Eco-friendly cleaning: Three earth friendly disinfecting agents

Published in Living Green, Eco Friendly on Jun 11, 2025

Are you pissed off with all the harmful standard cleaners and disinfectants that put your health at risk? Luckily, nature is abundant in products and substances that are much healthier and safe than their commercial alternatives.

If you are looking for something that will keep germs at bay while at the same time it doesn't damage the environment, you have landed on the right page. Here we will talk about earth friendly disinfecting agents that you can use in the household. Check them out.

The many uses of vinegar

Vinegar is a multi-purpose household product that is cost-effective and safe for people and nature. It is a healthier alternative to ammonia and bleach, as it does not release harmful fumes in the air unlike many commercial household products.

Most of the time when people mention vinegar in cleaning, they refer to white vinegar.

Uses of vinegar:

  • The perfect deodorizer and kitchen cleaner

  • Use white vinegar to remove stains from many surfaces and fabrics.

  • Remove deposits from your coffeemaker using white vinegar. Fill half of the pot with water and the rest with white vinegar. Now plug the machine. Make sure you run it twice. White vinegar will do miracles on your coffeemaker, leaving no more residue and lime deposits.

  • White vinegar is a great tool to eliminate pet odors too.

  • If you have small children, you need to disinfect their toys every now and then. The perfect eco-friendly and healthy way to do that is to use white vinegar.

  • Your bathroom needs sanitizing? White vinegar will get the job done perfectly. Use spray bottles to apply a little of the liquid on walls, floor, bathtubs, sink, etc.

Borax: another alternative

Borax is sodium borate that has many uses. It is claimed to be all natural and therefore safe for people and pets.

Uses of borax:

  • Want to know how to keep roaches and other bugs away? Use borax and sugar. This will say goodbye to ants, waterbugs and roaches.

  • Borax is non-abrasive, which makes it a great product for the household. Swiss Cottage City Cleaners advise you to use it to clean and sanitize pans and pots. The only thing that you need is some water and a small part of borax. Use a sponge to scrub dirt.

  • This substance can eliminate stains as well. Make a paste of two parts water and one part of borax. Apply the paste on the affected area and let sit for a couple of minutes. Scrub and wash away.

Vodka, your home's best friend

We realize you probably want to use this one for other purposes but vodka is a great alternative to chemical-laden disinfectants. You don't need to buy something expensive though and this is what makes vodka a good option, as the market offers low cost varieties of the product.

Vodka is made from wheat, rye, sugar beet molasses, grain or potatoes and yeast. In a word, it's all natural. It doesn't contain chemicals and it won't harm the earth in any way.

Uses of vodka:

  • Cat owners can use vodka to remove urine odors. It is a very effective method.

  • Lingering odors from food, smoke, etc. on clothes can be removed with vodka. Just spray a little from the liquid on the fabric.

  • Your windows need sanitizing? Vodka will help. Just use vodka mixed with water and pour in a spray bottle. Then spray and wipe.

  • Mold and mildew will disappear if you spray undiluted vodka on them. Let rest for a while and come back later. Simply wipe off the affected area. The mould should be gone now.

  • Your jeweler will be shiny with just a few drops of vodka. Rub gently.

  • Neutralizeodors in your washing machines by spraying it with undiluted vodka.