A popular 'miracle spray' recipe shared by a mom online calls for 1 ½ heaping tablespoons of washing soda and ⅔ cup of vinegar, but scientific tests on similar homemade cleaners show they can fail to disinfect common bacteria or clean effectively on all surfaces. This widely circulated DIY cleaning spray also requires 3 cups of water, with half a cup boiled, according to Apartment Therapy.
Online communities are embracing this 'miracle' DIY cleaning spray, but scientific evidence on similar homemade solutions indicates their effectiveness is often limited and inconsistent.
Consumers adopting these popular DIY cleaning methods are likely trading perceived natural benefits and cost savings for potentially inadequate cleaning and disinfection, increasing risks in household hygiene.
The Mixed Results of Tested DIY Cleaners
- A DIY cleaning product, using distilled white vinegar, club soda, and tea tree oil, underwent testing for both cleaning and disinfection effectiveness, according to PubMed.
- This DIY cleaner showed better performance than an environmentally preferable product and bleach on ceramic surfaces for cleaning. However, it failed to meet the cleaning standard on stainless steel, as documented by PubMed.
- For disinfection, the DIY cleaner and its individual components demonstrated greater activity against Escherichia coli compared to Staphylococcus aureus, PubMed reported.
While some homemade solutions perform well on specific surfaces, their overall efficacy is not guaranteed across all materials or bacterial types.
Disinfection Claims: Specificity and Shelf Life Matter
Only freshly prepared DIY cleaner and 50% vinegar achieved a significant ">=5.00 log10 reduction against bacteria, according to PubMed. A critical condition for effective disinfection, often absent from online recipes, is that only freshly prepared DIY cleaner and 50% vinegar achieved a significant ">=5.00 log10 reduction against bacteria, according to PubMed.
