Sterilize With Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen Peroxide and Vinegar With Spray Bottles

This non-toxic method was developed by Susan Sumner, from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, as a way of sterilizing foods. Not only does it work great for that but I have found it useful elsewhere around the home.

Supplies:

Hydrogen Peroxide
Vinegar
2 Spray bottles
Cleaning cloth

The trick is to keep the two substances in separate bottles.

Warning: If you mix them together beforehand, not only does it lose it's effectiveness as a disinfectant, but it produces peracetic acid which is not something you want around. Therefore, DO NOT mix them together in the same bottle.

Instructions:

Fill spray bottles with hydrogen peroxide and vinegar, separately.
Spray the surface you want to clean with a light coating of hydrogen peroxide. Let it bubble for a moment.

Note: You can actually do steps 1 & 2 in any order. However, I like spraying the hydrogen peroxide first because it can help me spot the worst places when it bubbles.

Now spray the surface with the vinegar. Again, let it sit a moment.

Wipe down with your cloth and toss the cloth in the washing machine when you are done.

Wiping Off Hydrogen Peroxide and Vinegar

This works great in the bathroom and is totally non-toxic. I have even killed mold with it successfully.

Source: The Urban Homestead by Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen

By Jess from Hillsboro, OR

Related:
Making Homemade Green Cleaners

Feedback

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By 06/28/2012

Thank you! This is new, and deeply appreciated cleaning wisdom to me. Heretofore, I had been using both fluids, but separately, for different cleaning purposes. Henceforth, I shall use both fluids as you have suggested, expecting great results. Again, thank you!

By 04/07/2012

Wow! I looked this stuff up. It is more powerful than straight bleach, but breaks down in water to benign chemicals in the environment. I will definately keep this in my arsenal.