Hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar form the basis of many of these home solutions. Some of them work well as cleaners and can even kill a majority (up to 80% – leaving the surviving 20% to grow stronger creating superbugs) of some germs and bacteria.

Top 7 Bleach Alternatives For Your Home

• Vinegar. Vinegar is great for a lot of things, and one of those includes replacing your bleach.
• Baking Soda. If you want a great whitening agent, baking soda will do the job.
• Hydrogen Peroxide.
• Lemons.
• Tea Tree Oil.
• Castile Soap.
• Sunlight.

The undiluted bleach is very strong. It can irritate your skin and eyes as well as your lungs. There are also health effects from using bleach in a spray bottle. When you use diluted bleach in a spray bottle, you create small droplets that can be inhaled into the lungs by the staff and children nearby.

A spray consisting of equal parts vinegar, baking soda and water is an excellent multipurpose cleaner. Sprinkle a cup of borax and a quarter-cup of vinegar into your toilet bowl, let it sit overnight, then scrub and flush in the morning.

Hydrogen peroxide is not as strong as bleach, so it’s less likely to cause damage, but it can discolor some fabrics, Sachleben said. Don’t dilute it, use it straight. Hydrogen peroxide decomposes into water and oxygen.

Hydrogen peroxide is sold in drugstores and grocery stores at a low concentration, usually at 3 to 9 percent. It can be used as a disinfectant and as bleach, including as a hair lightener. Because of this, hydrogen peroxide is an ingredient in many blonde hair dyes.

To use as a disinfectant, spray it on the surface, allow the bubbles to subside, then air dry or wipe dry with a clean cloth. You can also soak items like your toothbrush, retainer or thermometer in the peroxide to disinfect them. Hydrogen peroxide can also be used in the laundry room.

Hydrogen peroxide is active against a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, yeasts, fungi, viruses, and spores 78, 654. A 0.5% accelerated hydrogen peroxide demonstrated bactericidal and virucidal activity in 1 minute and mycobactericidal and fungicidal activity in 5 minutes 656.

Hydrogen peroxide does kill germs, including most viruses and bacteria. A concentration of 3% hydrogen peroxide is an effective disinfectant typically found in stores.

This product is a surface cleaner and disinfectant. It is available as a 7.5% accelerated hydrogen peroxide concentrate that must be diluted with water to a concentration of 0.05% for use.