Submitted By: Daystar

Source: Adapted from "Care2 Ask Annie" Newsletter.

Vinegar is a mainstay of the old folk recipes for cleaning, and with good
reason. The vim of the vinegar is that it kills bacteria, mold, and germs.

Simple Solution:
Heinz company spokesperson Michael Mullen references numerous studies to
show that a straight 5 percent solution of vinegar—such as you can buy in
the supermarket—kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80
percent of germs (viruses). He noted that Heinz can't claim on their
packaging that vinegar is a disinfectant since the company has not
registered it as a pesticide with the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA). However, it seems to be common knowledge in the industry that
vinegar is powerfully antibacterial. Even the CBS news show 48 Hours had
a special last December with Heloise reporting on tests from The Good
Housekeeping Institute that showed this.

Just like antibiotics, common disinfectants found in sponges and
household sprays may contribute to drug resistant bacteria, according to
researchers of drug resistance at Tufts New England Medical Center.
Furthermore, research at the Government Accounting Office shows that many
commercial disinfectants are ineffective to begin with, just like antibiotics.

Keep a clean spray bottle filled with straight 5 percent vinegar in your
kitchen near your cutting board, and in your bathroom, and use them for
cleaning. I often spray the vinegar on our cutting board before going to
bed at night, and don't even rinse, but let it set overnight. The smell
of vinegar dissipates within a few hours. Straight vinegar is also great
for cleaning the toilet rim. Just spray it on and wipe off.
For more info about natural cleaning solutions go to:

http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/home/164