Natural Disinfecting With Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide

When it comes to disinfecting your home, the option of using bleach is the most common choice. Bleach, sometimes thought of as the “nuclear option” for disinfecting, will always get the job done.

But increasing numbers of homemakers are looking for more natural and environmentally friendly ways to disinfect.  Bleach is a strong substance to have around the house and is one of the most common exposures reported to poison control centers.  Many people also have concerns about the effects of bleach on the environment.

The subject of disinfecting was on my mind recently after a bout with the stomach flu.  And because I’m always thinking about homemade options, I once again started wondering about a natural disinfecting option that I’ve seen cited around the internet many many times.

How to make a homemade disinfectant - This method uses vinegar and hydrogen peroxide for natural disinfecting of surfaces.

 

The Disinfecting Duo:  5% White Vinegar and 3% Hydrogen Peroxide

For some years now I’ve been coming across articles citing a study done at Virginia Tech in 1997.  It showed that misting a surface with 5% vinegar, followed by a misting of 3% hydrogen peroxide, could be 10 times more effective at killing germs than each product used alone.  This original study was done on beef carcass tissue and was shown to be effective in reducing Salmonella, Listeria, and E. Coli, some of the most nasty micro-organisms that create the need for disinfecting.

(Vinegar with 5% acidity and the 3% peroxide are the standard and usual percentages easily found at the store)

How to disinfect naturally using white distilled vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.

I finally came across this very helpful and thorough article on this subject and the author even took the time to contact Dr. Susan Sumner, one of the main participants in the original study.

After reading through that article, and thinking and pondering for awhile, I decided this natural option is indeed a legitimate way to disinfect if you are looking for an alternative to bleach.  It’s simple and easy to do as well.  It’s important to note that this method does NOT mix the two liquids together.  They must be kept separate in their own bottles because when mixed together they create an entirely new and unstable substance that can be an irritant to lungs (paracetic acid).

Here’s how Dr. Sumner recommends using this natural method for disinfecting.

Homemade Disinfecting Duo

You Will Need:

  • Distilled White Vinegar (5% acidity)
  • Hydrogen Peroxide (3% solution)
  • A spray nozzle for the bottle of peroxide
  • A spray bottle for the vinegar (or a spray nozzle for the bottle if it will fit)

Step 1:  Before beginning to use the items above, clean the surface with soap and water.

Why?  Organic soil interferes with the germ killing abilities of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.  Soap and water is thought to be the best at ridding surfaces of organic dirt and this will help maximize the impact of the vinegar and peroxide.

Step 2:  Screw a spray nozzle top onto your bottle of hydrogen peroxide.

Why?  Hydrogen peroxide breaks down in the light which is why it’s always sold in dark brown bottles.  To keep the peroxide effective, it needs to be kept in its original bottle. Just screw a spray nozzle onto the bottle and you’re all set!

Step 3:  Put some white distilled vinegar in a spray bottle, or perhaps a nozzle will just fit on your bottle of vinegar too like mine did!

Why?  As mentioned above, the two liquids must be kept separate so you don’t form the new substance of paracetic acid.  Be sure to keep the vinegar in its own sprayer and the peroxide in its own bottle.

Step 4:   Spray your surface with one of the liquids.  The order doesn’t matter. You can start with either the vinegar or the peroxide.  After spraying, let it sit for 5 minutes, then wipe with a clean cloth.

Why?  Giving the substance a little more time to work (known as “dwell time”) can help in reducing more germs.

Step 5:  Repeat with the other bottle by spraying the surface, letting it sit for 5 minutes, and then wiping with a clean cloth.

How to make a homemade disinfectant - This method uses vinegar and hydrogen peroxide for natural disinfecting of surfaces.

So there you have it.  Vinegar and peroxide work well in tandem because they both kill germs but in different ways.  They make a good one-two punch because vinegar is good at killing some germs and hydrogen peroxide is better at killing others.  And both vinegar and hydrogen peroxide are safer substances to have around food or to keep in the home if you have small children.

Once again, the most important thing to remember is to keep them both in their own bottles and don’t mix them.

 

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10 Comments

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  2. Just a bit confused; says do not mix vinegar with the peroxide, but also says spray with one, then spray with the other … isnt this sort of combining them on the surface and then into the air? Thank you.VV

    1. After you spray the surface with the first one (for instance the vinegar), you then wipe it dry. Then you spray it with the next one (peroxide), and once again wipe it dry. So the two are not actually combined on the surface you are cleaning because you wipe it off before applying the next one. But using both of them separately like this can still add extra disinfecting help.

  3. I’m going to have to try this disinfecting spray out! I’m curious to know if you have used this on carpet? One of my kids has a sensitive stomach, and I’m always calling up my local carpet cleaner to clean and disinfect my carpets. This disinfectant spray would be awesome to have on hand for my carpets after any vomit accidents.

    1. I have not tried this mixture on carpets. If you do decide to try it, test it in an inconspicuous area first.

    1. You do not have to use a clean cloth after each spray. I would use the same cloth just for one event of cleaning. For instance, wipe down whatever surfaces you are wanting to clean at that time, but use a new cloth the next time you want to wipe down the surfaces.

    1. even though granite is an igneous rock (formed in the depths of the earth in extraordinarily high heat and pressure, some of the components may deteriorate when exposed to acids like acid rain or vinegar. Sedimentary rocks like limestone and sandstone are especially susceptible to acids; even travertine and marble can be damaged by exposure to acids and if exposed to acids (even soft drinks or coffee, for instance, need to be cleaned up & rinsed promptly); even decaying plant & animal matter can produce mild acids which cause damage over time.