Right now we are all looking for ways to keep harmful germs, viruses and pathogens away. Because of this urgency to stay healthy, many may be quick to grab chlorine bleach to kill pathogens or the very popular chlorine-based antibacterial wipes. However, below is some information that may encourage you to use alternative, less extreme products, when you are able.
Harsh Products
As it turns out, explaining the ingredients in bleach can be pretty complicated. Here is a handy link for more information on Chlorine.
Bleach contains a form of chlorine and the more complicated Alkyl Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride and Alkyl Dimethyl Ethylbenzyl Ammonium Chloride, which are types of cationic surfactants. These surfactants are considered antistatic and can be used to destroy microorganisms and cleaning surfaces. However, here is a handy cheat-sheet on the EPA’s (Environmental Protection Agency) website that may have you reconsider using these types of products.
Disinfecting wipes also can contain these or similar-type chlorine ingredients. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), Alkyl Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride and Alkyl Dimethyl Ethylbenzyl Ammonium Chlorides receive a ‘D’ rating. The EWGs rating is from A-F with F being the worst possible ingredient you can find. So, why are they rated so badly?
The Effects
According to the EWG, the main concern in using the above-referenced chlorides are the respiratory effects from inhaling or smelling these chemicals. Inhalation can cause pulmonary edema which is a buildup of fluid in the lungs that can lead to difficulty breathing. In gas form it can also irritate the eyes and nose. Topically, there is a risk for skin irritation and even skin burns and ulcerations. Not to mention the concern of negative effects on the hormonal (or endocrine) system. These disinfectant wipes and bleach-type products are often used around children and pets who can be more sensitive to the effects of chemicals than a healthy adult.
Fighting COVID-19
With all of this information you may be wondering if there are better alternatives. Sadly, the EPA is not reviewing the efficacy of most natural cleaning products and ingredients, such as vinegar, on the effectiveness of fighting COVID-19. However, they have consistently said that alcohol is highly effective.
The reason for such a push for alcohol is that it disrupts the outer coating that surrounds the COVID virus. This cocoon allows the virus to merge with other cells and infect them. Once this coating is broken down, this little pathogen is no longer able to do its job. Alcohol dries out the cocoon, which is why professionals are calling for such a high alcohol content in hand sanitizers.
Wash Your Hands
Thankfully, as most professionals will tell you, a good ol’ hand wash is the MOST effective way to fight pathogens. Why? Because soap loosens up any germs, grease and dirt on the hands and the running water washes them away. Hand sanitizers are great when you need them, but if you can wash your hands instead, that is the best choice.
Alcohol
As a mom and natural health advocate, I try to avoid chemicals. The push for bleach and chemical-ridden hand sanitizers has been pretty difficult for me to watch! Chemicals can cause our bodies harm and if we can avoid chemicals AND germs that would be awesome. Additionally, there is also a lot of push towards isopropyl alcohol. However, I wanted to mention that Everclear (yes Everclear) is roughly 92% ethanol by weight. Therefore it should be just as effective but without the added chemicals that isopropyl alcohol contains.
Don’t Throw Out the Vinegar
Even though there is a dispute on whether other natural ingredients will work (such as white vinegar) I would not discount them. After all, legend has it that drinking vinegar mixed with garlic and various herbs had the ability to fight off the Black Plague in Europe in the 1300s. There is a reason thieves vinegar is so popular! Vinegar has been used for centuries as a household cleaning agent to cut grease, deodorize, lift stains and sanitize.
Cleaning Your Home
Additionally, many of us who are quarantined are only leaving the house to get groceries for our family. That means cleaning inside our homes does not need to be extreme. The best thing we can do when we return from our weekly grocery trip is to immediately wash our hands the minute we get home. Cleaning inside the home should not change unless we are caring for someone who is ill inside the home.
So when extreme products are needed, use them with care, wear gloves, use them away from children and in a well ventilated area. If you can avoid bleach, go for a grain alcohol type of product instead or try using Everclear mixed with essential oils. Do not be afraid of homemade cleaning products for your home if you are already quarantined and no one has been sick in your home.
Careful Cleaning
Of course, professional businesses and those who have a lot of contact with people will need to look carefully at their cleaning options. For those of us who are at home waiting for this all to pass, using our homemade cleaning products will still work beautifully.
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