Terrific Tips Tuesday!!! [ BLEACH ]

So time for another round of terrific tips..

This week we are going to talk about

BLEACH!!

Clorox bleach has been a staple in most homes since it was invented almost 100 years ago. Bleach is famous for its ability to keep laundry at its whitest, but bleach is also a disinfectant. It is effective in killing common viruses, fungi and bacteria that cause illnesses, according to the Clorox website. Many different tips will help you use Clorox bleach effectively to ensure a safe, clean household.

We always have bleach on hand. I don't think I have ever lived in a home that didn't have a big bottle of bleach in the laundry area. Its rather cheap.. and makes a great household cleaner.

Here a a few things bleach can do..

Homemade Cleaner If you have any empty trigger spray bottles handy, rinse out, and a tablespoon of household bleach in with a small squirt of Fairy liquid (hand dishwashing liquid), top up with water and you have the best all round cleaner..

Weed Killer Create a solution of 95% boiling water, 5% chlorine bleach and douse the weeds.

Toilet bowl cleaner Pour ½ cup of bleach into the bowl when you leave to run errands. It will eliminate and stains and unpleasant odors. All you have to do is flush once you get home. WARNING: If you use a bathroom cleanser that cleans each time you flush – DO NOT pour bleach into the bowl. The cleanser contains ammonia and when mixed with bleach it puts off a toxic fume

Bathtub mats Just pour some bleach in the tub and dip in mats.

Mildew  Dampen paper towels with bleach and place on mildew in the bathtub/shower before you go to bed at night. The bleach will continue working throughout the night and eliminate the mildew. All you have to do is throw away the paper towels and rinse the bleach. If you are “green”, I suggest using white rags and then throwing them into the washer with other whites.

Wooden Cutting Board Dip a brush in a solution that is one teaspoon of bleach diluted in two quarts of lukewarm water. Run the brush around the cutting board in tiny circles. If it is a wooden cutting board, don't soak the wood too much. Afterwards wipe the surface with a damp paper towel and then buff it with a soft, dry, clean cloth.

Fresh Flowers Cut flowers live longer with the help of bleach. Add both a capful of household bleach as well as a sugar cube to the vase. Not only will this increase the lifespan of the flowers, but it will also prevent the growth of bacteria and the water from turning cloudy and murky looking.

Microwave Cleaner Spray the inside of your microwave liberally with a bleach mixture. Two parts water to one part bleach, make sure you have a well-ventilated kitchen. Heat on high for about 20 seconds and let it stand for about an hour. The stains should come right off, and again use caution if you have little ones around. If you're not comfortable with bleach, warm up a bowl of vinegar inside and let stand for about an hour. All the food should wipe clean.

Baby Items Wash baby bottles, teething rings and sippy cups, and then let them soak in a solution of 1 tbsp. bleach to 1 gallon warm water for two minutes. Make sure to force the solution through the nipples to clean them thoroughly. Drain the items and let them air dry. There is no need to rinse.

Pet Bowls Let them soak in a solution of 1 tbsp bleach in a sink full of hot water for two minutes.

 

Chlorine bleach, which is composed of a sodium hypochlorite solution, is a cheap and easy way to sanitize surfaces in your home. As a bonus it also deodorizes well at the same time.

To use it safely though it must be diluted properly, strong enough to sanitize and weak enough not to be too harsh.

Here is a easy recipe that anyone can make.. and its super cheap!

Homemade Disinfectant Recipe

Use this sanitizing solution to clean surfaces in your home such as in the kitchen and bathroom where you need to disinfect and sanitize.

Ingredients:

1 gallon warm water

3/4 cup chlorine bleach

1 tablespoon of powdered laundry detergent

Directions:

Combine the ingredients together and apply to the hard surfaces you want to clean. Make sure to not allow the solution to dry onto the surface, but keep the surface wet for at least five minutes. (I will explain why below.) Then, rinse and dry the surface.

Please note that the detergent is optional, and just helps clean the surface at the same time it is sanitizing with bleach solution. If you don't want to clean, just disinfect, don't add the detergent.

Hint: to make a smaller amount of this recipe, such as to put into a spray bottle add 1.5 tablespoons bleach to 2 cups of water, and just a very small pinch of detergent.

Rules For Sanitizing With Bleach With This Sanitizing Solution

1. Never mix ammonia and bleach, or toxic fumes will result.

2. Always use in a ventilated area, because bleach can have a strong smell.

3. Wear rubber gloves to protect your skin while using this sanitizing solution.

4. If there is a lot of dirt or other organic material on the surface you want to disinfect, you should clean it first. The bleach is deactivated by large amounts of dirt, and cannot properly sanitize if the surface is really dirty.

6. This homemade disinfectant recipe is not for use, in these concentrations, on fibers such as clothes. In addition, it should not be used on wood, furniture, or metal fixtures.

Have a great night!

K Jaggers

♥