Sanitizing Your Everything

Sanitizing Your Everything

Truth is, germs are everywhere.

We're estimated to have over 1,500 bacteria living on each square centimeter of our hands alone. 

Every time you shake someone's hands or touch something, you are probably picking up bacteria and possibly even viruses. 

During flu season or amid the scare of a virus sweeping your state or local region, it is important to wash your hand regularly with soap and water. 

Here's How To Properly Wash Your Hands:

• Wet your hands with clean, running water, turn off the tap and apply soap. 

• Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap getting the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

• Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.

• Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

• Dry your hands with a clean towel or air dry them (wet hands pick up germs so dry well).

Find yourself wondering why or enjoy the science behind it all, click here for info from the CDC.

In a hurry or don't have access to properly sanitize your hands....?

You can use alcohol based hand sanitizer when you can't use soap and water. 

Make sure your hand sanitizer is at least 60% alcohol based.

• Apply a nickel size amount of hand sanitizer to the palm of your hands

• Rub on your hands for at least 20 seconds getting around your fingers up to the wrists

• Dry before touching any surface

Only use hand sanitizers up to 3 times before washing with soap and water

Don't have any or did the store run out from a sudden wave of it's popularity? Make some!

Here's what you'll need (and probably have in your home already!)

1. 70% Isopropyl Alcohol
2. 100% Aloe Vera Gel
3. Coconut Oil
4. Essential Oil (optional)
5. Clean Empty Lotion Bottle

Add 2/3 cup Isopropyl Alcohol to a bowl

Mix in 1/3 cup Aloe Vera

Add 1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil

Mix well

Add 5-7 drops of your favorite essential oil for scent

Funnel ingredients into your clean empty lotion bottle

Hand sanitizers are a temporary method of removing germs and it is important to know that they do not get rid of all types of germs. 

Washing with soap and water is always the most efficient way to protect your health.  

What About Sanitizing My Home?

We're so glad you asked!

But first, did you read our blog about Bleach?

Now that you know that.... all you need to sanitize your home on a daily basis are these 3 natural solutions:

1. 70% Isopropyl Alcohol (see a pattern here?)
2. Hydrogen Peroxide (natural bleach)
3. White Vinegar

C3H8O (Isopropyl Alcohol)

How To Safely Use Isopropyl Alcohol:

You can use it pretty much everywhere except on painted, shellacked, lacquered, or varnished surfaces including wood. Delicate and synthetic materials such as wool, rayon, and silk will be damaged from alcohol. 

Never mix it with bleach as it creates chloroform and can cause serious health issues. 

Keep away from flames and always have proper ventilation when using. 

We like using it on toilets to sanitize and remove smells.

H2O2 (Hydrogen Peroxide)

Where To Use Hydrogen Peroxide To Clean Your Home:

Because it's non-toxic, Hydrogen Peroxide is safe to use in your kitchen and bathroom.

You can even use is as mouthwash; it's that safe. 

Use it to wash your cutting boards and countertops.

Spray it on your shower grout and watch it do its magic. Keep a bottle in the shower as a daily mold preventative. It's AMAZING! 

Wipe out your refrigerator, freezer and dishwasher with hydrogen peroxide. Spray it on, let it set for a few minutes and wipe with a clean microfiber cloth. 

Sanitize your sponges in hydrogen peroxide. Just soak them in a bowl of half hydrogen peroxide and half water for about 10 minutes. Rinse them out with warm water and squeeze the water out before letting it set to dry. 

Use hydrogen peroxide in a paste with vinegar to remove build up on your tub, sinks, down your drains (back with HOT water and lemon juice for degreasing power), on your pots and pans or virtually anywhere that you need some extra scrubbing done. 

Use hydrogen peroxide in and around your toilets to combat urine smells and stains. 

Add to boost your laundry detergent.

C2H4O2 (Acetic Acid aka Vinegar)

The Amazing Uses of White Vinegar: 

Clean your floors with a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar.

Boost your laundry and remove smells with a cup of vinegar added to your wash load.

Wash the inside of your dishwasher with vinegar. Just add a bowl to the top rack and run an empty  cycle. 

When cleaning with vinegar, as you can see with Isopropyl Alcohol and Hydrogen Peroxide, the uses overlap. 

They are naturally derived but can be reactive with other solutions so be cautious when combining with other cleaning agents. 

Naturally, We Care About You And Your Home

Pun TOTALLY intended! 

For generations we have been passionate about green cleaning solutions. I learned about the uses of Isopropyl Alcohol from my grandma who cleaned homes, offices and the church she attended in her small town of Florence, Oregon. I learned firsthand the many uses and later went on to research many of my own when I started by own cleaning business, Cloud 9 Cleaning. 

I enjoy sharing information with you to help you care for your home while saving you money and time. 

If you learned something from this blog post or if you think others would enjoy reading it too, share on your social medias! Let's make the world a greener place!