3 natural germ-killers

Health hazards and costs
While it may be convenient to buy the first powerful bacteria-buster you find on the store shelf, remember that chemical-based cleaners can be harmful to your health and damaging to the environment. Toronto-based naturopath Tannis McLaren voices concerns over the pesticides and carcinogens that we are exposed to everyday: in the foods we eat, air we breathe and the conventional products we use to clean our household surfaces. "These chemicals build up in our bodies and can manifest in everything from asthma to cancer," she warns.

Also, these products often find their way into our eco system and drinking water, and can be difficult to properly dispose of -- for example, products available in aerosol containers must be taken to hazardous-waste depots for proper disposal.

Healthy and cost effective alternatives
Below is McLaren's list of natural, inexpensive cleaning products to kill those pesky germs living in your home. Best of all, you can find most of these products in your kitchen cupboards.

Lemon: Lemons are acidic and contain antibacterial and antiseptic agents that are perfect for cleaning contaminated surfaces. Lemons are also a natural odour-eater and provide a refreshing and energizing scent. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle with baking soda. Use this to scrub household surfaces and stains. Add salt and use to scrub contaminated cutting boards. Tip: Squeeze the juice from half of a lemon to the wash cycle to get rid of odours in dirty clothing.

White vinegar: Vinegar is a disinfectant as well as a deodorizer. Not crazy about the smell? Don't worry, the smell disappears once it dries. You can also add some lemon juice to help neutralize the strong odour. Vinegar can remove stains, it dissolves grease and removes mildew and soap stains. To make an all-purpose cleaner that will clean most surfaces in your home mix 1 part water and 1 part vinegar in a spray bottle. Be sure to dilute vinegar properly because it can eat away at some surfaces. Tip: You can use vinegar as a fabric softener. Add 1 tablespoon to the rinse cycle.

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate): Can be used to scrub surfaces, including shiny materials, without scratching. It is also a natural deodorizer. Add baking soda to lemon and white vinegar to make an all-purpose surface cleaner. A solution of three parts warm water to one part baking soda with a squeeze of lemon juice or vinegar will clean most surfaces. Tip: You can use baking soda to clean and polish aluminum, chrome, jewelry, plastic, porcelain, silver, stainless steel, copper and tin. You can also use it to unclog and clean drains.

Dr. Low's final tip: "Nothing replaces a good scrubbing with good old soap and water. This removes the bacteria by diluting it and removing it from the surface," he said. "Also, the most important tenet when cleaning household surfaces is the application of elbow grease!"

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