 As a society, we are very germ-conscious. The media has recently picked up on this, cautioning citizens to be vaccinated for certain viruses for fear of being infected. As Americans, we routinely douse our hands with sanitizers and spray fine mists of chemicals on surfaces to rid our homes of germs. While caution against germs can be a good tool to reduce the likelihood of becoming sick, EnviroCitizen.org has found some great alternatives to the chemicals that are currently being used as sanitizers.
The problem with all of these chemicals that we use to disinfect with is that they have been linked to both environmental and health-related problems. If you're using a harsh chemical to disinfect your hands, many might assume that the risks and warnings associated with that chemical do not extend beyond your hands. Many people disinfect their hands before eating. While that practice rids ones' hands of germs, it replaces those germs with chemicals that remain on the hands. Those chemicals are then ingested into the body along with your food.
EnviroCitizen.org encourages you to replace the synthetic, chemical with vinegar. Vinegar is a far more natural substance and has disinfecting properties. In fact, vinegar has been used for centuries to clean both bodily wounds and homes. Vinegar effectively eliminates those nasty germs that we try so desperately to get rid of, yet it is safe for human consumption and far safer for the environment than chemical disinfectants.
EnviroCitizen.org has found that vinegar can be used to disinfect practically everything! A spray bottle filled with one part vinegar to four parts water effectively disinfects hands, countertops, floors and any other surface. The best part it is that if you were so inclined, after spraying your hands with the mixture you could squirt it in your mouth. Granted, you probably won't want to do that, but the idea is that you should be using products that are safe for you. Chances are, if it's safe for a human to consume, it's probably safe for the environment, too.
The other benefit of vinegar is that it comes with a much smaller carbon footprint than chemical disinfectants. Making vinegar is a fairly straightforward process, unlike chemical disinfectants which are very labor-intensive. In the process of making chemical disinfectants, energy is used and pollution is emitted into the atmosphere. Of course, chemical disinfectants are bad for you and the environment for other reasons as well. EnviroCitizen.org encourages you to use vinegar instead, it's a great way to go green and get rid of germs at the same time!
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