Vinegar, soda are natural options
Some green cleaners may be on your pantry shelf right now, according to ShopSmart, a magazine published by Consumer Reports.
Here is its list of classic grime-fighting products:
1. Hydrogen peroxide. Found in the pharmacy/first-aid section of a store, hydrogen peroxide mildly bleaches and sanitizes (instead of chlorine bleach).
2. Cream of tartar. Found among baking products/spices, cream of tartar lifts stains from sinks and tubs.
3. Baking soda. Found among baking products, baking soda removes stains from tile, glass and china and cleans the inside of the fridge.
4. Borax. Found among the laundry detergents, this product freshens laundry and is an all-round deodorizer.
5. Lemon juice. Found in the produce section, lemon juice lightens stains and removes tarnish on brass, copper, bronze and aluminum.
6. White vinegar. Found with the salad dressings, vinegar helps kill germs, removes some carpet stains and cleans countertops and coffeemakers.
But how well do these products work?
In 1992, the University of Minnesota Extension Service conducted a laboratory study comparing the effectiveness of alternative cleaners — lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda, borax, ammonia and liquid hand dishwashing detergent — using both soil removal and microbial reduction as the evaluation criteria.
The commercial cleaners were a chlorine-based liquid, a “pine-” based liquid, a chlorine-reinforced abrasive cleanser and a white liquid-based cleaner. Water was used as a control.
The results indicated that, compared with commercial cleaners, the alternative cleaners are, as a group, less effective in both microbial reduction and soil removal.
All of the cleaners, including water, conceivably could have removed the soil with enough cleaning strokes, the researchers said. “Therefore, consumers who wish to use alternative cleaners may find them effective in removing soil if they are willing to work harder,” according to the study.
Borax and ammonia were the most effective alternative cleaners in removing soil according to tests done in the research.
Vinegar was not at all effective at removing soil, but it was effective when it came to reducing microbial contamination.
Borax was not effective at microbial reduction.
Consumers who are concerned about both soil and microbial reduction may need to use a two-step process, cleaning with borax or ammonia and rinsing with vinegar, the researchers said.
Household cleaners that are registered as disinfectants must meet testing requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency, and it is recognized that the alternative cleaners do not meet that criterion, researchers said.
For more information on this study, visit purdue.edu/envirosoft/housewaste/src/research.htm. Type “household cleaners and the environment” in the search box.
Alma Gaul can be contacted at (563) 383-2324 or agaul@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.
Spring cleaning still a thing to do
Yes, people still do “spring cleaning.”
According to a survey conducted for The Soap and Detergent Association, 77 percent of Americans say they regularly engage in the time-honored ritual.
Gender-wise, 86 percent of women say that they spring-clean, compared with 68 percent of the guys.
And what tasks are we doing?
n 84 percent clean behind furniture
n 80 percent wash windows
n 76 percent clean appliances and floors
n 75 wash bedclothes/linens.
When asked what qualities were important in choosing a cleaning product, “sustainability benefits” was important to 38 percent. Other important qualities:
n Effectiveness, 75 percent
n Multipurpose, 54 percent
n Cost, 52 percent
n Convenience, 49 percent
n Scent, fragrance, 46 percent
n Time-saving, 45 percent
n Brand, 29 percent
— Source: The Soap and Detergent Association, a trade group based in Washington, D.C.