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| Chlorine bleach |
If you feel you must disinfect, then your cheapest choice is a chlorine bleach and water solution. Dilution is the key to safety. For countertops, food preparation surfaces, utensils and toys, use just one teaspoon of bleach per gallon of cool water.
For diapering surfaces, toilet seats, and handwashing sinks use 1/4-cup (4 tablespoons) chlorine bleach per gallon of cool water. Mix the bleach solution daily because it weakens over a day's time and will not be strong enough to get rid of germs.
Do not use any bleach that has other additives, like surfactants or odor masking agents. These have not been proven to be safe. Danger: Most chlorine bleaches are labeled "corrosive" and "danger." Do not use directly on skin or other surfaces.
Laundry bleaching may produce chloroform, which is also a suspected human carcinogen. It is unclear whether chloroform is produced at levels sufficient to cause cancer over an extended period of time. |
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| Potential hazards |
| Eye irritant, respiratory irritant. Danger: reacts with ammonia or acids to form toxic gas. |
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| May contain |
| Hypochlorite |
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| Safer alternatives |
| Cleaning with soap and hot water, using separate cutting boards for meat and vegetables, and thorough hand washing all decrease the spread of communicable disease. Use non-chlorine (hydrogen peroxide - not a disinfectant) type bleach for laundry. |
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| Proper disposal |
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Use up according to label directions or offer to others who can use them. Or take to HHW collection site.
NOTE: See the Business Waste pages for more information about commercial waste exchange and disposal.
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| More Information |
| Home products - NLM/NIH Household Products Database |
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