Homemade Bleach
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In my quest to make my home as natural and non-toxic as possible, naturally I wondered whether I could make bleach at home. Chlorine bleach is rather nasty stuff, it tends to give me headaches when I use it, and I want to use it as little as possible in my home. And besides, some people are allergic to chlorine – might there be a decent alternative for them?
But the question is – homemade bleach is great for whitening laundry, as Jillee at One Good Thing and Robin at Thank Your Body have shown, but what about cleaning? Have I been wrong about chlorine bleach? Can a homemade version be as effective as chlorine?
The short answer – yes.
The long answer – yes, but laundry and cleaning require different recipes AND you have to be aware that, since you're making your own solution, you can make an educated guess, but not actually verify, which viruses and bacteria your solution is actually killing. (It's still effective though!)
Want an alternative to chlorine bleach but don't want to make your own? I often use this non-chlorine bleach in my home, as well as this powdered version for laundry.
WHY on earth would you want to make your own bleach?
To decide whether homemade bleach is right for you, first you should know your ingredients, both of regular chlorine bleach (aka sodium hypochlorite) and the homemade versions.
Chlorine bleach
Chlorine bleach is sodium hypochlorite, a solution of chlorine and diluted sodium hydroxide. That's interesting for two reasons:
One, when exposed to the air, the chlorine evaporates as a gas from the bleach solution at a high rate, which is why there is such a strong smell associated with chlorine bleach. Honestly, chlorine inhalation is what bothers me most about having it in my home. Chlorine fumes can cause everything from mild headaches and dizziness to internal tissue damage of the nasal, pulmonary, and bronchial tissues, if the exposure is either severe or prolonged.
Two, sodium hydroxide is highly corrosive, and even though it has changed states here due to the chemical reaction with water and chlorine, the mixture is still corrosive. You may remember sodium hydroxide as the active ingredient in drain cleaner and the ingredient we use in soapmaking to convert oils into soap (it's also known as “caustic lye”). And if you've ever made soap, you'll know that you need to use extreme caution when handling the sodium hydroxide crystals.
However, despite those two hazards, chlorine bleach is relatively shelf-stable and has been widely tested and approved as effective against multiple viruses, microbes, bacteria, protozoa, and other pathogens on both hard and porous surfaces, as well as an effective whitening agent.
- This article from Coastwide Laboratories provides a decent overview of chlorine bleach's pros and cons.
- This is the standard Materials Safety and Data Sheet for Clorox brand chlorine bleach (pdf)
- Here is chlorine bleach's technical information from the New York State Department of Health
Homemade bleach
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide can be just as corrosive as chlorine bleach, depending on its strength, and it's more volatile at higher concentrations, yet hydrogen peroxide has been approved as an effective household disinfectant by the EPA since 1977.
Hydrogen peroxide can be found in multiple potencies. The kind typically available at a common drugstore is a diluted 3% solution.
However, it can also be found in industrial and food grade strength, which are all above 30% dilution. Of course, this will make a MUCH more potent cleaner, but it's also extremely volatile at that strength. It can burn your skin severely (ask me how I know…. ::sigh:: ), corrode certain materials (such as vinyl countertops), tarnish metal, and explode if stored improperly.
(Interesting side note: In its purest form, hydrogen peroxide even sometimes used to propel rockets because of its explosive nature! Cool, huh?)
However, at the concentrations we use here, the corrosive levels are very low and there is very little vapor vulnerability. In a nutshell, THIS is why I make my own homemade bleach.
- Here is general information on hydrogen peroxide from US Peroxide (disclosure: US Peroxide is a private company)
- This is the MSDS for the hydrogen peroxide available from ScienceLab Chemicals and Laboratory Equipment
- See the two sections below for a number of links to the Centers for Disease Control and the Environmental Protection Agency regarding the use, safety, and necessary precautions of using hydrogen peroxide.
Vinegar
Vinegar is easy to find, cheap to source, and can even be made at home (my book, The DIY Pantry, has a recipe for homemade wine vinegar, but it's strictly a culinary recipe – there's no way to ensure a homemade recipe consistently has sufficient acetic acid for efficient anti-microbial action).
Vinegar has been proven to inactivate certain strains of influenza, including H1N1, as well as other viruses (pdf), and according to an anecdotal quote from an executive at Heinz, pure 5% white vinegar will kill approximately 99% of bacteria, 82% of mold, and 80% of germs (their word, not mine) when used for cleaning.
However, as I describe below, vinegar is most potent when combined with hydrogen peroxide.
IMPORTANT REMINDER:
I am legally required to remind you that since you are making your own solution and I cannot be present beside you with testing kit in hand to verify your method, measure your exact ingredients, and test the potency of your finished solution, the recipes below are NOT guaranteed to kill coronaviruses or any other pathogens that enter your home. All the information here is listed strictly as guidelines for you to be able to do your own due diligence.
So, with that, let's get to the recipes!
Homemade Bleach for Cleaning
For cleaning, you want oomph, and a 50-50 blend of 3% H2O2 and water seems pretty standard by the scientific community to sufficiently deal with common household bacterias, viruses, and molds. Of course, I always like things a little more potent, so sometimes I skip adding the water altogether.
makes 1 quart
2 cups hydrogen peroxide (3% solution) – see where to buy hydrogen peroxide
2 tablespoons lemon juice OR 1/2 teaspoon citric acid – see where to buy citric acid
2 cups water
10 drops lemon essential oil
Store in dark or covered bottles, as exposure to light will weaken the solution. Lasts up to 1 month in a clear bottle, 2-3 months in a dark bottle.
Here are a few ideas for keeping your solution in the dark:
Keep old peroxide bottles and kype a spray nozzle from another bottle.
Wrap the spray bottle in a brown paper lunch bag and secure at the top.
Cover the spray bottle with construction paper or wrapping paper and make it decorative – I'm not a crafty type, but those of you who are crafty at heart, feel free go to town!
Homemade Bleach for Disinfecting Surfaces & Washing Produce
Peracetic acid, which is formed when acetic acid (vinegar) and hydrogen peroxide mix, is a very potent cleaner against multiple viruses and bacteria according to the EPA, but it is very unstable and weakens quickly once mixed. (Source: CDC Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, 2008)
It is even potent enough to be used for sanitizing some medical, surgical, and dental supplies, and is approved in the US for use on hard, non-porous surfaces in cheesemaking facilities, wineries, and other food service locales, again according to the EPA.
However, I have not been able to find any information regarding its effectiveness against protozoa and amoebas, so I cannot recommend its use against those pathogens.
To make homemade bleach for cleaning, keep two separate spray bottles on hand – one with standard 3% hydrogen peroxide and one with 5% or 7% white vinegar, then spritz them each on the surface to be cleaned – such as countertops, cutting boards, or fresh produce. (Source: Journal of Food Protection // “Control of pathogenic bacteria on fresh produce,” Peters, D., Sumner, et al. 1996)
Let the spray then sit to dry without wiping or rinsing.
Because it weakens and loses its potency so quickly once mixed, there is no “recipe” for it beyond that, as you don't want to mix it up ahead of time.
I personally like to spray a bit heavier with the hydrogen peroxide, as peracetic acid + hydrogen peroxide is an even more potent disinfectant, but a 50-50 mix is certainly sufficient.
A Note about Fumes:
Since vinegar in particular is recommended so commonly for natural cleaning purposes, you may have run across mentions that vinegar should never be mixed with either chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide, as “toxic fumes may result.”
This is true, but at the concentrations we're working with, there is little cause for concern. Remember that the hydrogen peroxide typically found at the drug store is a 3% concentration – that means it's 3% hydrogen peroxide and 97% water. If you use a hydrogen peroxide above 10%, you may need to start paying more attention to fumes and to how it comes into contact with your skin, but with the ingredients as we have listed them here, there is no more cause for concern than you would experience if sniffing either the vinegar or hydrogen peroxide on their own – not comfortable, but not dangerous. (See more discussion on this topic.)
Homemade Bleach for Laundry Use
For laundry, you want something a little less potent – just so your colors actually stay, you know, colored. If you do use the cleaning recipe for laundry, use only 1/4 cup and test on light colored fabrics first!
The lemon juice is actually an important part of this recipe, so don't skip it. The citric acid acts as a whitener, a very mild disinfectant, and as a water softener (thus allowing stains to be lifted out more easily).
Makes 1 quart
(multiply everything by 4 to make 1 gallon)
1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide (3% solution)
2 tablespoons lemon juice OR 1/2 teaspoon citric acid
3 1/4 cups water
5 drops lemon essential oil
Use 1 cup per load of laundry.
Results will definitely vary according to the hardness of your water.
Do you spot clean with laundry application, or is it too strong?
I’ve used it for spot cleaning on some pretty heavy-duty soils without any problems, so, yes, that should be absolutely fine.
HOWEVER, as usual, it’s always wise to test it on an inconspicuous corner of your fabric first. This is especially true if it’s going to be exposed to the sun while the bleach is still wet (lemon juice + natural sunlight has been used for centuries as a natural way to bleach fabrics).
Kresha, we are moving into our new house and of course, have a new well…I am wondering if I can use this instead of bleach to “shock” it?
These recipes are far too weak to shock a well – you would need pure hydrogen peroxide that is at least food grade. (“Regular” hydrogen peroxide from the drug store is 3%, while food grade is 35%.)
The problem is I’m not sure what concentration you would need to effectively kill all algaes, bacteria, and other undesirables. One person at this forum purports that the standard rule of thumb is 8-10 oz of 35% hydrogen peroxide to 1000 gallons water to attain a reading of 30 ppm after application. However, that seems FAR too weak to me, so you’d definitely need to do some research.
The good news, though, is that there ARE lots of people who shock their wells using hydrogen peroxide rather than chlorine so it is possible! I’m just not experienced enough to be able to advise you accurately. 🙂 Perhaps begin by googling “how to shock a well with hydrogen peroxide,” and then secondarily, find a company that MAKES food grade H2 O2 and call to ask them directly.
I hope that helps!
I tried the cleaning surfaces recipe to soak my false teeth in overnight. What a difference !! It did not hurt the teeth ( yet ) I think if it were to be used maybe once a month to freshen and improve the color of your false teeth it would be great. I am taking my teeth to my dentist and have him look at them with his very strong magnifying glass to see if it has damaged the surface (that I can not see with my eye alone). I will let you know. Thanks for all your great ideas. God bless 😀
todusty2@aol.com
We work in 3rd and 4th world countries. Can either of these be used safely to soak our vegetables in for parasitical and amebic reasons? I have read that grapeseed extract may be good for this cleansing of fruits and veggies. Thanks in advance!
I have been told that, yes, this is fine, but let me do a bit of research before I answer with a more resounding “YES!” I have close friends and family who have lived and worked in the third world as well, and they certainly would have experience with this. Do you currently use chlorine bleach? I know that’s the usual protocol for many.
Jennifer,
I have only been able to find ONE study that would support that the hydrogen peroxide + distilled vinegar would be sufficient for killing the nasty bacteria and pathogens that you are regularly exposed to in your produce (and I haven’t even found the abstract of the study itself, just several references to the study!).
As for the grapefruit seed extract, I would advise against it, only because I haven’t been able to find any sources that convincingly prove its efficacy in this regard. The bugs and parasites you’re dealing with are nasty – you don’t want to mess with them! 🙂
So, unfortunately, I would recommend sticking with the chlorine wash or other “approved” washes you can find in your country until we can prove more definitively that the alternative versions will effectively deal with the ameobas and bacterias-on-steriods that typically exist in the developing world.
I’ll continue researching and if I ever come up with anything promising, I’ll post it!
Thanks for the update on this Kresha, I’ve been eagerly anticipating it. I’m disappointed that the home-made solution is probably not fool-proof for nasty bugs, but I’m wondering if it would suffice for taking care of nasty chemicals and pesticides, as that’s mostly what we’ll be dealing with where we’re headed. What do you think?
think I will go with Kara.. we existed for 20,000 years as human nods before chemical to clean food. I will stick to vinegar spray
its grapeseed oil, not grapefruit. lol
Actually, grapeseed oil is a culinary oil pressed from the seeds of grapes, but in this case we’re discussing grapefruit seed extract, which is a preservative & antimicrobial liquid that is mechanically extracted from the seeds and membranes of grapefruits.
Did I misunderstand your comment?
I looked up parasites in my Modern Essentials book, and Doterra’a, certified pure therapeutic grade, oregano essential oil, which can be taken internally, removes blastocystis hominis, and their Lavender essential oil eliminates protozoal pathogens… hope this helps!
Copper sulfate solutions are widely used on fruits and vegetables to disinfect their surfaces and leave a residue to deter microbial growths. It can be washed off using a weak vinegar solution or left alone, since all living things need copper in their diets/soils to have a healthy metabolism and vigorous growth,
Why are you calling it bleach, instead of a bleach alternative? Kind of misleading….???
Well, because anything that has a bleaching action – that is, a whitening effect – is a bleach. These recipes are an alternative to chlorine bleach, but they are bleaches in and of themselves.
If you’d like to make your own chlorine bleach, there’s a great tutorial here:
[broken link removed]
Bummer, this link doesn’t appear to be working at the moment.
Oh, bummer. You’re right!
There do seem to be several YouTube videos now that show how to make chlorine bleach from sodium hypochlorite (typically purchased in pool supply stores), but I haven’t watched any of them, so I’m not sure if any of them are very helpful.
Good luck!
Hi Kresha,
Thank you for your blog!!
I was wondering what sort of hydrogen peroxide you use; are some brands better than others, without stabilizers and such?
Melissa,
You’re so welcome. It’s a pleasure. 🙂
For this application, I don’t worry about stabilizers and other additives in the hydrogen peroxide, as they don’t make a noticeable difference. Also, I wanted the recipe to be easy to make and the ingredients frugal to buy, so it’s definitely advantageous to use whatever you can find at your local drugstore rather than trying to source “purer” brands.
Also, the 3% variety that is common is just fine and I’ve chosen ratios of ingredients assuming that 3% hydrogen peroxide will be used. If you have 29% on hand, you can use it, but you’ll need to add a fair bit of water, as 29% is quite powerful and will burn your skin and corrode various surfaces on contact. So, again, the easiest source is the stuff from any drugstore.
If, however, you ever embark on the journey to do an alternative therapy that uses hydrogen peroxide internally, then you’ll DEFINITELY have to source food-grade stuff without additives. But that’s outside the scope of this post – that’s a different subject entirely. 🙂
Thank you for the great info! I wanted to clarify something that’s not quite clear to me though-in the laundry recipe it says, “If you do use the cleaning recipe for laundry, use only 1/4 cup and test on light colored fabrics first!” and then under the actual recipe it says to use 1 cup. Either you’re suggesting to use just 1/4 cup to test and if no problems use a full cup, or you’re saying that if I choose to use the cleaning recipe on laundry to just use 1/4 cup. Would you please calrify? Thanks!
Sorry – that is a bit confusing! What I meant is this:
If you use the CLEANING recipe for LAUNDRY (as opposed to the LAUNDRY recipe for LAUNDRY), then use only 1/4 cup of the CLEANING recipe, since it’s a more potent blend.
Does that clarify sufficiently?
Thanks Kelly and Kresha! I read it the same way as Kelly :).
Thanks! I shared this in a fb group and plan to make some soon! Laundry version that is…
Yay! Awesome. Fabulous. I had no idea you could make bleach. You just officially blew my mind 🙂 Pinning for sure!
Has anybody used tea tree oil in the bleach recipe, instead of lemon oil?? I’m especially interested in the laundry bleach …
You can definitely use tea tree oil in any of the recipes, including laundry. It works fabulously!
My experience with using it in my wash is that it keeps the white clothes white, but if the clothes are already dingy, it does not lighten them. Oh well. Maybe if I soaked them in a solution overnight they might, but I have not tried that yet.
My whites are the last load of my washing for a purpose, I let them sit all day, and do the rest the next day or i put them in the machine at night and allow them to sit all night and wash the next morning. So nice!!
THAT is an awesome idea suzi! I hope I can do that once I move to my apartment! I am going to try this recipe as well as a homemade laundry soap and softner one I recently found
Soak your clothes, then put them out in the sunshine, once dry, rewash. Should be very light/white. A solution similar to this +sunshine got yellow mustard out of the vinyl part of my daughters favorite shirt!
Oh what a great alternative to that ‘smelly’ chlorine bleach! Thanks soooo much for this recipe and post!
You’re so welcome!
Great post! Thank you so much! I can’t wait to try this and I will let you know my results!
Does the essential oil need to be lemon for cleaning purposes or is that just your favorite scent?
Well, a bit of both.
Lemon essential oil does have potent antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, which certainly makes the bleach more effective, but there are other essential oils that are potent in that regard as well. Clove, rosemary, grapefruit, tea tree, eucalyptus, peppermint, and lavender are good examples. I chose lemon because it complements the lemon juice, which IS an essential part of the recipe.
Certainly feel free to mix it up according to your mood or preference! 🙂
Could you add another essential oil along with the lemon to make different scents? If so about how much would you recommend adding to each recipe?
Definitely.
I would just add a few drops (5-10) of any other scent, but you can certainly add more if you’d like.
Lavender is a really wonderful combo with lemon, as is mint.
Very cool. I enjoy making laundry, cleaning and beauty products. Thanks for the bleach recipe. I had no idea that it could be made. BTY..I read on P\interest that old socks cut off and wrap\p\ed around spray bottles and jars will keep\ the light out. Another cool idea.
Definitely having a p\roblem with my keyboard sticking. (<;\
Definitely a cool idea! Thanks!
I would like to know how important the Lemon Essential Oil is in both the cleaning and the laundry solution. I keep both lemon juice and peroxide around all the time for other things, I add peroxide into my dishwater etc to help kill germs and make a homemade carpet spot remover. But Lemon Essential Oil is something I don’t normally keep.
As I mentioned to another commenter as well, you are certainly welcome to use other essential oils that combat bacteria, viruses, fungi, and mold, such as clove, rosemary, grapefruit, tea tree, eucalyptus, peppermint, and lavender. A Five Thieves blend would likely work very nicely too.
If you would prefer to skip the essential oils altogether, they aren’t absolutely required (so feel free to leave them out), but they certainly do give the bleach its effective punch for disinfecting surfaces. It’s not as true for the laundry – the lemon juice is more important in the laundry recipe.
I hope that helps!
Why does the bottle need to be covered with brown paper bag?
Hydrogen peroxide breaks down quickly and loses its potency when exposed to light (which is why it’s always sold in brown bottles). Thus, if you don’t have any dark bottles to store your homemade bleach in, you can just use a regular bottle and cover it with a paper bag, a sock (like one other commenter suggested), wrapping paper, or anything else to keep the light out.
Thats a great idea! “Wrap” the bottle in an old dark colored sock! It wont matter if it gets wet and easier to hold on to the bottle.
I love your Blogs. Have you ever tried the stronger peroxide for hair color bleaching? it is stronger I have used it for bleaching my whites.
Thanks, Vikki!
I haven’t tried it for hair bleaching, but perhaps someone else here has. Can anyone else give some insight? How well does this work?
I’ve used the peroxide/vinegar two bottle disinfectant for some years now, regularly around the kitchen, for produce, in bathroom, and as needed for ookey emergencies elsewhere – it is so simple to use, has worked extremely well, is safe, has no flashback to get in your eyes or lungs, and I love it! LIke you I “keep old peroxide bottles and kype a spray nozzle from another bottle”.
Now I definitely have to try your laundry bleach! And probably your cleaner too – I assume the citric acid in this one is there to help lift dirtiness & stains? You didn’t state specifically.
This is the first time I’ve seen your blog and I like it very much. Thank you so much for posting this!
Penny, welcome!
Yes, you’re absolutely correct – the citric acid is there as a softener, disinfectant, and stain-loosener.
Is this safe for colored clothes?
If you add it to the washer like you would with chlorine bleach, it should absolutely be fine – I’ve never heard of anyone having any issues. However, if you’re worried about a certain fabric or with the specific dye in one particular item of clothing, definitely do a spot test first.
Any other readers have any experiences to share or words of wisdom?
Great idea! We don’t use bles h and I really need a food alternative. I’ll be making this soon!
another but smelly way is to let your urine set for a week and use that
As a bleaching agent? Why wait a week?
Where can i find citric acid?
Some health food stores carry it, cheesemaking supply stores, gourmet kitchen shops sometimes carry it in small amounts, wine and beer making shops, Amazon.com, and Cultures for Health all carry it. It can be a hard to find “specialty” item, but once you find a source, it’s fairly easy to stay stocked. 🙂
I have been able to find citric acid at Wal-Mart with the canning supplies.
I’ve been able to find citric acid in the bulk spices bins at grocery stores.
I love your recipes and words of wisdom Kresha! I would love to know if you think this would be safe to use on a pets coat? Our dog is a smelly one and all white?
I am NOT a dog groomer or a veterinarian or knowledgeable about pets in any other way. That said, I would think that regular use on a dog’s fur to combat smell would dry out the hair and make it a bit brittle. Occasional use might be okay.
Since I really don’t know and I’m just venturing a guess, I’ll put the question up on our Facebook page and see if anyone else can help out! 🙂
Shayne, defiantly do not use this on your pet! Drying out the dogs shin will make the problem worse!
I highly recommend this and learned of it from my vet whom I trust. He suggest a eucalyptus and olive oil remedy for animals with shin problems or any animals that have regular flea infestations, He dose not believe in Advantage or Front line, as it burns your pet and cause drying of the shin which will then irritate your pet shin issue, making the smell more pungent.
For our old smelly dog (who has a shin issue) I apply after each bath, and all our cats (to prevent fleas) twice a month.
Smallest/cheapest bottle of olive oil I can find in the store
2 or 3 drops of eucalyptus oil for every 3 Oz. of olive oil.
But remember ONLY 2 or 3 drops of eucalyptus because it will sting if to potent, and/or will make your pet sick or even kill your pet if they ingest it at stronger amounts!
Eucalyptus oil is toxic, mark the bottle well and keep out of reach of children and uninformed cooks.
Great information — I appreciate how accessible/frugal the ingredients are, and I love any excuse to cut open a piece of citrus — aromatherapy at its best!
I’ve taken to buying the big bags of lemons and limes at Sam’s, as I find that when I’m flush with them, I’m more likely to use them up. When I only have a couple lying about, I think “I have to save them for something really good…” and then more often than not I “save” them for too long and they go bad. :/
ALL that to say, is that I currently have a buncha limes (and only a few lemons. I’m saving them…) I wondered if lime juice would be as effective as lemon juice here. A quick search re: the amount of citric acid in each yielded this helpful result: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18290732
The gist is that limes have just a slightly lower citric acid count than lemons .(They are both higher than other citrus fruits — oranges or grapefruit, for instance.) I’m taking this to mean that limes would serve as an acceptable alternative in your formulas, if it meant the difference between trying it TODAY and waiting until next week when I’ve got a new big bag of lemons. 🙂 I do happen to have a jar of citric acid, too, so I may add just a pinch to the formula to balance things out.
Thanks again for sharing these with us!
Oh, and one more thing — I wanted to mention, for the benefit of anyone who hasn’t yet begun to build their stock of essential oils, or just hasn’t worked with lemon e.o. yet, or is daunted by the often high prices of e.o.’s:
lemon essential oil happens to be among the cheapest. Obviously the cost will vary depending upon the quality and source of your oils, but even an organic brand is still really reasonable and doesn’t make you look at that tiny bottle and say “ouch.” 🙂
Just an encouragement!
Thank you for adding your comments about the prices of essential oils. I have found them to be pricy with young life and do terra and was starting to feel discouraged about not being able to use e.o. Due to the price.
Stacy, there are other brands that are fine, so please don’t feel limited because of a sales pitch. Just as a heads up, the term “theraputic grade” is a marketing term. It is not regulated in any way, so there are no objective standards as to what can be called “therapeutic” and what cannot. I use my nose at the store when I choose an eo. Some of them smell off or chemically. (I have really noticed this with lavender and tea tree.) Others are lovely and – in my experience – quite effective. If it comes down to skipping eo’s or ordering from a multilevel marketing group, please, please, please just go to the store and get yourself an eo. It’s not worth it to go without.
try aroma therapeutix, they have a huge selection and are reasonably priced!
Someone was asking about using this blend in a third world country for cleaning veggies – well if you study aromatherapy – you can find certain oils that are “anti” fungal, bacterial, microbal, etc, etc – I would talk to a certified aromatherapist about what blend of oils would kill the pathogens in your country – nature will provide everything you need – things like oil of oregano, theives blend, tea tree oil – very powerful,,and very healthy
My family uses oil of oregano internally for all kinds of issues,,like candida, throat infections, colds, flu – it will kill all kinds of things…
find someone who practices with the oils and has the education to advise and you will find your answers… and every economical as those oils can be put into your first aid kit for all kinds of other uses…
blessings….
I have repeatedly seen the bleach for water storage thing. I realize it is used because of the chlorine, but I’ve read several places that vinegar has just as good or better antifungal/antibacterial results. Why couldn’t vinegar be used in place of the bleach? At least here in the US I am not aware that water coming out of the tap would be likely to have parasites or whatever in it?
Vinegar will not purify water. It does not kill exisiting bacteria, it just prevents bacteria from multiplying because it creates an . Usually what you are killing in water are paramecium, not just bacteria and acetic acid is just not strong enough. You would have to add a LOT of vinegar (like 3 cups/gallon) to come anywhere close to the antiseptic properties of iodine or chlorine bleach. I understand your point that most water comes out of the tap already purified (and it does), the issue is that if you store water in containers for long periods of time and it is not 100% hermetically sealed then it is possible for other organisms to get into the water containers and contaminate your water. Then when you need to use it in an emergency it may be contaminated and require purification before it is safe to drink. Or, for example, in an emergency/natural disaster situation where the water lines may be contaminated. If you don’t want to purify your stored water with chemicals, your other safe option is to boil it, provided you have a heat source you can do that with.
Vinegar and citric acid are OK for cleaning, but if you are really concerned about thorough disinfecting then you should use ethel alcohol (basically Everclear) or isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). They can be sprayed directly on hard or soft surfaces, they evaporate and leave no residues, and they kill WAY more infectious things than vinegar or lemon juice. Plus they do not have a bleaching/fading effect like peroxide (it bleaches your hair, it will bleach your clothes. If you spill the concentrated stuff on your hands it will even temporarily bleach your skin). My husband works in a lab with e.coli and they use either ethel alcohol or diluted chlorine bleach solution to disinfect after the e.coli – not vinegar and lemon juice.
Edit – Vinegar creates and acidic environment that discourages bacteria from multiplying but it is not strong enough to kill existing bacteria in water.
Thanks for a great comment!
I love isopropyl alcohol and use it regularly, but purposely hadn’t included it in any of these recipes because of its mixed effectiveness for various tasks. For example, according to the CDC’s published Guidelines for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, ethyl alcohol is very rapidly bactericidal, as well as tuberculocidal, fungicidal, and virucidal, but it does not destroy bacterial spores. Isopropyl alcohol is also listed as equally effective in killing the cysts of certain microbes as chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide, and thimerosal. So, I agree that it is a potent disinfectant – but only in certain situations, so I didn’t feel I could give it a full recommendation in a general cleaning recipe.
http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/disinfection_sterilization/6_0disinfection.html
This is why I also recommend that for any type of disinfection, the vinegar is combined with hydrogen peroxide (not lemon juice) to create paracetic acid rather than relying on acetic acid to cut through the grime.
Also, I stand by my previous comment that I am uncertain of the effectiveness of any of these methods in killing protozoa, which is typically what will cause water-borne illness, such as giardia and amoebic dysentery. If any of the readers of this comment are in an area of the world where water supply is likely contaminated, I have not yet found a method of disinfection I can recommend other than chlorine bleach that can conquer such virulent life forms.
Thanks again for a wonderful addition to this conversation. 🙂
Hi, firstly, thank you for the refreshingly scientific based piece of info about home cleaning products. A well researched piece is hard to find on the internet (let alone one with MSDS) and we really ought to celebrate it. I also work in a lab environment, the standard decontaminate is 70% ethanol or 2% chlorine bleach solution.
Whilst it is important for those in our line of work to decontaminate surfaces, to avoid cross contamination and such, it may not be necessary at home.
There are studies which suggests a correlation between the diversity of the micro organisms we are exposed to and our auto immune responses. Meaning, the more variety of “germs” we are exposed to, the less likely we would have allergies. Some research also suggest a healthy variety of gut bacteria is necessary for a healthy body. So by cleaning and trying to elimate “germs” in our environment, we don’t allow our bodies a chance to use and grow our immune system which by the way is very effective at protecting us. Or else the human race would have seen its demise long before we discovered antibiotics. So unless someone in your household is immuno compromised, sick, old or a baby, do you really need to get rid of 99.9% of germs? Just my 2 cents.
Jennifer Truel asked about pesticides and other chemicals and food safety. In addition to washing or soaking foods to clean them, choose foods that can be peeled before consumption. Cooking peeled foods is a good next step.
Where would I find lemon essential oil??
Lemon is one of the more common essential oils, so anywhere where essential oils are sold would have a lemon version, I’m sure! Most health food stores, MountainRoseHerbs.com, and Amazon.com are common places to find them. I’m sure other readers would have other suggestions as well.
I have found lemon essential oil at GNC. Shocking but true! =)
I’m assuming that this works well with HE washers……just put it in the bleach drawer, right.?
Thanks
Yes, absolutely. 🙂
is it ok to put into a plastic vinegar bottle ? I can’t find old bottles around here , I need to go to the antique store I think saw some there. But is it ok to put in plastic and wrap a bag around it and put under sink?
Yes, absolutely it’s okay to put it in an old plastic vinegar bottle and wrap it in a sock or a bag and put it under the sink. That sounds like a GREAT option!
Do you have to use the essential oil?
No, definitely not. You can certainly make any of the bleach recipes without the essential oils.
The oils do “up the ante” on the antibacterial effectiveness of the recipes, but they are in fairly small concentration here, so they mostly add a lovely scent.
Thank you so much~! I found the picture for this page on Facebook and “had” to copy the recipes right away. I had been planning on searching for a bleach recipe sometime in the next few days anyway, so this is perfect timing. I’m looking forward to trying out these recipes, and I thank everyone on the thread for their excellent questions and suggestions, which are very helpful. Blessings.
I use a small amount of bleach in my dish water for disinfectant. What would u suggest for an alternative to the bleach?
You can use any of the recipes here for that purpose. Any of them will definitely do the job. 🙂
Hi ~ I was wondering if this bleach is septic safe?
Yes, absolutely. It will break down to water, oxygen, and biodegradable particles. 🙂
Septic systems are living communities.
The action that kills viruses and bacteria will also kill the active bacteria that keep a septic system healthy. A septic system is a living entity, and would be damaged by this alternative bleach. I would not use this as an alternative to bleach, because we have a healthy septic system. I use aqueous oxygen instead of bleach, and retain it in the sink, toilet bowl, etc, for the full fifteen minutes it takes for it to destabilize and revert back to ordinary water… then we flush and drain, harmless to our septic system.
Maggie,
You are exactly correct and I don’t advocate using anything to clean your septic system on a routine basis – the question only arises when those living systems get out of balance and need to be corrected so they can be restored.
As for use in generic cleaning, you have a valid point, but it would just depend on how long it takes the hydrogen peroxide to break down to water and oxygen. I’ve only ever seen aqueous oxygen as “aqueous oxygen peroxide.” Is that what you use or is it a different product? If I remember correctly, it’s a liquid compound form of ozone that then breaks down to oxygen and water as well – is that correct? Hydrogen peroxide has a half-life of 8-10 hours once exposed to light, I believe, which is a bit longer than the 15 minutes you wait. 🙂
Does anyone else care to chime in here? I’m very rusty on thinking through how long it would take hydrogen peroxide to break down if there is no oxygen in the septic tank with which to react.
Thanks for a great comment!
You cannot purchase aqueous oxygen, it is too unstable to make it from the shelf to the the consumer. You can “make your own” using ordinary tap water, using a device such as the one this company makes,
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_9?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=lotus+pro+cleaning+system&sprefix=lotus+pro%2Caps%2C375&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Alotus+pro+cleaning+system
The machines are bit finicky in my opinion, and work best in more humid conditions. so if you heat with wood in the winter there isn’t enough humidity in the air for the device to work properly. Aside from that, we have found this to be a fantastic alternative to bleach, and have used it to rid a basement of mould and mildew, which was a big job.
It reverts to ordinary water in 15 minutes.
Thanks for the great info! I’ll definitely take a closer look. 🙂
I am in need of something to remove mold from my camper it is on the canvase and on the wood to the bed can you help me with this please I am desprite Hlp m!! Thanks and have a Blessed Day Barb
The only suggestion I can think of is one of our homemade bleaches. However, you’d definitely need to do a spot test on the fabric, as it can lighten the colors of the fabric!
https://nourishingjoy.com/homemade-bleach/
Also, since I don’t have many suggestions, I posted your question on our Facebook page so our community there could weigh in with their ideas. 🙂
https://www.facebook.com/nourishingjoy/posts/659856114031012
This might work, aqueous oxygen, not acidic and no residues::
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_9?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=lotus+pro+cleaning+system&sprefix=lotus+pro%2Caps%2C375&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Alotus+pro+cleaning+system
I’ve been using a version of this, minus the citric acid, in my laundry for the past 6 months or so, and am thinking of going back to bleach because the clean towels smell funky when they are used to the point that they are damp or wet. Would adding the citric acid help with this? I use the same solution as a shower spray and it works great…no pink mold, and keeps my shower looking nice and clean between regular cleanings.
I would think the citric acid would help a bit, but not entirely. It sounds more like your mold spores are not being killed entirely during your wash cycle, which is more a function of your type of wash cycle and your detergent more than the bleach, be it chlorine or homemade. Before you resort back to chlorine bleach, I would do a long, hot wash on ALL your towels, then dry them absolutely bone dry. (As a cloth diaper educator, I’ve seen this problem regularly with diapers, so that’s why I’m suggesting this method.) Also, if you’ve got a high-efficiency washer, make sure you’re washing full loads of towels to get enough water in the wash, as well. That will help ensure everything gets washed all the way through and not just on the surface.
Good luck!
I’ve had the same problem with my towels in the past, until I found this solution…and it works!!! My towels smell great. 🙂
Put offending towels in washing machine and fill with HOT water! You might want to turn up your hot water heater temporarily for this, or I usually just boil some water on the stove and add it to the load.
I’m not sure why ALL the directions didn’t show up…sorry about that. Anyway, you add a cup of vinegar to the load, and wash through full cycle. Then add 1/2 cup baking soda and wash with HOT water again, and dry thoroughly. Works like a charm! This method even got some nasty horse scent out of my hubby’s work clothes hen nothing else would! Hope this helps!
I strip my towels once a month or so to keep them smelling clean and fresh. I turn my water heater to 130-140*, add 1 cup of baking soda to the wash and 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle. They smell of vinegar when they come out of the wash, but the smell disappears as they dry. (The amounts given are for my top-loader. I just bought an HE front-loader, so I will have to play around with the concentrations to figure out what works best in there.)
I am wondering is it just as effective and safe to use the cheapo non organic lemon juice and vinegars for cleaning? I use organic for eating, but it is so expensive, I’d hate to use it all up for cleaning if I don’t have to
Absolutely. No reason to use organic for cleaning. 🙂
thanks!
I am so excited I found this recipe…thanks for sharing!
#oils4everyone
I am so glad I found this recipe! On my way to a chemical free home with essential oils! #oils4everyone
Great Post – Great Blog Site! Question: How long does the laundry recipe and cleaning recipe each last before they become unstable? For instance, it was mentioned that you could make up a gallon at a time so I am wondering if that is for one-time use on one day or how long? Thanks!
Hi, AnnMarie. It all depends on how much light (and heat) the bleach is exposed to, so if you can keep your bottles in a cool, dark place, they should last 2-3 months (1 month if it’s clear glass or plastic). There are a few ideas above on how to keep the bottles in the dark, so feel free to get as creative as you want. 😉
Btw, a standard trigger sprayer from a squirt bottle will screw onto a standard pint or quart peroxide bottle–just cut the “straw” to the correct length, and you have opaque storage for your mixture. Label appropriately. I just keep a squirt bottle if plain peroxide and one of vinegar on my kitchen counter and use them together as needed.
That’s a great tip. Thanks!
Love this post! I’m so bald I discovered your blog!
We use homemade laundry soap and I have read that I need to disinfect my washing machine once a month to kill any buildup of bacteria, mildew, etc. What ratio would you suggest for this purpose?
Haha.. Love auti correct….. I.e. Glad 😉
Please i made a bleach locally with Chlorine 1kg, Soda Ash 1/2kg, Caustic Soda 1/4kg
Here is my Procedure:
6litres of water was poured into a plastic bucket. Chlorine Was added and stirred very well. Soda Ash was added to the mixture and was stirred very well. Caustic Soda was finally added and stirred very well. After stirring I covered the mixture air tight for 24 hours.
My Observations:
1. The bleach washes very well
2. Its not colorless. Has a little light yellowish color.
please help me to get a better result.
thanks.
I have never made chlorine bleach, so I am not able to help you on this one. Perhaps follow the link in the article about how to make chlorine bleach in a survival setting and the author of that article would be more knowledgeable.
how to get d full recipi for bleach
The full recipe is posted above. 🙂
I have a question, i was wanting to make your homemade bleach recipe but i notice that it says yo need to store it in a dark bottle, could i reuse a cleaned out bleach bottle?? its not dark but its also not clear, would this work for storing the solution longer?? BTW- ive loved all of your homemade recipes that i have tried so far so im looking forward to this one as well
I’m so glad you’ve liked the recipes you’ve found here! That makes my day. 🙂
Yes, you may use a cleaned out bleach bottle, but just be extra careful to store it in a dark place, as hydrogen peroxide degrades much more quickly than chlorine does and you want to keep your homemade bleach potent for as long as you can. 🙂
I’d be curious to hear if anyone has had any luck with this on cloth diapers. I forgot about a load in the hamper (dry, not soaking) when we switched to disposables during the holiday chaos and now have some stinky diapers. The inserts just don’t want to come totally clean. I wonder if soaking them in this would cure them. Any experience from you or any readers?
Thanks for sharing!!
Oh, I know how that goes over the holidays when the diapers stack up and then neeeeeeeeeed to be washed. 🙂
Yes, I use this bleach with cloth diapers all the time. However, when you say they won’t come clean, are you talking about the smell or about visual stains? This bleach will help with either, but if it’s a smell issue, you’ll need to do more than bleach them. (It’s not a big deal – you’ll just need to add a few extra steps to your diaper laundry next time.) Maybe try some of the ideas in this “How to Wash Cloth Diapers” article and be sure to check out the comments too, as some of the commenters have left great ideas as well!) –> https://nourishingjoy.com/how-to-wash-cloth-diapers-and-why-its-different-than-washing-clothes/
Good luck! 🙂
Just an extra thought here on lemons and limes. I also had the problem of waiting to long to use them and then they rotted. I LOVE lemon and lime in my water, and my water ICE cold!
I have been slicing the lemons and limes in half and sticking them in an ice tray filled with water. When they are frozen I add them to my water. Now I have two benefits from this. I am not wasting food and I have lemon or lime water!
1 quick note: I always squeeze the slice of lemon a bit to get juice in the cube then I add purified water.
OH and I am SO making this bleach!
Thank you very much.
It will be a great addition to my homemade laundry detergent 🙂
[Note from Kresha: Typically, I delete comments such as this one, since its tone violates our comment policy. However, this view is needed in our discussion and its author gives good food for thought. I have chosen not to engage the author point by point, but you can see my response below.]
I have to say, I was quite annoyed when I read this article. I would implore people not to follow this advice AT ALL. “Alternative” does not mean “better”. Is it so hard to believe that we already use the safest, most effective method available to us?
For a start “germs” a totally unscientific term used for children, but apparently your little cocktail kills 80% of them. For a start 80% is not enough, bacteria grow at an exponential rate, if we assume that 20% are left, you will have the same amount of “germs” back in no time at all.
Also you claim that it is “natural” but you’re using peroxide!! When was peroxide natural? Yes, Chlorine bleach is nasty, but so is peroxide. They are both oxidizing agents, they work in the same way. In fact peroxide can be much more dangerous, it releases oxygen bubbles, so improperly stored it can explode (just imagine if you left a bottle in your child’s bedroom by mistake?). I work with both chemicals in various forms, and can assure you from personal experience, a peroxide burn is very painful indeed. In fact chlorine bleach is much more stable, effective and safe. No, it doesn’t smell nice and carries it’s own set of risks, but if peroxide based cleaning agents were better it would be on the shelves instead. Even stored correctly with people who are used to handling these products, there have been issues with exploding peroxide bottles and burns sustained by peroxide.
It is not potent enough to “sanitize” medical and dental equipment in any useful fashion as it degrades very quickly (24hrs shelf life, 6 days half life). And it is not licensed nor recommended to do so. In fact we “sterilize” our equipment using much more effective means. The link you have posted to support this is also inappropriate to substantiate this claim, and shows a complete lack of scientific knowledge and critical reading skill. It also describes hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid as being harmful, I doubt that you are qualified enough to accurately mix chemicals adequately to ensure that there isn’t an excess of either. The study also points out that it is no more effective than current measures employed and is not recommended because it ruined all the equipment (it corrodes stainless steel) and is fantastically more expensive.
Chlorine bleach, on the other hand is very, very effective, stable and much safer. Which is why we use it in our clinical environments to keep YOU safe. Yes, you can try this proposed method, but why use a disinfectant that to be effective, you have to mix up freshly every time? A bottle of bleach takes a long time to go “off”.
This article is a perfect example of how the internet and a person with a little too much time on her hands, very little scientific knowledge and a desire for a little bit of popularity can disseminate “knowledge” that is at best misleading, and at worst quite harmful. That’s why there is a little legal disclaimer at the bottom of the page.
There is a huge amount of these “natural” lifestyle websites that do not stand up to any sort of critical evaluation, often written by people who have the best of intentions, but unfortunately no scientific background. A “wife, mother, cloth diapering instructor and an ‘avid’ researcher (which means what, exactly?)” does not impart this knowledge. You need to know basic chemistry and biology. I have many years of study and clinical practice behind me, that’s where my experience comes from.
I would urge anyone who reads this not to use this method to clean your surfaces, particularly in the kitchen. If you want a sterile surface use very dilute bleach. This chemical will ruin your nice kitchen and bathroom chrome and steel and is not effective.
I would think very carefully before following any advice of someone who writes this sort of article.
Thank you for your comment. I especially appreciate your final statement: “I would think very carefully before following any advice of someone who writes this sort of article.” EVERYONE should think carefully and do their due diligence before making decisions that affect their families, whether that’s taking my advice or anyone else’s!
And while I respect much of what you have written, I believe you have missed the point of why I even posted this article, which is not to claim that homemade bleach is superior to chlorine bleach, but to give a viable, effective alternative for those who want one (for whatever reason that may be) and to hopefully give enough fodder for thought that readers can make an informed decision for themselves. If you find the studies to which I have linked to be insubstantial (I have pulled them all out of the footnotes to make them more accessible), you are more than welcome to provide links to studies you would consider more helpful for the rest of this site’s readers.
Also, while you certainly don’t have to respect me, please refrain from slander. You know nothing about my educational or scientific background, my moral character, my civic involvement, my responsibilities, or the degrees and experiences I have collected along the way, so making comments as if you do is purely false. Your general comments are good and by adding in assumptions about my person, such as that I have “a little too much time on my hands” and “a desire for a little bit of popularity,” you effectively invalidate the rest of your otherwise helpful comments.
Thank you for joining the conversation, Dr. Sehmi, and for hopefully inspiring other readers to think more deeply and more critically about their decisions!
I appreciate your post, I have an allergy to Bleach that causes difficultly breathing and my skin to peal with any contact. Your recommended solution worked well enough that I didn’t have to beg my mother or best friend to freshen my whites and my coffee pot up this weekend. Now if only I could find a solution to use in my mothers pool!
As far as the shelf life goes, it was easy to whip up a batch and I did not feel the need to store after use as it will only be a bi-weekly cleaning ritual. The good Dr. Parveen Sehmi may not have taken that into account when righting her rant. Thank you again for sharing.
IMO it doesn’t work as well as bleach. I tried several times washing clothes in it that had mildew residue smell. It didn’t work. Nor did I notice any brightening/lightening effects with whites. Whereas I can put a small amount of bleach and it will eradicate the mildew scent in colors or whites, without harmful effects to the colors. That is predominantly what I use bleach for. If I wash clothes at night, by morning they smell if I don’t get them into the dryer.
I finally got to make this last night! After I made it, of course I wanted to do a load of laundry, WHITE’S in particular!
I washed, dried, and noticed softness, brighter whites, and no smell!
I took the whole load to my husband and started showing him my finds. He noticed and agreed everything I said (smart man, lol).
I will be making this for my bleach now.
I also made the “home” cleaner too. I love that as well. No scent!
Thanks so much for this. I will be sharing this on FB 🙂
Thanks for sharing. I have a daughter with an extreme chlorine allergy, so bleach has never really been an option in our home. I read the doctor’s comments above, and though presumptuous in his comments, I do see the valid points. However, those points become completely invalid when you have a family member who reacts very strongly to chlorine bleach. Many times before confirming this allergy she has been hospitalized due to exposure to chlorine bleach. So, I for one, am grateful for alternative options.
Wow – I had never heard of a chlorine allergy! I can only imagine what a scare that must have been before you knew what was causing the reactions.
Thank you for your comment!
Michele, I to have an allergy to chlorine love your post. As an adult it is a bit of a pain but the only time I have had harmful health issues as an adult has been when the hospital placed a nice warmed freshly bleached blanket on me after surgery…. when I came through they were all hovering over me trying to understand why I was one big old hive that could not breath. I was unable to speak or remove the blanket because my hands had swelled. Make sure your daughter under stands she needs to touch base with ALL the nurses before a surgery the bracelet is not enough as most people do not think of how the linens are cleaned.
I have always used just straight hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine bleach. What is the difference?
I really didn’t get it, please explain farther. I need it for a science investigatory project…
Just for Methodology of ChaCaVera (Chalk Poweder, Calamansi Extract and Aloe Vera) as Ingredients for Whitening Bleach…I just need help on making a Bleach part, thank you in advance
Well, since you’re doing an investigatory project, you’ll have fun following all the links I’ve provided and using them as jumping off points for great discovery. 😉 Have fun!
Thank you again
This is one of the many reasons you are our Pinner of the Week!! We are loving all of your homemade cleaning solutions! Who would’ve thought we could make our own bleach?!? Thanks for sharing, and keep on ROCKIN’ Pinterest! Looking forward to more great ideas, be sure to link them up each Friday on our Pin Parites 🙂
Aw, nice! Thanks so much – and thanks for the Pinterest inspiration! 🙂
None of the homemade recipes will kill Clostridium difficile (aka C. diff) spores. The only thing that will deactivate C Diff (and many other sporulating bacteria) is sodium hypochlorite – bleach.
Interesting. I’d definitely like to know more. However, in looking for more information, I can’t find any studies confirming that statement. Now, to be totally fair, I didn’t find any studies confirming that hydrogen peroxide or vinegar kills them either – I wasn’t able to find information either way. Thus I’m wondering if you have sources I could read. Would you mind sharing a few links?
And a note to other readers: C. diff generally takes over a colon and causes severe cramping and diarrhea only if you’ve recently wiped out all the other bacteria there, such as with a round of antibiotics, chemotherapy, etc, or in cases where there is other immuno-suppression. And of course, it affects mostly infants, young children, and elderly persons, so it certainly is of interest and warrants further investigation.
Thanks, Alyssa!
An idea for the dark bottles might be to just spray paint the outside of a bottle you already have. I’m going to try that.
Thanks for the suggestions. Will try hydrogen peroxide spray; I hate the smell of bleach and how it makes me feel.
Dear Kresha, What a goldmine of information. I use vinegar for bleach and fabric softener in my laundry. I keep a spritzer if of vinegar and water (50/50) and use for a myriad of cleaning situations: tile, cleaning fruits and veggies, windows, mirrors, floors, etc. I even use it on my cats to cut down the dander. And, if they’re able to get on my bedding and pillows, I just spritz them and it neutralizes the dander. Also, it will clean rust off stainless steal and maybe others t00.
In the future I will keep this solution in a dark bottle. However, its been great as is. I usually store it in a cupboard, but it sets on the counter a lot and still seems very effective. In fact I just cleaned the coffee maker and carafe with it. I’m going to make the bleach and see how I like it.
Thanks so much for your good work and dedication.
Best wishes,
Melody
Great stuff. I hate the smell of “bleach”, so I will be making some of these alternatives! Thanks.
Why not use boiling hot water for laundry and disinfecting surfaces? If your clothes can’t take it, choose fabrics that can.
Did you ever determine if this would be effective against C.Diff? My husband is currently battling an infection and I”m trying hard keep our kids and myself safe. I don’t even own chlorine bleach but don’t know what else to use for laundry as bleach is the only recommended disinfectant.. I would so love an alternative as I can’t stand the smell of chlorine bleach nor do I want it around my little ones.
No, I have not found anything that confirms (or denies) that these recipes kill C. diff, unfortunately. 🙁 I’m so sorry! I hope your husband conquers it quickly!!!
Perhaps call a hospital near you and ask what they use? Occasionally some wards have available-for-professionals-only cleaners that use different compounds. Or they might just tell you to use conventional bleach, but it might be worth asking…..
{hugs}
Hi,
I am going to start and business with bleach, can you please give me a good formula for it.
I need most effective one ..
thanks
Hi
Thank you for the recipes. I made the homemade bleach recipe and read your disinfecting recipe. Could I just spray the cleaning recipe and then spritz the vinegar for similar results??
Thanks!!
Well, yes and no. I say no only because the cleaning recipe is already a mix of hydrogen peroxide and vinegar, so by spritzing both of them you’ll end up with a higher ratio of vinegar. I would still just spritz with one bottle of hydrogen peroxide and one bottle of vinegar. The mixing them ahead of time is just for the convenience factor, so if you’re going to be spritzing two things anyway, might as well as make it as potent as possible. 🙂
Have you considered a Pintrest page?
Yes, indeed. Check it out here –> http://www.pinterest.com/nourishingjoy
Hi there! Just wondering if I can use store bought lemon juice – lemons can get super expensive in South Africa.
Fresh is best just because the enzymes are therefore fresh and most potent, but use whatever you have. 🙂
Good post. I absolutely love this site. Thanks!
Kresha, thank you so much for this information! We have hard well-water so it leaves awful water spots in and on our tub/glass shower doors. I’ve tried everything from bleach (yeach), and natural store bought cleaners to CLR (another yeach, but it was the only thing that was effective-yet at the same time hazardous to health and body). Chlorine bleach fumes in the home can damage the linings in the lungs and cause a lot of damage, esp. with children: http://www.rodalenews.com/bleach-safe?cid=NL_RNDF_2090704_04162015_The_Cleaning_Ingredient_Sickening_Your_Household_text
I pinned your blog a week or so ago, and today reread all of your info, plus the comments, and decided to give it a try. I used peroxide and vinegar together, sans the lemon juice or eo. It was amazing!! I had put off cleaning, just because I dreaded using the CLR, and so I had to scrub a bit more and use the peracetic acid twice in some spots, but it all came off! I used a soft towel to rub it all dry and to a shine it hasn’t seen in many years!! I am soooo elated and thankful I found your blog!! Plus I don’t have to wear my rain boots and protective clothing anymore and hope nothing splashes on me. Also, it cleaned up the trim around the shower doors and our faucets w/o any sign of corrosion! 🙂 Blessings, Mid
PS: I appreciated the way in which you responded to the negative reply from the “Dr.” A person who berates another instead of offering their advise in a constructive way, loses all credibility with me. Your response was admirable and shows your heart. 🙂
Mid, I’m so glad it worked so well for you! And thank you for your kind words – I’m glad you find the site helpful. That’s why I’m here and it makes my day to know you find it useful. <3
good write up. However, I want to startup bleach production for commercial purpose. which would you recommend and how do I go about it? thank you.
Egads. These recipes are definitely for home use only!!! If you use any of these recipes for commercial production, you will need to do submit them for rigorous testing to know exactly how they function, their exact potency and shelf life, and what exact micro-biological function you can recommend them for. For example, as I mention above, once you mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, while potent, its potency lasts mere days. That’s difficult to bottle and sell, but super-easy to do at home, as you just mix it as you need it.
So, if this is really what you want to do, first do thorough research. Then, perhaps research the ingredients from the companies that are already selling non-chlorine bleach products and use their ingredient lists to prompt your own business inspiration.
You need to do some essential homework. Vinegar, tea tree oil, etc. have NOT be proven to be effective against laundry bacteria.
Dear Anonymous at anonymous@yahoo.com:
Would you mind stating your sources for this statement? I’m certainly happy to revisit what I’ve advised if reliable sources are provided, or at least to provide those source documents for other readers so they can make informed decisions for themselves.
Is the lemon essential oil required in the first recipe? I don’t have any… thx. 🙂
Nope, it’s not required, but definitely helpful. The lemon juice alone is sufficient, but the essential oil just boosts everything. 🙂
When making the Homemade Bleach for Cleaning Recipe, is the Lemon Essential Oil needed? Will it still work effectively without the drops? If not, is there a substitute that could be used?
Thank you!
The lemon essential oil is not required, but DEFINITELY helpful. Just leave it out if you don’t have it (or prefer not to use it).
Hi, I was wondering about the lemon juice in the recipe. Will it go bad if you keep this mixture for more than a few days, or does the hydrogen peroxide prevent that?
I definitely recommend making all of these bleaches fresh and using them up within a few days. The lemon juice will likely spoil at a similar rate as if it was left in the refrigerator by itself, so about 3-7 days.
I hope that helps!
Thanks for posting your recipe. Just recently I learned of how chlorine can block the thyroid from doing it’s job. This can be dangerous for those with low thyroid challenges. Here’s a link for those who want to know more. http://www.opus.net/water/chlorinated-water-thyroid-disorders/
I make sodium hypochlorite for a living (as in the concentrated stuff that bleach companies buy to make their own bleach concoction and cleaners) and I felt the need to point out that the caustic left over at the end of the process is actually very, very low and that’s before it’s further diluted into the stuff on the shelf at the megamart. There’s definitely not the quantity that you would weigh out and use in a soap recipe so the comparison is quite inaccurate and misleading. I used to be involved in dealing with caustic as well before a position change, so I know exactly what that chemical was like before I got here using it in this process.
This isn’t to disuade you or others from making your own bleach and dispensing your recipes to others. Merely to point out an inaccuracy and a bit of misleading information. I personally think you’re overreacting on the bleach front because bleach breaks down to salt and water with very minor gassing off of chlorine, but your house is not mine and whatever people do in their own homes doesn’t affect me, so whatever floats your goat.
Fair enough! Your reminder that the amount of caustic in chlorine bleach is definitely lower than the caustic in a lye solution for soapmaking (and therefore could be confusing) is a good one. Even if you pour chlorine bleach directly on your skin, it’s definitely not the same effect as if you were to splash even a small amount of lye solution!
However, your comment about “minor off-gassing” might be a bit off the mark, although you certainly were very gracious. 🙂 Even those WITHOUT chemical sensitivities notice and are affected by the odor of chlorine, so that still remains my largest caution for why readers may not want to purchase chlorine bleach. But at the end of the day, I agree with you – to each their own.
Thank you for sharing your insights!
If I make a gallon batch of the bleach for laundry purposes with lemon juice, about how long would it last before going bad?
Also, if I want to soak some clothes with it, what dilution of bleach to water should I use?
Thanks!