If you like your countertops and other kitchen surfaces clean and disinfected but don’t like that harsh, bleachy smell, here’s a better way to clean.
Keep two spray bottles handy—fill one with 3% hydrogen peroxide and the other with white vinegar. Lightly spray your counter with the peroxide, and wipe it clean. Follow up with a light spray of the vinegar, and wipe it clean. Then relax, knowing that your countertop and other kitchen surfaces have been treated with antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial agents. Yes, your kitchen will smell like vinegar for a little bit, but it will dissipate quickly.
Note: Do not use peroxide and vinegar on a regular basis to clean marble or unsealed granite countertops (most granite counters have a coat of protective sealant). Both solutions are acidic and could discolor these surfaces over time.
Where the germs lurk…
- Top 10 Germy Spots in Your Kitchen
- Don’t Let Contaminated Kitchen Knives Make You Sick
- Washing Produce—What to Do…and What NOT to Do
