- Wiping down worktops and surfaces: 60ml to 5 litres water
- Soaking fabrics, cloths, toys, hairbrushes etc: 20ml to 5 litres water, leave for 45 minutes and rinse thoroughly.
- Soaking overnight: 10ml to 5 litres water, rinse well, keep a solution in a spray bottle for use on worktops and chopping boards.
Vinegar is a natural, non-toxic disinfectant. Use for wiping down work surfaces and for sinks and basins: I part vinegar to I part water.
Tea-tree oil is a natural disinfectant and deodoriser and is also effective as a fungicide. Wipe down surfaces with a solution of 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil added to 2 cups of water or put it in a spray bottle for use on mould and mildew.
Borax is a disinfectant, insecticide and deodoriser. Mixed with bicarbonate of soda it makes a good general-purpose germ-killing cleaner and can also be used for soaking fabrics.
Heat kills a lot of bacteria. Washing bedlinen, towels and cloths at 6o°C helps keep the bugs at bay. Boiling is good for dishcloths and boiling water can be poured onto utensils and chopping boards or down plugholes.