With the fears associated with the up-coming flu season and the additional worry of the H1N1 virus, many of us are spending extra time wiping down high traffic and germ prone surfaces such as banister railings and bathrooms and kitchens counters in our homes and workplaces. This may not be the solution to preventing the flu or keeping it from spreading if someone is already ill unless we actually get rid of the germs.
The big question is do we need rush out buy expensive, harsh chemical, cleaning products or can we get the same results by using inexpensive, homemade cleaning products to keep surfaces germ free?
The answer is yes, there are some reliable disinfecting solutions we can make up with safe and inexpensive products that are often found in our homes.
Some interesting information came out of a study done by Good Housekeeping Institute as reported on CBS's 48 Hours in 2000. Full strength vinegar kills 99 per cent of bacteria and 82 per cent of mould, a claim that some well-known disinfectants have proven to be ineffective at. It shows that you can't always believe what you see on television commercials.
Vinegar can be made into an even more powerful antiseptic by adding a few drops of tea tree oil. Another way to increase vinegar's effectiveness is to add baking soda.
In this same Good Housekeeping study, Lysol was one of the products that scored high at cleaning germs. The question is do you want to use chemical products that will get into the air we breath?
Three-per-cent hydrogen peroxide is another product that is a good household cleaner. It has gained popularity as it is a germicidal agent that is made up of only water and oxygen. This solution kills micro-organisms by oxidizing them. Because of this it is considered to be the world's safest sanitizer.
Not all home-made cleaners are as effective in germ killing as those already mentioned. Baking soda and Borax may not kill germs but they can do a great job as abrasive cleaners and odour eliminators.
It may take more than a clean house to stay healthy through the upcoming flu season but at least we can try to do it on a budget and without exposing ourselves to harsh chemicals found in some cleaners.
