Kirstal Moffett - How Safe Is Chlorine Bleach?

QUESTION

Dear Kristal,

I have an old house with the original porcelain farm sink, and the only way that I can keep things Iike coffee and blueberries from staining it is to spray it with chlorine bleach and let it sit overnight.  How safe is chlorine bleach, and are there less toxic alternatives?

Karen
Palm Springs, CA

ANSWER

Hello Karen,

Thank you for your question.  Bleach is not the most toxic offender that's under your sink. Bleach can cause skin and eye irritations, but if used correctly should not. The bigger problem with bleach is when it is mixed with other cleaning agents.  For example, mixing bleach with a product that has ammonia in it would create toxic fumes.

Bleach alternatives that I use are white vinegar, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. The first thing I would try on your sink is a combination of white vinegar, baking soda and lemon. 1 to 1 to 1 ratio. Apply to the sink and leave overnight. If it looks like you need something stronger, apply the hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen Peroxide can be applied on its own and left overnight.

I just recently started cleaning with acid water. I haven't used it on stains yet, but I had a sticky mess on a wood bowl that I couldn't get off. I let the acid water sit on it for a few minutes and it was better. I have repeated the process a few times and it is almost gone. I have a special alkaline/acid water filter at home, but I saw a spray bottle ionizer for sale just for cleaning!  They claim it gets rid of stains too!!  I'll be trying that out on my next stain!!

Happy cleaning!

Kristal

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Kristal Moffett was born in Hollywood, CA in April of 1970. She has dedicated her life to sharing the solutions she has discovered in her personal health journey with those similarly impacted in todayʼs increasingly toxic world.