| Sometimes soap and water just cannot cut it. There | | | | One of the best disinfectants you can find is a few |
| is more to clean than removing dirt or other debris. | | | | drops of bleach in a spray bottle with water. The |
| There are plenty of great disinfectants but many are | | | | problem is this can be bad for colors and can irritate |
| harsh on delicate surfaces, cannot come in contact | | | | hands easily. Another solution that works nearly as |
| with hands, give off dangerous fumes, are not good | | | | well without risking bleaching colors and is gentler on |
| for the environment, or are just downright | | | | most hands is replace the bleach with tea tree oil. It |
| expensive. Fortunately there is a natural solution that | | | | disinfects well, makes the surfaces that are sprayed |
| can be found easily online or at some stores. Tea | | | | smell clean and is safer around food surfaces than |
| tree oil. It may sound like something used in | | | | bleach. Just add a few drops and fill the bottle with |
| alternative medicine but is actually a general | | | | water. Then clean exactly like you would with |
| disinfectant that can be used in laundry, dishwater, | | | | bleach-water. Undiluted tea tree oil can be a bit rough |
| added to spray bottles with water to remove smells | | | | on some peoples' hands so be sure wear gloves |
| from surfaces, and used in place of bleach or other | | | | while mixing it up. But diluted it is fine. I've even used |
| chemicals to clean bathrooms. | | | | it in place of alcohol antibacterial sprays during flu |
| Laundry detergent and dish soap can be expensive | | | | season. |
| and many people have skin irritation from scented | | | | My favorite place to use tea tree oil is in the |
| soaps. So how can you make your clothes or dishes | | | | bathroom. Nothing smells quite like a bathroom that |
| smell clean without having them make you break | | | | hasn't been cleaned lately especially when the cats' |
| out? Tea tree oil can disinfect and makes things smell | | | | liter box is in there. Use the spray regularly to keep it |
| very clean. Meaning you can use very mild soaps to | | | | smelling clean but for thorough cleaning sessions plug |
| help remove the dirt while relying on the oil to do the | | | | up the sink, add water, a few drops of oil, and grab |
| disinfecting. For laundry, I tend to use soap nuts | | | | some rags and scrub down dirty surfaces with it. It |
| which are a natural form of soap that can be | | | | can be used to clean toilets, floors, walls, counters, |
| purchased online. I throw a few in a small draw-string | | | | the sink, shower doors, etc. When you are done, |
| bag and drip a couple of drops of tea tree oil on the | | | | simply unblock the sink and wipe it down last. |
| bag before throwing it in the washer. Other than | | | | There may be times when something stronger than |
| occasionally having to use a little distilled vinegar, this | | | | soap is needed. For those times, there are many |
| is all I use to clean laundry. For dishes I fill a sink with | | | | products to that work. But before turning to the |
| hot water, a mild dish soap, and a few drops of the | | | | bleach or other chemicals, try a bit of tea tree oil. |
| oil. That is it. No harsh chemicals, no needing the | | | | You may be surprised how well it works in |
| dishwasher for most things. | | | | bathrooms, kitchens, laundry, or as a spray. |