For institutional levels of cleaning, the demands for the highest caliber of sanitation and disinfection are paramount, and unfortunately, hydrogen peroxide and vinegar alone--as used in our kitchen disinfectant--may not cut it. But despair not; even for hospital-level sanitation and disinfecting needs, there still is a completely non-toxic solution. It's name is Benefect. This wondrous concoction is a botanical-based disinfectant, and it utilizes thyme oil as it's main ingredient; in fact, Benefect is the largest purchaser of thyme oil in the world. It surpasses the EPA's standards for hospital disinfection, and it kills 99.99% of all bacteria, fungus, TB, and HIV. It sounds like magic, but the way it works is that by using high concentrations of plant essential oils, they are essentially condensing and harvesting a plant's natural anti-microbial mechanisms, which have evolved over thousands of years, and to which microbes have demonstrated no capability of mutating in resistance to. In other words, utilizing essential oils in such a manner is actually far more effective then using a highly toxic chemical substance which simply increases the eventual strength of microbes once they've evolved.
Anti-microbial products are now common in everything from household sprays to hand-soap. And while it may sound good to know that they are killing all of the bacteria on your hands, in truth they are performing the same dangerous over-compensation that the rampant use of antibiotics engenders. We are aiding the quicker evolution of mutations of malevolent microbes to evolve with greater and greater resistance. In addition to this, everytime you use your anti-bacterial soap, it washes down into the sewage system and makes the job of sewage treatment, which uses microbes, even more difficult to achieve.
One thing that may at first turn you off to switching over to Benefect for your institutional disinfecting needs is its greater cost then other disinfectants on the market. But if you've completed switching over all of your other cleaning solutions to non-toxic solutions such as those offered on this site, then you've already been gathering substantial savings for your department's annual budget, so this will not prevent you from continuing to save.
5/9/08
3/10/08
Non-Toxic VS Toxic
I wanted to introduce a caveat when it comes to the use of the word "non-toxic." Borax, for example, is toxic if consumed. Products such as vinegar and lemon juice are acids, and can sting your eyes and make you gag if swallowed (though they won't have any worse effect than that). The point in labeling a product such as those listed on this page "non-toxic" is to signify that when used for their appropriate purpose, they will not inflict harm on the user nor on the environment in which they were used. Furthermore, designating them as non-toxic also denotes that these solutions can be poured down your drain or put into your trash without adverse effect on the greater environment.
It's important to recognize that the original base form of some of these ingredients can become toxic, however, when mixed improperly. Such mixes include:
Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide
Vinegar and Bleach
Bleach and Ammonia
Never mix two ingredients together without a little background check beforehand!
It's important to recognize that the original base form of some of these ingredients can become toxic, however, when mixed improperly. Such mixes include:
Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide
Vinegar and Bleach
Bleach and Ammonia
Never mix two ingredients together without a little background check beforehand!
Green Non-toxic Homemade Kitchen Disinfectant
When cleaning on a household level, there is little reason to go beyond the sanitation offered by substances such vinegar, borax, and good old soap. All of the cleaning solution mixes offered on this site will perform adequately for household sanitations needs EXCEPT when it comes to the kitchen. The kitchen is the one area of our household that requires extra diligence in sanitation. That said, however, there is still absolutely no reason to use any store-bought, highly toxic disinfectants.
Here's what you need for disinfecting your kitchen surfaces, such as cutting boards and counter tops, as well as food items such as salad greens and apples:
A spray bottle with vinegar
A spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide
Spray first one, then the other, in any order: you've just effectively killed all salmonella, shigella, and e. coli bacteria (in addition to many other bacteria, I’d imagine) on that surface! All without adding any notable levels of toxicity or cost to your household.
I found this information on two sites: Science News Online (update 3/11/09: this link has since been killed, sorry), and Tau Topics.
Please note that it is highly important that you DO NOT MIX the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide together in one container. That mixture would be toxic, and it would furthermore fail to provide adequate disinfecting properties.
Here's what you need for disinfecting your kitchen surfaces, such as cutting boards and counter tops, as well as food items such as salad greens and apples:
A spray bottle with vinegar
A spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide
Spray first one, then the other, in any order: you've just effectively killed all salmonella, shigella, and e. coli bacteria (in addition to many other bacteria, I’d imagine) on that surface! All without adding any notable levels of toxicity or cost to your household.
I found this information on two sites: Science News Online (update 3/11/09: this link has since been killed, sorry), and Tau Topics.
Please note that it is highly important that you DO NOT MIX the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide together in one container. That mixture would be toxic, and it would furthermore fail to provide adequate disinfecting properties.
Non-toxic Homemade Institutional Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Cleaning toilet bowls requires a lot less than fancy shaped squirt bottles filled with manufactured chemical. All it takes is some white distilled vinegar and/or lemon juice in a spray bottle and a toilet scrub brush.
The solution I used in my hospitality operation was a rough mixture of:
2 parts white distilled vinegar
1 part lemon juice
And that's it. I would fill spray bottles with this and set the spray to a direct stream, and then utilize with a toilet scrub brush and spray around the bowl just as you would with any commercial toilet cleaning product. Although this solution was undiluted, it was still cost effective because only small quantities are used at any one time.
You don't need to mix the vinegar and lemon juice together--one or the other will work fine on its own on a household cleaning level, as they are both acidic. The reason I mixed them was that the smell of vinegar can be quite overpowering, and adding the lemon juice provides a more balanced residual odor.
For really tough stains on toilets, such as rings, you can do a couple of things, depending on the urgency of the situation. If you have time, you can:
--drop a few alka-seltzers in the bowl, and let them dissolve completely and sit for over a half an hour. Then scrub and clean as usual.
--make a paste of borax and lemon juice and allow to sit on the stains in the bowl for a few hours, then scrub away (thanks to the Clean and Green site for this one!)
For more timely cleaning:
--sprinkle any kind of natural scouring base--such as baking soda or borax--into the bowl, then scrub and spray along with the toilet bowl cleaning solution offered above.
The solution I used in my hospitality operation was a rough mixture of:
2 parts white distilled vinegar
1 part lemon juice
And that's it. I would fill spray bottles with this and set the spray to a direct stream, and then utilize with a toilet scrub brush and spray around the bowl just as you would with any commercial toilet cleaning product. Although this solution was undiluted, it was still cost effective because only small quantities are used at any one time.
You don't need to mix the vinegar and lemon juice together--one or the other will work fine on its own on a household cleaning level, as they are both acidic. The reason I mixed them was that the smell of vinegar can be quite overpowering, and adding the lemon juice provides a more balanced residual odor.
For really tough stains on toilets, such as rings, you can do a couple of things, depending on the urgency of the situation. If you have time, you can:
--drop a few alka-seltzers in the bowl, and let them dissolve completely and sit for over a half an hour. Then scrub and clean as usual.
--make a paste of borax and lemon juice and allow to sit on the stains in the bowl for a few hours, then scrub away (thanks to the Clean and Green site for this one!)
For more timely cleaning:
--sprinkle any kind of natural scouring base--such as baking soda or borax--into the bowl, then scrub and spray along with the toilet bowl cleaning solution offered above.
3/7/08
Homemade Non-Toxic Green Institutional Glass Cleaning Solution
I'm particularly proud of this solution, as I concocted it without any outside sources as I did with my All-Purpose solution. I had been searching for an alternative to the homemade glass cleaner which I originally had begun with, which was a vinegar/cornstarch based solution which worked quite well. However, that solution also required a good amount of rubbing in to prevent it from streaking (especially in direct sunlight), and a number of my workers continuously left streak marks, even after demonstrations of how to wipe away all the solution. It simply took an extra bit of arm muscle that left many windows and mirrors unsatisfactory. Fed up with having to re-clean after my employees, I set myself the task of discovering a completely non-streaking homemade glass cleaning solution.
The first one I tried, which I found on About.com, was a rubbing alcohol-based solution which was quite effective. But there were a few problems with this solution: 1) it smelled like rubbing alcohol!; 2) I was somewhat hesitant to have large quantities of a flammable substance sitting around in my storage areas; and 3) I felt that the ratios of isopropyl alcohol to water were too high to make it cost effective on an institutional level in comparison to the original formula I was using.
I had once bought a "green" glass cleaning solution from a whole foods grocery store to try it out (I don't remember the brand), and I remembered that it had mentioned that it was a solution based on hydrogen peroxide. So I did a search on-line to see if anyone out there had a homemade solution based off of hydrogen peroxide, but I couldn't find anything. But I knew that it must work as a base, so I decided to experiment a bit with it myself. I knew that in conjunction with the base, there must be some kind of surfactant added to enhance the cleaning properties, so I figured that a miniscule amount of Dr. Bronner's liquid castile peppermint soap would serve that purpose well. I tried several mixes of these ingredients (mixed solely in water, of course) until I arrived at a solution that had the proper amounts of dilution to achieve effective cleaning.
My hydrogen peroxide-based glass cleaner leaves no streaks. If you don't rub it all in, and leave droplets on the glass or mirror surface, it will all evaporate away without leaving any visible residue. Thus, my problem with streaking was solved, and I was saving even more money, as hydrogen peroxide is quite cheap!
Here is the list of proper amounts of ingredients to make this glass cleaning solution:
1 Gallon of Water
The first one I tried, which I found on About.com, was a rubbing alcohol-based solution which was quite effective. But there were a few problems with this solution: 1) it smelled like rubbing alcohol!; 2) I was somewhat hesitant to have large quantities of a flammable substance sitting around in my storage areas; and 3) I felt that the ratios of isopropyl alcohol to water were too high to make it cost effective on an institutional level in comparison to the original formula I was using.
I had once bought a "green" glass cleaning solution from a whole foods grocery store to try it out (I don't remember the brand), and I remembered that it had mentioned that it was a solution based on hydrogen peroxide. So I did a search on-line to see if anyone out there had a homemade solution based off of hydrogen peroxide, but I couldn't find anything. But I knew that it must work as a base, so I decided to experiment a bit with it myself. I knew that in conjunction with the base, there must be some kind of surfactant added to enhance the cleaning properties, so I figured that a miniscule amount of Dr. Bronner's liquid castile peppermint soap would serve that purpose well. I tried several mixes of these ingredients (mixed solely in water, of course) until I arrived at a solution that had the proper amounts of dilution to achieve effective cleaning.
My hydrogen peroxide-based glass cleaner leaves no streaks. If you don't rub it all in, and leave droplets on the glass or mirror surface, it will all evaporate away without leaving any visible residue. Thus, my problem with streaking was solved, and I was saving even more money, as hydrogen peroxide is quite cheap!
Here is the list of proper amounts of ingredients to make this glass cleaning solution:
1 Gallon of Water
2 Cups Hydrogen Peroxide (normal over-the-counter 3% stuff)
1-2 drops of Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soap
If you are going to use this solution on an institutional level, please note that there is a trade-off between cleaning strength and no-streaking. If there are hardened bits attached to the glass surface, this cleaner won't do as well as others in loosening it. However, given the amount of dilution, it is likely that if you were to increase the amount of hydrogen peroxide per gallon of water, you would have a stronger cleaner. I diluted it to this level simply because I was making mass quantities of it and wanted to go with the cheapest and most convenient means available.All-Purpose Homemade Institutional Strength Green Cleaning Solution
When I first began experimenting in 2006 with making my own non-toxic solutions, I wanted to ensure that it would still be powerful and effective in cleaning on an institutional level. If it didn't work, then I would shelve it and simply keep on using the manufactured chemicals which we obtained from concentrated jugs through an automatic mixing/dispensing system. Though these chemicals were admittedly toxic when the fumes were continuously inhaled (unfortunately inevitable in the small, confined space of a bathroom), they were convenient and effective in cleaning and sanitizing. So I had a high standard that I needed to meet if I was going to use these new solutions.
I based my All-Purpose solution on information that I found from a variety of other sites on-line, such as Clean and Green (one of my favorite sites for green cleaning solutions, check it out!). You can find a lot of these solutions simply by doing a quick Google search. What makes my particular all-purpose solution unique is that I mix both borax and baking soda; many of the others are either one or the other. The reason I did this is to increase its cleaning and scrubbing power: remember, I needed something stronger to handle some mighty dirty bathrooms in a hospitality operation. For your own household use, you could easily eliminate the borax or the baking soda and still have it clean effectively. Here are the ingredients:
1 gallon of water (preferably warm or hot to mix it up better, but not necessary)
1/4 cup borax
1/2 cup baking soda
a few squirts of Dr Bronner's or any other liquid castile soap (I use peppermint because of its lovely smell; you can use whichever you prefer)
You can put as much or as little of the liquid castile soap in there as you wish, just keep in mind that putting in too much soap can lead to streaking.
I switched over to this solution completely in the fall of 2006 after testing it out repeatedly, and it has consistently performed excellently. My workers also love it because it smells good and it doesn't lead to the dizziness, shortness of breath, and nausea that the chemicals we used to use did. However, after cleaning something like 8-12 bathrooms in a row with this stuff, even this solution can become irritating simply due to all the aerosolized particles, so give yourself a time-out to breathe fresh air if you are doing a marathon cleaning in small enclosed spaces!
We used this solution for all surfaces other than glass and mirrors. It works wonders on sinks, floors, walls, and toilets.
After a period of time, the residue of the borax and baking soda builds up in your mixing container. You can use this concentrated residue! It works great as a scrub for the tub or floor, just make sure to wipe up all the remaining residue it will leave. Clean out your mixing container periodically when it builds up substantially.
I based my All-Purpose solution on information that I found from a variety of other sites on-line, such as Clean and Green (one of my favorite sites for green cleaning solutions, check it out!). You can find a lot of these solutions simply by doing a quick Google search. What makes my particular all-purpose solution unique is that I mix both borax and baking soda; many of the others are either one or the other. The reason I did this is to increase its cleaning and scrubbing power: remember, I needed something stronger to handle some mighty dirty bathrooms in a hospitality operation. For your own household use, you could easily eliminate the borax or the baking soda and still have it clean effectively. Here are the ingredients:
1 gallon of water (preferably warm or hot to mix it up better, but not necessary)
1/4 cup borax
1/2 cup baking soda
a few squirts of Dr Bronner's or any other liquid castile soap (I use peppermint because of its lovely smell; you can use whichever you prefer)
You can put as much or as little of the liquid castile soap in there as you wish, just keep in mind that putting in too much soap can lead to streaking.
I switched over to this solution completely in the fall of 2006 after testing it out repeatedly, and it has consistently performed excellently. My workers also love it because it smells good and it doesn't lead to the dizziness, shortness of breath, and nausea that the chemicals we used to use did. However, after cleaning something like 8-12 bathrooms in a row with this stuff, even this solution can become irritating simply due to all the aerosolized particles, so give yourself a time-out to breathe fresh air if you are doing a marathon cleaning in small enclosed spaces!
We used this solution for all surfaces other than glass and mirrors. It works wonders on sinks, floors, walls, and toilets.
After a period of time, the residue of the borax and baking soda builds up in your mixing container. You can use this concentrated residue! It works great as a scrub for the tub or floor, just make sure to wipe up all the remaining residue it will leave. Clean out your mixing container periodically when it builds up substantially.
Making Your Own Non-toxic, Household-based Cleaning Solutions
Making your own cleaning solutions is easy: all you really need is the ingredients and an empty spray bottle. It will help to have a something like a gallon sized dispensing container to mix it up in: then all you have to do is pour it directly into a spray bottle whenever you run low. When I made my solutions on an institutional level, I had 5-gallon dispensing containers for each solution, and this made re-filling quick and easy, and I only had to mix up new batches every so often. Buying the ingredients in bulk is cheaper and will also serve to reduce plastic waste.
If purchasing large plastic containers simply for mixing up cleaning solutions doesn't appeal to you, then consider utilizing empty juice, vinegar, and other liquid containers. Then all you have to do is mix it up, cap it, and put it under the sink.
Having a funnel and measuring cups on-hand will also make your job easier when it comes to adding the ingredients.
Here is a list of some basic ingredients which are effective in making your own household-based non-toxic cleaning solutions:
Water, of course
White Distilled Vinegar
Baking Soda
Borax
Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap (or any other liquid castile soap)
Hydrogen Peroxide
Lemon Juice
Other ingredients that I have seen commonly listed on other sites but do not often use myself:
Lemons
Herbs
Essential Oils
Cornstarch
Salt
If purchasing large plastic containers simply for mixing up cleaning solutions doesn't appeal to you, then consider utilizing empty juice, vinegar, and other liquid containers. Then all you have to do is mix it up, cap it, and put it under the sink.
Having a funnel and measuring cups on-hand will also make your job easier when it comes to adding the ingredients.
Here is a list of some basic ingredients which are effective in making your own household-based non-toxic cleaning solutions:
Water, of course
White Distilled Vinegar
Baking Soda
Borax
Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap (or any other liquid castile soap)
Hydrogen Peroxide
Lemon Juice
Other ingredients that I have seen commonly listed on other sites but do not often use myself:
Lemons
Herbs
Essential Oils
Cornstarch
Salt
3/6/08
Changing Perspectives On Cleaning Solutions
There are a number of reasons why we purchase toxic cleaning chemicals for household and institutional cleaning use. Whatever those reasons might be, however, the fact is that there is absolutely no reason to use cleaning solutions with any level of toxicity that might be damaging to either yourself, your workers, or the greater environment. The purpose of this site is to provide information to empower you to create your own non-toxic solutions, to avoid those manufactured solutions which are toxic, and to seek out manufactured solutions that are proven to be safe and effective.
I understand if you might be skeptical about the ability of non-toxic solutions to clean effectively; I was too. I used to work as a housekeeping manager, and I believed that in order to sanitize and leave a bathroom sparkling clean, a solution had to be powerful--and that entailed a certain level of toxicity. I also believed that when a product pronounced itself "environmentally safe", that it was safe for humans to use as well.
I spent 2 years using cleaning solutions manufactured for hospitality use, and I can attest to their levels of toxicity. After cleaning only 3 bathrooms in a row, I would reel with nausea, headaches, and dizziness. Some of my workers would complain of rashes on their skin. After a while, I started to wonder if this level of sacrifice for a clean bathroom was really necessary. My primary concern was to maintain the highest levels of sanitation and cleanliness in my hospitality operation. But I was also concerned for my own health and the health of my workers, as well as the environment.
So I decided to do a little research. I looked around on-line and discovered that there was a whole world of information out there on homemade cleaning solutions, utilizing household products of low toxicity such as white vinegar, baking soda, and borax. I was completely skeptical as to whether these solutions could work on an institutional level. So I did a number of tests with different types of solutions that I'd found. Some worked better than others, and I kept experimenting until I found solutions that, to my surprise, worked just as well as the toxic, corporate manufactured solutions that I had been using for so long. I didn't believe it at first, but after repeated testing, I discovered that it was indeed true. I then subsequently converted all of the cleaning solutions at my workplace to either my own self-made concoctions, or to proven non-toxic but effective manufactured solutions.
If you are not yet convinced, also consider this: making your own solutions is not only fun, but it saves you money! If you are either an individual watching your own household budget, or a manager watching your department's bottom-line, that can be a pretty important consideration.
So to reiterate: whatever reasons you might have had to use cleaning solutions with questionable levels of toxicity, throw them out the door, because there are better reasons not to use them. 1) Eliminating potentially hazardous chemicals from your household or institution is good for the health of you, your workers, and the environment; 2) home-made non-toxic cleaners are cheaper, and can also reduce plastic waste through the re-use of spray bottles; 3) non-toxic cleaners demonstrate a commitment to society and the environment (having a "green" image is a good marketing asset these days!); and 4) making your own solutions is not only easy, but furthermore educational and empowering.
So what are you waiting for? Get an empty spray bottle and start mixing!
I understand if you might be skeptical about the ability of non-toxic solutions to clean effectively; I was too. I used to work as a housekeeping manager, and I believed that in order to sanitize and leave a bathroom sparkling clean, a solution had to be powerful--and that entailed a certain level of toxicity. I also believed that when a product pronounced itself "environmentally safe", that it was safe for humans to use as well.
I spent 2 years using cleaning solutions manufactured for hospitality use, and I can attest to their levels of toxicity. After cleaning only 3 bathrooms in a row, I would reel with nausea, headaches, and dizziness. Some of my workers would complain of rashes on their skin. After a while, I started to wonder if this level of sacrifice for a clean bathroom was really necessary. My primary concern was to maintain the highest levels of sanitation and cleanliness in my hospitality operation. But I was also concerned for my own health and the health of my workers, as well as the environment.
So I decided to do a little research. I looked around on-line and discovered that there was a whole world of information out there on homemade cleaning solutions, utilizing household products of low toxicity such as white vinegar, baking soda, and borax. I was completely skeptical as to whether these solutions could work on an institutional level. So I did a number of tests with different types of solutions that I'd found. Some worked better than others, and I kept experimenting until I found solutions that, to my surprise, worked just as well as the toxic, corporate manufactured solutions that I had been using for so long. I didn't believe it at first, but after repeated testing, I discovered that it was indeed true. I then subsequently converted all of the cleaning solutions at my workplace to either my own self-made concoctions, or to proven non-toxic but effective manufactured solutions.
If you are not yet convinced, also consider this: making your own solutions is not only fun, but it saves you money! If you are either an individual watching your own household budget, or a manager watching your department's bottom-line, that can be a pretty important consideration.
So to reiterate: whatever reasons you might have had to use cleaning solutions with questionable levels of toxicity, throw them out the door, because there are better reasons not to use them. 1) Eliminating potentially hazardous chemicals from your household or institution is good for the health of you, your workers, and the environment; 2) home-made non-toxic cleaners are cheaper, and can also reduce plastic waste through the re-use of spray bottles; 3) non-toxic cleaners demonstrate a commitment to society and the environment (having a "green" image is a good marketing asset these days!); and 4) making your own solutions is not only easy, but furthermore educational and empowering.
So what are you waiting for? Get an empty spray bottle and start mixing!
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