Disinfecting the kitchen
I recently read this book. 
It has some great ideas on cleaning and housekeeping in general. Since today is “clean the kitchen day” it makes sense to share a great, healthy cleaning tip for disinfecting your kitchen and food items. (I also went online and did a search to make sure her idea wasn’t all hooey – so check here as well.
I get pretty weirded out about spraying harsh chemicals in the same place I prepare the food we eat, so this is great! Go out and buy some regular old vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and 2 spray bottles. (the bottle for the peroxide has to be opaque-not see through) Spray one, then the other on anything from the counter to fruit and veggies, and wipe clean. The smell disappears, but I think I’ll at least rinse my fruit off again. 
Works on everything and is safe to use. I’ll be going over all my counters and table, the highchair and even my refrigerator shelves.
Great tip! I too hate to use harsh chemicals in my house.
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I do this too, but I didn’t know the hydrogen peroxide had to be in an opaque container! Do you know why this is?
As to the vinegar smell…try adding some essential oil. I add about 30 drops of eucalyptus oil to my 50-50 vinegar and water spray, and it really does help with the smell! I don’t know how it would work with straight vinegar but it’s worth a try. (BTW, my small bottle of oil cost almost $5 at the healthy food store, but it has already lasted through several bottles of spray so I think it’s worth it:o)
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Another great product to use that is perfectly safe and very effective is “grapefruit seed extract”. Just mix a few drops with water and spray it on your kitche counters, table, or even fruits and veggies. (You can also use it to disinfection water!) It doesn’t have a bad smell like vinegar (although I agree with Erin’s tip… essential oils work wonders in freshening up homemade cleaners!)
~Kristy
Homemaker’s Cottage
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This is a great idea – thank you! I’ve gone from straight bleach (yes, I seriously used to get on my hands and knees and spray bleach all over my floor and wipe it down – eek!) throughout my house to things like Method. I’ve been hoping to switch over to something more natural and less expensive. I like Method’s products but I still wonder what exactly is in ‘em! (And would like to skip the buying part too. *chuckle*)
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I love this book! I did find that the smell lasted longer than I was hoping – when cleaning my bathroom and kitchen. The essential oils idea is a great tip – I think I’ll try that as well.
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Erin – supposedly the hydrogen peroxide breaks down into plain old water when exposed to light for a length of time. I guess thats why it comes in a brown container. And I’ll have to try the essential oils sometime. Thanks for the tip!
Jodi – I actually got this book from the library and I think I might just have to buy it. There’s to much stuff to remember it all. I think I’ve renewed it 3 times already!
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Great looking book!!! I just checked our library and it appears a new paperback version is coming out (including a new title) …
Green housekeeping in which the nontoxic avenger shows you how to improve your health and that of your family while you save time, money, and perhaps, your sanity / written and illustrated by Ellen Sandbeck.
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Great tip, and you’re right about it needing to be in an opaque bottle. Bless you for getting the word out
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Npr had a story on washing veggies without chemicals. Very helpful, so here’s the link
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14540742
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So glad to see you’re trying to go green! Mom’s are really the ones to change the scene I think. Have you heard of Shaklee’s Basic G? It was one of Oprah’s favorite things and is used in some Children’s Hospitals to disenfect because it is that effective, but still Non toxic and good for the environment. http://www.shaklee.net/mamagoesgreen
Sara
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