Getting Real with Shadra Bruce
Whether you’re bringing home a new baby or looking for ways to kill germs and sanitize without using harmful chemicals, there is one way you can save an extraordinary amount of money while killing germs and sanitizing literally every surface in your home – and you can do it with a couple of products that cost mere pennies compared to commercial cleaners, products you probably have in your home already, and products that don’t hurt the environment or the kids.
This little miracle mixture kills 99% of all germs and bacteria on surfaces, will scrub out some of the most stubborn stains (I’ve used it on coffee, wine, and blood) and is gentle enough that even if your kids somehow ingested some, the worst it would do is cause a little gas.
The mixture? Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Mixed together as a paste, you can use it to scrub shower walls, sinks, toilets, and tubs (it’s as effective as commercial liquid cleansers). Add a little extra peroxide for a more liquid solution that you can use in a spray bottle for a quick wipe-down of surfaces. Straight peroxide (or half peroxide and half water, depending on the strength of the peroxide) will kill the germs on your kitchen counters and other surfaces. I even used hydrogen peroxide on my carpet after my daughter spilled a strawberry smoothie – it took the pink right out and restored the carpet to its color (you should check a small area before using the mixture to make sure it won’t damage it).
Hydrogen peroxide loses its potency once it has been exposed to sunlight (that is why you can only find it in brown bottles in the store). It’s best to mix it only when you’re going to use it. When I make my paste mixture, I add just enough peroxide to the baking soda (which I buy bulk from the grocery store for less than 25 cents per pound) to make the paste. I bought a dark spray bottle that I keep peroxide in for spraying on countertops.
If you have a really tough stain, you can add a small amount of salt to the mixture. The salt makes a great abrasive to help remove stubborn stains. Don’t believe that this could possibly be harmless? It is! I brush my teeth once a week with this same mixture of baking soda, peroxide, and salt – it leaves my teeth whiter and brighter, kills the bacteria that causes bad breath, and oxygenates the mouth to keep bad breath from recurring.
If you want to protect your kids from all the germs out there but want to be smart when it comes to making your budget stretch, make the switch to this simple, inexpensive cleaning solution. Not only will your mind be at ease because you’re saving money, you also won’t have to worry about your exploring toddler finding a cupboard full of chemicals that might cause harm.
