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MOMS' WELLNESS
Deciding what type of cleaner to use depends on whether you are cleaning a mess or trying to disinfect the surface. iStock / Special to On the Minds of Moms
Overwhelmed with options How to choose the best cleaning product for your home
MOMS' WELLNESS
By Alicia Strnad Hoalcraft
The pandemic has everyone hyper-aware of their cleaning routine as health organizations around the globe have issued cleaning advice for homes and workplaces.
Adding to the stress of worrying about disinfecting properly is the confusion over the various types of cleaning products from bleach to cleaners labeled “natural” to essential oils and homemade cleaning products.
Dani Swanson, a physician’s assistant with Sanford Health’s integrative medicine department and a mom of two young children, says choosing what to use in your home comes down to things like your comfort level and whether anyone in the home has been exposed to a serious illness such as COVID-19.
The first thing to consider is whether you’re cleaning - wiping dirt, grime and other messes on surfaces - or disinfecting - cleaning to destroy bacteria and other germs.
“If there is any risk for contamination,” Swanson says, “surfaces should be disinfected. An example would be if you were to use your countertop to unload groceries or if you ever have guests in your house outside of the individuals living in that home, it is important to disinfect surfaces. Give more attention to contact surfaces (light switches or door knobs). Rule of thumb is to disinfect your most commonly touched surfaces and kitchen countertops morning and night.”
The most common and powerful disinfectant is bleach. But those powers don’t come without risk. Swanson
“The risks of using common household cleaners are the added ingredients that can be harmful,” Swanson says. “Some ingredients are harmful when inhaled and can exacerbate underlying lung disease (such as asthma). Some common household cleaners have preservatives in them which can increase risk for developing disease, like cancer.” Bleach can also stain clothing and damage some surfaces.
Added fragrances in any cleaning product carry the risk of allergic reaction or exacerbating some health conditions.
So is the answer “natural” cleaners?
Cleaners labeled “natural” or homemade cleaners can have disinfectant abilities, but not all natural products adhere to the same guidelines. The word “natural” when it comes to cleaning has no regulation so it can be added to any product. So how can you tell what’s truly a natural product?
“It is hard to say what the difference is without looking and comparing exact ingredients listed, Swanson says. “Most natural products avoid
the added fragrance chemicals and use natural ingredients to give a pleasant smell or they simply go as ‘fragrance-free.’ Natural cleaning products avoid the use of preservatives, which also means their shelf-life is not as long.”
So are natural cleaning products a risk-free way to clean and disinfect?
Not necessarily, Swanson says.
Essential oils, for example, a popular ingredient in natural cleaners, aren’t safe for everyone, regardless of what their brand marketing may say.
“There are some essential oils that have shown to have anti-microbial effects, but you run the risk of reaction to certain oils if you are prone to allergic reactions,” Swanson says. “I also do not recommend essential oil use around infants or children. Some oils have been shown to disrupt certain body systems in developing babies and children. I would also caution (against) essential oil use in anyone with underlying lung conditions. “I like essential oils - I use them on myself and in my home and in some of my products, but I do try to avoid my children having exposure to them.”
Another popular natural cleaning product is silver-infused cloths. Swanson says silver has been shown to have anti-microbial benefits, so these can be a great option for wiping down surfaces. She cautions that there is concern with the environmental impacts of silver-infused products, so she urges mindfulness on how many of them you use and how you dispose of them.
Norwex, a large distributor of silver-infused cloths, notes on its website that the silver in its cloths is solely designed to inhibit bacterial odor, mold and/or mildew growth within the cloth itself, not necessarily to disinfect surfaces.
What about homemade cleaners?
Another more natural — and cost-effective — option for cleaning products is to make your own. Swanson recommends using mixtures of vinegar and water or hydrogen peroxide
iStock / Special to On the Minds of Moms
and water. Both have been shown to have disinfectant properties. Hydrogen peroxide is toxic if ingested, Swanson cautions, but safe on the skin, and vinegar can cause irritation to skin if applied directly, so these products still have some cautions.
So how do you decide what’s right for your home?
“It’s just mainly the choice of the person cleaning,” says Swanson. “For me as a mom, if in the morning I want to give the counter a wipe down, I don’t want to get bleach on my work clothes so I’d rather use vinegar or hydrogen peroxide.
“There’s definitely a time and place for more natural cleaners and I love that people are realizing the harmful effects of added fragrance, added ingredients and some of those preservatives that are added in cleaners, but if that’s all you have on hand and you have someone in your home that you know has had exposure or has tested positive, I would steer more toward the harsher chemicals and cleaners to ensure the virus doesn’t spread. It’s a risk versus benefit.
“There’s definitely a time and place for natural cleaners but during COVID, you have to use the heavy hitters.”
No matter what you use, Swanson says, “the best way to clean is always use some elbow grease.”
She added, “Good old-fashioned soap and water on a dish rag is one of the best ways to clean as well. I do this every evening after dinner.”
Photoillustration by Darren Gibbins The Forum
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