University of Wisconsin - Extension

Most people use household cleaners to take care of two jobs: cleaning dirt and grime, and disinfecting household surfaces. While some people use an arsenal of professional products to clean and kill germs, others believe that common products found in any kitchen can accomplish both tasks.

According to University of Wisconsin-Extension housing specialist John Merrill, research indicates there are no easy answers. Some common alternative products do a fairly good job of cleaning, although few disinfect effectively. However, commercial products generally are more effective at both cleaning and disinfecting. Few products are effective at both cleaning and disinfecting.

"People may assume that if a surface looks clean, it is also germ-free," Merrill says. "But that's not always the case."

Merrill says a study at the University of Minnesota looked at how effective some of the commonly recommended alternative cleaners are in comparison with typical commercially available cleaners. The study looked at effectiveness in removing a specially formulated soil mixture, as well as bacteria.

Different soil mixes were used for the bathroom and for the kitchen and one easily detectable strain of bacteria was used. The alternative cleaners tested were baking soda, borax, liquid dishwashing soap, ammonia, lemon juice and vinegar. The soil mixes and the bacteria were pplied to pieces of plastic laminate like that used on counter tops. The soil was allowed to remain on the surface for at least a week and, for the bath surfaces, was heated to make it even harder to remove.

Then, all the surfaces were cleaned in the same way using different products. A panel of judges rated the products for cleanliness, then a laboratory test was done to measure the level of bacteria remaining.

The authors pointed out that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registers disinfectants that meets its criteria for effectiveness. None of the alternative products were listed as disinfectants, so part of the study was to see if the alternatives, though uncertified, were effective.

The results indicate considerable difference in the effectiveness of the various products, both in removing soil and in removing the bacteria. The commercial cleaning compounds, whether they were certified as a disinfectant or not, were all judged as "most" effective in removing the bacteria.

Of the alternatives, vinegar was the only product in the "most effective" class. However, only one strain of bacteria was used in this study and it was definitely acid-sensitive. Vinegar may not be as effective with other organisms that are less acid-sensitive. Ordinary liquid dish soap, baking soda and borax were least effective in removing the bacteria.

When it came to removing the soils, the results were quite different. Two of the commercial cleaners were in the "most effective" class on this test as well. However, the third commercial cleaner, which was a certified liquid disinfectant, was ranked near the bottom. Of the alternative products, ammonia was the only product ranked "most effective." Baking soda, dish washing liquid, borax and plain water were also quite effective. Vinegar and lemon juice ranked near the bottom in its ability to remove the bathroom and the kitchen soils.

"The results of this study suggest a couple of conclusions," Merrill says. "The first is that products that are good disinfectants may not be good at removing dried-on soil and vice versa. The second conclusion is that, while some alternative products are fairly effective at removing tough soil and others at disinfecting surfaces, common all-purpose cleaners were generally more effective in both types of cleaning.

If your purpose in considering alternative cleaning products is to cut costs, another alternative is to limit the number of commercial products you buy. The July 2000 issue of Consumer Reports tested cleaners. They reached the same conclusion with regards to alternative cleaners: in general, they found them relatively ineffective.

The article also supports the notion that not all cleaners are equally effective for all cleaning tasks. It lists a number of products that are particularly effective for different tasks and gives a rough price comparison. Copies of Consumer Reports should be available in your local library.

If you have a housing question, send it to John Merrill at 1300 Linden Dr., Madison, WI, 53705.