ST. LOUIS, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- A U.S. germ expert warns that many cleaning products can be harmful, but for most jobs cleaning soap and water will do.
Donna Duberg of Saint Louis University says that cleaners that advise working in a well-ventilated area with an open window contain fumes that can damage lungs, eyes and skin -- and may not really be necessary.
"Ask yourself the question: How contaminated is my house?" Duberg asks. "If it is just everyday dirt, then simply dust, vacuum and wipe off surfaces with hot soapy water, which can kill some germs. It's always important to get the dirt off first."
Doisy advises treating areas like kitchen counters and bathroom sinks with a diluted bleach solution -- a 10 percent solution that consists of nine parts water and one part bleach -- that kills salmonella and staphylococcus. Let it sit 20 minutes and wipe off.
Most importantly, cleaners should never be combined. "Some people scrub their toilet bowl with a product that contains ammonia to remove rust stains, then follow up by pouring down a shot of bleach," Duberg says. "They think that extra little bit of effort will kill germs. Actually, they're making chlorine gas, a caustic mixture that actually was used as a weapon during World War I."
