Sometimes I think we get a little too carried away with disinfecting everything....even the regular docs have figured out we shouldn't be using disinfecting soaps as it lowers our body's ability to build a defense against germs.

I also recently read a report that stated that kids raised with animals are healthier from the stand point of not always "coming down with something."

Still there are some things that we need to clean a bit better and vinegar is a winner.

As to the grout....these days they are sealing it which I would think would help as grout is alkaline and vinegar is acid so I suppose it would tend to wear away untreated grout.

Colloidal silver is a natural disinfectant!

I like Neways Radicate - it's been approved by the Cancer Prevention Coalition and is safe to use in hospitals too. Neways Eliminator mouthwash makes a good odor killer, deodorant and lists about 90 different uses!

The best disinfectant is plain ole Ivory soap! 99 percent pure soap...

I've been using lavender, oregano and olive leaf essentil oils or extracts. All are anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal.

I use Oregacillin capsules to STAY healthy - they contain oregano, wild mountain sage and cumin. Kills over 90 percent of flu virus in 20 minutes!

It's EASY to stay healthy naturally! I've been doing it over 45 years! Proper BREATHING is THE best way to stay healthy and live longer! Breathing is your #2 method of detoxification - skin is #1.
Jan Jenson, The Wellth Coach

For the kitchen I keep two spray bottles - one filled with white vinegar and a few drops of tea trea oil, and the other filled with hydrogen peroxide. You actually don't even need the tea tree oil in with the vinegar - I just happened to have it in there already when I came upon this article:

http://www.sciencenews.org/pages/sn_arch/9_28_96/food.htm

Once this vinegar bottle is empty, I will wash it out and then only use plain vinegar and a one-two shot with the hydrogen peroxide, making it useable on fruits & veggies!

I make my own - in a spray bottle, fill with water, add 20 drops tea tree oil. I also use plain vinegar.

Hope to clear up the misunderstanding about anti-bacterial hand soap vs using disinfecting cleaners in our homes, as posted in the comments section. Anti bacterial hand cleaners are not recommended for a number of reasons, the most important to me being they don't do what people use them for. They only kill some of the bacteria on our hands and they do not kill any viruses, which are responsible for colds, flu, and a number of other diseases our hands constantly encounter. They are also drying, and upset the acid mantle of our skin. (The acid mantle is our own bodies natural defense against germs of all kinds.) The net result being that antibacterial soaps do not benefit most people. Disinfecting surfaces and laundry in the home is beneficial. Common household disinfectants kill a broad spectrum of germs, and when used on hard surfaces and laundry they do indeed reduce the spread of germs that could sicken our families.

There is absolutley NO SUCH thing as a green seal certified disinfectant. It does not exist. HOWEVER, Spartan Chemical Company does have a Green Solutions line that offers a disinfectant that is EPA Registered. It provides effective cleaning, deodorizing, and disinfection at just 1.2 oz on concentrate per gallon of water. No fragrance, no dye, no phosphates, no harsh builders, neutral pH.

I am in the janitorial supplies industry and have done MUCH study on chemicals. I am in CA, but they are an international company. If you go to: www.spartanchemical.com you can look up local distributors in your area.

Good Luck!

I have been researching more about the use of peracetic acid (hydrogen peroxide + vinegar) for disinfection. It is incredibly effective, even at very low concentrations. I wanted to share that if you are worried about exposure to the peracetic acid, it can be neutralized by lots of things including heat, baking soda, vitamin C, or the presence of certain common metals such as iron and copper. Or, of course, you can rinse it away. Here is a link to a site with a detailed discussion of the use of peracetic acid to clean contact lenses: www.freepatentsonline.com/4986963.html

I clean mostly with natural soap and hot water but then use a small spray bottle filled with grain alcohol to spray on things like toilets, door handles, phones, computer keyboards, etc. as a disinfectant. The smell doesn't stick around like vinegar can.

According to Reuters article on 9/25/09, Seventh Generation is the first to come out with a line of "naturally-derived EPA registered disinfectants approved to claim "kills over 99.99 percent of germs naturally on hard,non-porous surfaces"
www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS142549+25-Sep-2009+MW20090925

Keeping things clean (with soap and water) and dry helps keep germs under control. Use disinfectants selectively, and only on relatively clean surfaces.