tips for kitchen sanitization using natural cleaners and/or bleach

[starsapphire]

We have a dishwasher, but if I were you, I'd put a splash of bleach in your dishwater for washing dishes - but I wouldn't do that with the bone china. For that, if your water isn't hot enough, I'd heat some water on the stove (not boiling or anything, just hotter than what your tap can get) and pour it over the bone china as a final rinse to kill germs. Can you turn your hot water heater up?

After I get all the dishes done, I fill the sink halfway with hot water, a little dish soap and a splash of bleach. I wipe down the sinks, faucet, stove and countertop with it to sanitize them. Air dry. Wear gloves if you're bleach sensitive.

[ladykemma2]

DH tells me that bleach is not bad for the environment, he says it turns into salt... have not bothered to research it. but it does make my tile floors very clean and it is cheap!

NaOCl -> NaCl + O2
sodium hypochlorite decomposes into salt and oxygen gas.

it's the oxygen gas is what's doing the disinfecting, not chlorine.

[gmarie]

Thanks starsapphire, this is exactly what I am doing now. I also pulled out my copy of "home comforts" which can be a bit intimidating but she does back up your bleach idea. I am washing everything and sanitizing with very hot/ almost boiling water, and doing a quick bleach rinse, and then rinsing again with hot water to let air dry. i probably won't make a habit of this because I know bleach is bad, but will make me feel MUCH better in the short term. And at least it will force me to reorganize my kitchen cabinets!

I'll ask DH about the hot water heater.

[gmarie]

the book suggested a bleach rinse of 1 tsp to a quart water so now that much... although she does say not to rinse!?!? I can't imagine not rinsing the bleach solution so I will still do that.

[thefrug]

I keep a big spray bottle beside the sink and use 1 Tablepoon to it and fill with water and shake to blend. I use it on all my cutting boards and to wipe up the counters with.Especially if theres meat juice spilled.

[ladykemma2]

the book suggested a bleach rinse of 1 tsp to a quart water so now that much... although she does say not to rinse!?!? I can't imagine not rinsing the bleach solution so I will still do that.

she's right. don't make work for yourself.

[gmarie]

ha ha make work for myself? I can't believe I started this huge project... it is 4:18 and I have my entire kitchen torn apart and still have the rest of our place to clean... not to mention everything else I wanted to get done today!

[shoiji]

If I am sick or someone comes over and is sick I will add a little bleach into the dish water. I use vinegar to clean with but am not afraid to use clorox once in a while.

Growing up clorox was used to disinfect so I still associate it with things are clean now attitude.

I have also heard of cleaning cutting boards with salt and lemon then setting them out in the sun. I used a little bleach to clean my white plastic cutting board when it starts to get discolored from the different foods.

If you use sponges, dampen them and place in microwave on high for one minute. This will kill the germs.

I have stopped using antibacterial soap since I now believe that some germs are good for you and help you build up resistance. So do not get yourself worked up about having a germ free house. Can definately understand how you are feeling now since you and your husband are not feeling well.

Defiantely check to see if the water heater is turned up enough.

[thefrug]

Yea. The only two places in the house I go after the germs big time are the kitchen and bathroom. Otherwise we live in a "lived in" home.

[Labontet]

Like shoiji, I put a capful of bleach into my dishwater (I do not have a dishwasher). I feel that at least I am killing most of the germs, Then I just rinse the dishes and air dry them.

[gmarie]

Thanks, I miss double sinks!