Green Cleaning: Natural Disinfectant

There are times when you need to make sure your sinks and counters get a little extra TLC from the bacteria police.  For most of us, that's after we've prepared raw chicken or other meat.  I do try to keep the meat off of the surface of my counter by using a cutting board or silicone mat, but after watching 20 years worth of Law & Order episodes during one 9 month pregnancy, you learn a thing or two about spatter.  

Now I am by no means a germaphobe.  And I would eat steak raw right out of the package if it was socially acceptable (since it's not, I have to settle for steak tartare in a fancy restaurant when the occasion presents itself).  But raw chicken skeeves me out big time.  If it wasn't so darn good for you, I wouldn't touch the stuff.  

And since I do make an effort to use green cleaners that won't harm my family or pets (who sometimes manage to find that sunny spot on the kitchen counter for a nap), I want a natural solution. Lucky for us all, I found one!


DIY Natural Disinfectant

• 2c water
• 3T dish soap (good old fashioned blue Dawn is recommended)
• 1t tea tree oil
• 15 drops essential oil (optional)

Gently mix together (be careful, you don't want the soap to get too bubbly) in a spray bottle.


Here are my thoughts on using essential oil in this cleaner.  Not worth it.  Tea tree oil is very fragrant, and not in a good way.  You would need a lot more than 15 drops to neutralize that smell, and then you are going to have an oily cleaner, which defeats the purpose.  I say don't bother.  Essential oils are not going to break the bank because they are used in small doses, but a bottle can be a little bit pricey so I say save it for an application where you really get the benefit.  

But don't skip the tea tree oil, because that is what gives this cleaner its disinfectant properties.  Don't worry about the smell.  It will go away.

The cleaning method I use is to wipe down my counter with a soapy dish sponge (the one that I use only on countertops and not on my dishes... even though sometimes I use the one that is supposedly only for my dishes on my countertops, but that's just when there is no raw meat involved).  Dry it off with paper towels or counter rag of your choice.*  Spray the counter with the natural disinfectant and wipe it in/off with your towel.  

You can even finish it with my granite cleaner for unbeatable shine.  (I smell another post coming! Link to follow but search on the "green cleaning" label if you just cannot wait.)

Happy cleaning!

* My counter rag of choice?  Cloth baby diaper.  The old fashioned Gerber white cloth diaper.  You can buy these at Target, probably Amazon, and I'm sure any baby superstore out there.  I have a set for rags and a set for drying dishes. They are so absorbent and do an AMAZING job.  I'm sure they would have made awesome diapers too, but I went the earth killing disposable route and just happened to have a pack of these for some reason or another.