Two Natural Disinfectants That Are Easy To Find And Use

These days, everyone is looking for an easy way to go green. From carrying reusable shopping bags to installing energy efficient light bulbs, there are a lot of little things that you can do that help our environment. But did you know that you can also apply eco consciousness to your cleaning, too?

Nature is full of natural disinfectants, some of which you can use to clean your own home. Of course, you could always go to the store and buy green housecleaning products that contain some of these ingredients. But many of these products tend to be expensive. I don't know about you, but I don't have lots of money to allow me to go buy organic everything, as much as I'd like to.

Instead of spending a lot of money for products that cost extra because they contain naturally disinfecting ingredients, you can instead make your own products that contain these natural ingredients, often in more effective amounts than the cleaners that you can buy. Want to know more? Meet two of the easiest natural disinfectants to find and use.

White vinegar, found in either small bottles or even gallon jugs in the condiments aisle, is good for much more than making pickles or dyeing Easter eggs. When combined with an equal part water, it makes one of the most versatile cleaners you can have. Fill a spray bottle with half water and half white vinegar, then try it out on your countertops. It's a great all-purpose disinfecting spray that my mom has sworn by for years.

Not only does it work on countertops, though, but it can also be used to polish your windows and mirrors, clean and deodorize your refrigerator and microwave, and even work as a fabric softener and laundry booster in place of your usual laundry products. And you don't have to worry about the strong vinegar smell when cleaning with it, either. It quickly dissipates, so everything isn't stuck smelling like salad dressing.

If the smell of vinegar makes you cringe, you can also clean and disinfect naturally using the power of lemon juice. In addition to disinfecting, lemon juice also has a mild bleaching effect, especially if used over time, so you can use it as a milder alternative to bleach. It's also a good degreaser, so if you're working on some stubborn grease spots on the countertop after cooking, try using some undiluted lemon juice on them.

If you want to try using a homemade all purpose cleaner, but don't want to use so much vinegar, you can fill your spray bottle with equal parts of lemon juice, vinegar, and water. It will not only clean, but also leave a light fresh lemon scent.