• View ecochildsplay’s profile on Facebook
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Twitter
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Instagram
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Pinterest
  • View Jennifer Lance’s profile on LinkedIn
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on YouTube
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Google+

Eco Child's Play

Live a greener, healthier life!

  • Environment
  • Pregnancy
  • Food & Recipes
  • Health News
  • Parenting
  • Green Toys
  • Beauty & Beauty Products
  • Green Home & Cleaning
  • Contact

Non-Toxic Disinfecting: Surviving Flu Season

On a day-to-day basis I’m perfectly satisfied with cleaning with vinegar and baking soda; it’s effective and reduces my family’s chemical exposure.  When the flu virus rears its ugly head, however, my gut instinct is to pull out the big guns: the Clorox bleach.  I can’t help it.  I’m looking for total annihilation.  I want to keep my kids healthy; I hate to see them sick.  I want those germs stopped in their tracks.

Don’t worry.  Knowing bleach has no place in the home, I stopped buying it long ago.

What can you do when you want to avoid exposing your children to toxic chemicals like bleach but still kill the germs that will make them sick?

It’s simple. Keep white vinegar in a spray bottle, and 3% hydrogen peroxide in another.  (The bottle containing the hydrogen peroxide should be opaque, as it will degrade in a clear bottle.)  Spray your contaminated surfaces with the vinegar and follow with the hydrogen peroxide.

This lethal (to germs) combination has been shown to be as effective as chlorine bleach, killing 99% of bacteria.

My little girl has been laid up with the flu all day, and I’ve been liberally spraying the hot spots where germs hide.  I’m happy to report that the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide treatment has also been effective at neutralizing the smell of vomit, although I did sprinkle baking soda on particularly stubborn areas (vacuuming up when dry).

And I’ve been reminding everyone to wash, wash, wash their hands with plain old soap and water.  Hopefully, we can stop this flu cycle right in its tracks…

Photo credit: Robin Elton

  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • More
  • WhatsApp
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Subscribe!

« Five Things You Need to Know About Honey
Breaking News – CPSC Votes for One Year Stay on CPSIA »

Comments

  1. Diana says

    October 7, 2015 at 11:40 pm

    Do you then just let the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide evaporate, or do you wipe it up? Also, where to do you get your hydrogen peroxide from? In most places I’ve looked it’s been quite expensive, I think.
    Thanks for the info!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Lance says

      October 9, 2015 at 5:20 pm

      I just let dry. Please note vinegar is harmful to granite and marble counter tops. They will need to be resealed after repeated vinegar applications. I buy peroxide at Costco.

      Reply
      • Diana says

        October 10, 2015 at 12:52 am

        Thank you !
        I did know about the risk to those materials — including limestone, I believe. It’s good to be reminded, though.

        Reply
  2. Diana says

    October 7, 2015 at 11:42 pm

    this may be a duplicate. sorry.

    Do you wipe off after spraying, or just let it air dry?
    And — any advice on where to get the hydrogen peroxide at a relatively inexpensive rate? Thanks!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Tip of the Day - Kill the Flu Bug in Your Home | EcoSilly says:
    February 9, 2009 at 7:01 am

    […] without the toxicity of bleach. Here’s a combination I’ve never heard of before — vinegar and hydrogen peroxide!? Apparently it is a great alternative to regular old bleach which has enough toxic qualities that […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search Content

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter


About Eco Child’s Play

Our ethos is to provide news, information, and opinions on natural, green parenting to help your family live a greener, healthier life! Additionally, we offer personal consulting services to help you achieve your green living goals.

Jennifer is a vegetarian, yoga teacher, gardener, hiker, teacher, and mother that has been living off-the-grid for over 20 years.

Contact Eco Child’s Play

It’s Time to Quit Plastics and How to do It

Reduce Plastic Waste with re-brush Eco-Friendly Toothbrush

More from the archives!

5 Easter Recipes & 5 Easter Egg Ideas for Spring

Ecover Bottles Now 100% PlantPlastic

Balloons Cause More Deaths than Marbles

The Perfect Gift For Baby: Luxury, Organic Baby Blanket

TED Talks: Annie Murphy Paul: What we learn before we’re born

COVID Back to School: Helping children cope with uncertainty

covid19 pregnancy

Does the Coronavirus Attack the Placenta and cause 2nd Trimester Miscarriages?

Information

  • About & Contact
  • Archive
  • Blog
  • Consulting Services
  • Disclaimer, Disclosure, & Sponsored Posts
  • Privacy Policy
logo
Food Advertising by
chipotle ad

New Chipotle Scarecrow ad on factory farming: Educational infommercial or marketing ploy?

carbon dioxide emissions

Carbon Dioxide Emissions: The scary facts

Around the Green Parenting Web: Facebook, Breast Milk Sharing, Destruction of American Childhood, Happy Meal Toys, and Vegetarian Babies

A Concerned Mother and Scientist Seeks A Better Climate Change Law with Washington

Organic, fair trade vanilla!

Neilson-Massey: Organic, Fair Trade Madagascar Pure Vanilla and Chocolate Extract!

Popular Categories

  • Breastfeeding
  • Health News
  • Natural Childbirth
  • Parenting
  • Education
  • Product Review
  • Green Toys

Get our posts via email

Please stay in touch!

You might also like to read…

Breastfeeding in Public: There’s No Need to Hide

Children’s Literature about Nature: Pacha’s Pajamas Featuring Mos Def

Recess or Ritalin: Which Would You Chose for your Child?

Welcome New Advertiser: Identity Links Environmentally Friendly Promotional Items

5000 toxic chemicals in children's products

From car seats to Wal*Mart dolls: 5000 toxic chemicals in children’s products

Copyright © 2021 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2021 · Divine Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkNoPrivacy policy