What are some green alternatives to Chlorine-based bleach?

1. 85

   Camille Harrisposted 11 years ago

   What are some green alternatives to Chlorine-based bleach?
   
   I'm interested in finding an alternative cleansing agent with similar antimicrobial efficacy. Although the EU deems the household use of bleach safe for the environment, it's always good to have options.
   
   

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2. 76

   Pavlo Badovskyyposted 11 years ago

   I am not an expert in the subject but I read that in the times when people did not know what the soap is they used urina to bleach clothes. It is definitely safe for the environment, but I doubt if I use it

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      Camille Harrisposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Same here, Pavlo! Thanks for your answer.

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3. 59

   Amberjewellposted 11 years ago

   I find that Clorox is dangerous especially around children and animals and threw mine out long ago.
   I have adapted to a more 'earth/child/animal friendly mentality when it comes to cleaning.
   I personally use pure white vinegar to sanitize everything like my countertops, my childrens eating table, my dinner table, messes on the floor,  my cutting boards, clean my toilet, sink and just about everything. It is safe to use on furnature and colorless - unlike many chemical cleaners out there.
   The acidity of vinegar is what sanitizes. Though it doesn't have the bleaching ability as clorox does, it gets the other jobs done.
   As far as in laundry to whiten whites, I use baking soda which is known to be a whitening agent. I also use pine sol sometimes when I buy clothes from thrift stores or garage sales because you never know what the house they came from is like and pine sol does the trick to kill it all safetly in your washer. I would just use a double rinse especially on childrens clothing.

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      Camille Harrisposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for the tips, Amberjewell. I think I'm going to try baking soda, but am reluctant to try vinegar for the smell. Do you find it stays on the items you've cleaned after washing it off? Also, Pine Sol might be harmful as it contains toluene!

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