Vinegar
Does: Sanitize.
Yeah, the stuff you use for salad dressing is also great at slashing bacteria. “You can go a long way toward reducing organisms by rubbing a surface with distilled white vinegar and water,” says Philip Tierno, PhD, clinical professor of microbiology and pathology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Doesn’t: Disinfect.
To disinfect, an ingredient must kill nearly all the microbes on a surface, which vinegar does not do. It’s strongest (and, unfortunately, smelliest) in its undiluted form, says Jason Tetro, a microbiologist and the author of The Germ Code ($18, amazon.com; $18, bookshop.org). The more water you add, the less effective it becomes.
Good to know:
You can use a vinegar-and-water solution on some kitchen and bathroom countertops, on glass, and in the washing machine, but avoid using it on marble, granite, stone, and wood, because the acidity can damage the surface. To lift stuck-on grime, add baking soda to your vinegar solution and watch it bubble up.
Essential Oils
Do: Make DIY cleaners smell great.
“Essential oils help vinegar-based cleaning solutions become a bit more pleasant, especially if you’re new to green cleaning,” says Becky Rapinchuk, a cleaning expert and the author of Clean Mama’s Guide to a Healthy Home ($18, amazon.com; $19, bookshop.org). Choose oils labeled “100 percent pure” (like those from Plant Therapy), she adds, to make sure they don’t contain unnecessary additives.
Don’t: Always sanitize or disinfect.
Studies have shown that clove and cinnamon essential oils may possess antibacterial properties, but they’re not powerful enough to be the only sanitizing agent in DIY cleaning solutions. If you’re looking for an essential oil-based product that can serve as a natural disinfectant (and not just a sanitizer), go for one with thyme oil as the active ingredient, Tierno suggests.
Good to know:
To keep your cleaning routine completely au naturel, remove the very top layer (avoiding the pith) from an orange or lemon with a vegetable peeler. Add it to your spray bottle of vinegar water for a pleasant aroma.
Chlorine Bleach
Does: Disinfect.
No DIY solution disinfects quite as well as bleach, and even experts who clean mostly green have it on hand. “Under my sink right now, you’ll find baking soda, vinegar, dish soap, and a bottle of bleach,” says Charles MacPherson, author of The Pocket Butler’s Guide to Good Housekeeping ($13, amazon.com; $16, bookshop.org). To properly disinfect surfaces after you or a housemate gets sick, use ⅓ cup of bleach per gallon of water. To disinfect after handling raw meat, use 1 tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water.
Doesn’t: Lead to environmental catastrophe.
Bleach can be harmful in high concentrations, but careful, every-once-in-a-while household use is fine. A bit of bleach diluted with water going down your drain is acceptable.
Good to know:
Nonchlorine bleach is gentler than chlorine bleach (it uses hydrogen peroxide to lift stains from clothing). However, there are no nonchlorine bleach products registered as disinfectants with the Environmental Protection Agency.
Steam
Does: Sanitize without the use of chemicals.
Superheated vapor is the ultimate green cleaner because it’s just water, says Donna Smallin Kuper, a certified housecleaning technician. It can significantly reduce bacteria (the high temps essentially incinerate them), and the hot moisture loosens embedded dirt and grime, letting you use less elbow grease.
Doesn’t: Work everywhere.
On painted surfaces, like walls and furniture, steam can cause peeling. On certain other surfaces, like brick, marble, and wood, it can lead to buckling or warping.
Good to know:
You can sanitize floor tiles with a steam mop. Try a handheld version, like Bissell’s Steam Shot Handheld Hard Surface Steam Cleaner ($40; amazon.com), on sealed countertops, glass shower doors, and even mattresses. Allergy sufferers may benefit from steam cleaning, as the process helps kill dust mites.
Microfiber Cloths
Do: Clean better than paper towels or cotton rags.
As the name implies, microfiber cloths are made up of teeny-tiny synthetic fibers, each of which helps pick up more debris than that wad of paper towels. They can also leave windows streak-free, whereas cotton rags may deposit lint.
Don’t: Biodegrade.
When you wash them, they can shed microscopic strands of plastic that end up in our waterways. Consider installing a Filtrol ($140; filtrol.net) in your washing machine to catch those fibers and minimize pollution from all your laundry.
Good to know:
Cotton cleaning cloths and cellulose-cotton Swedish dishcloths are sustainable and biodegradable (when they eventually wear out).
Disposable Wipes
Do: Disinfect when you’re in a pinch.
We agree. Keeping a tub of these in your car is incredibly convenient.
Don’t: Decompose.
Most cleaning wipes are not bio-degradable and can clog up sewer systems. In 2017, an 820-foot-long “fatberg,” or huge mass of solid waste containing sanitary products (like wipes) and cooking grease, was discovered in a London sewer.
Good to know:
A reusable cloth without disinfectant is a fine option for routine cleaning, according to the Environmental Working Group.
Anti-bacterial Products With Triclosan
Do: Kill microbes.
For decades, Triclosan has been a popular additive to products like soap and toothpaste to prevent bacterial contamination.
Don’t: Keep you safe from all dangerous strains of bacteria.
A few studies have suggested that when exposed to triclosan, bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics. Triclosan was banned by the FDA, but only in certain soaps.
Good to know:
The FDA requires manufacturers to list ingredients. Companies like Procter & Gamble and SC Johnson post ingredients online. Rapinchuk suggests also researching items on third-party sites (such as ewg.org) or apps (Think Dirty, Shop Clean). Products with the Green Seal, Greenguard, or EPA’s SaferChoice logo have been certified safer for people and the planet.
Ways to Waste Less
In addition to cutting back on wipes, focus on the number of packaged cleaners you own and what you can live without. Consider using up what you have, even if it’s not a product you’d purchase again, then thoroughly clean spray bottles and fill them with your homemade solutions, suggests cleaning expert Melissa Maker. If you want to immediately get rid of the packaged goods, ask a friend or neighbor if they would like to finish them. Recycle whatever you can—check with your local recycling program on how to handle different types of plastics or aerosols.
