Bleach vs. Vinegar
With all the emphasis on “going green” in the last few years, many companies have made the switch to natural products. One industry where this is very obvious is the cleaning and laundry industry. Most commercial cleaners are made of harsh chemicals and anyone who’s ever gotten a whiff of bleach will know that coming into contact with them isn’t always pleasant. The debate surrounding this industry, however, is whether natural cleaning solutions are strong enough to clean as effectively as commercial cleaners. In this article we will be looking at two in particular, bleach and vinegar, and their ability to clean and sanitize around the house.
Bleach vs. Vinegar
Chlorine bleach is what’s most commonly used for household cleaning. It is commonly used, especially in kitchens, because of its ability to wipe out harmful microorganisms and bacteria. Because of it’s ability to kill germs, chlorine bleach is one of the only household cleaning materials regulated by the U.S. environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It only takes a small amount of bleach to kill a large amount of germs, too. Bleach is very strong, and should always be diluted before use—mix 1 part bleach with 4 parts water.
Vinegar is readily available in most grocery stores. The kind you purchase from your neighborhood market contains 5% acetic acid, which has been proven to have anti-microbial properties, but not the kind that create a germ wasteland like bleach. Studies have shown that vinegar can inhibit the growth of some strains of E. coli, as well as act as an effective mold killer. That being said, the exact science on vinegar’s germ killing capabilities remains unclear.
In terms of sheer cleaning ability, bleach wins out.
Bleach vs. Vinegar vs. The World
The reason that natural cleaning has become such a focus in the last few years is due to the environmental impact they have. While bleach may be the better cleaner, leaving no germ left alive, the environmental impact that bleach production has is another story. Plants that make chlorine bleach release dioxin and mercury into the surrounding air. These two chemicals are dangerous to humans.
Producing vinegar is considered an environmentally friendly product. Vinegar is the result of heavily fermented fruit, and is created through a process similar to making wine, meaning that you can make it in your home. There are recipes for every type of vinegar, even specialty flavors, online.
In terms of environmental impact, vinegar is the winner, and in terms of household use, vinegar is the better choice. Vinegar is strong enough to clean most household messes, and is much easier on your immediate health and the health of the planet.
SITEX believes in the best care and best health of your facilities, and we try to incorporate sustainable and environmentally conscious cleaning agents wherever possible. You can view our complete line of Authentically Green Janitorial Products on our website.