiseptic.

[blessedmess8]

If you use vinegar for cleaning and don't like the smell, you can add a few drops of tea tree oil. Makes it smell better, and tea tree oil is also a antiseptic.

Thanks!! I've used tea tree oil in the past, but not WITH vinegar. Good idea!