A Germ free household is a healthy household. these are some tips to help keep your house Germ free .

Most disinfectant products on store shelves contain chemicals that can be hazardous to your health and harmful if swallowed. Try these natural ways to disinfect your house.

Open a window and allow sunshine into your house. Fresh air and sunshine are one of the oldest known ways to eliminate stale odors and germs.

Regular distilled five percent household vinegar is a potent germ fighter. Studies have shown it to eliminate over 90 percent of bacteria and over 80 percent of mold and germs. It is also nontoxic. The one drawback is the odor.

Baking soda is your best choice for ridding your house of unwanted odors. It absorbs them and neutralizes acid based odors in water. a liberal sprinkling of baking soda on your carpets , left overnight, and vacuumed up in the morning can get rid of stale odors and freshen your carpets. Sometimes it may take more than one treatment.

If you live is a humid climate, the moisture in the air may make the baking soda clump up, so substitute lightly spritzing distilled white vinegar on your carpets instead.

Two to three drops of clove essential oil in a diffuser helps eliminate Airborne germs

Neem oil is derived from the Indian plant of the same name. It is one of the world's most powerful natural disinfectants. Neem kills bacteria, mold and germs. Use 1 tsp. of the essential oil to one cup of water in a spritz bottle to disinfect your kitchen and bathroom.

Essential lavender oil is another germ fighter. It is used to freshen the household and kill germs. You can also add several drops of it to a cup of water in a spritz bottle and use it to disinfect your kitchen and bathroom. Bowls of dried flowers put around your rooms add a delightful fragrance to the air, while eliminating Airborne germs.

Tea tree oil is another potent mold and mildew fighter. following the same directions you can use 2 teaspoons of the oil in two cups of water to treat infected areas. Do not rinse after applying this. The one drawback of this oil is that it can be expensive and it has a very potent smell. Sort of evergreen like.

Another potent mold and mildew fighter is grapefruit seed extract. Although it is expensive it has no odor. To use add ten drops of oil to one cup of water.

Several drops of eucalyptus oil in a diffuser can eliminate Airborne germs.

To make a pleasant smelling deodorizer and disinfectant add five drops of lavendin oil, a mixture of lavender and eucalyptus oils, and five drops of sweet orange oil to a cup of water. Use in the same manner as the other disinfectants.

All of these disinfectants can be used on non staining surfaces and to purify the air. Be sure to avoid contact with eyes.

You can make your own effective disinfectant floor wash that actually smells good and kills bacteria and germs. Take a bucket of hot water and add 1/8 cup of liquid soap, 1/4 cup of white vinegar or lemon juice, and a half a cup of peppermint tea. This works just as well as store bought disinfectants except it doesn't have any added harsh chemicals.

Another thing you have to consider is alternate sources of germs.

Although kitchens and bathrooms come to mind first when discussing germ sources, germs are more prevalent on children's toys, computer keyboards, telephones, cutting boards, drains and sponges and many other areas.

Allow sponges , dish cloths, toothbrushes, and washcloths to dry out thoroughly between uses. Germs, mold, and mildew thrive on moist surfaces. There is no point in cleaning if you're going to be wiping things off with a bacteria laden cloth. You're just spreading germs.

The cloths should be replaced frequently and laundered in hot soapy water then dried on high speed in the dryer.

Doorknobs , trash cans, stove knobs, your hands, faucets, telephones and cupboard and refrigerator handles are also hot spots for germs. Use separate cutting boards for meats as bacteria can thrive in cracks and crevices of cutting boards.

Regularly clean out the refrigerator, microwave, cupboards and can opener and any other items or areas that come into regular contact with food.

Disinfect sinks and other drains regularly by pouring a cup of vinegar down them.

Wash your hands frequently using antibacterial soap.

Use paper cups to drink from when family members have colds .

Cook foods to the proper temperatures, then store them promptly in refrigerators set to the proper temperatures. This eliminates the forming of bacteria.

Be sure to launder bedding and clothing on a regular basis.

It is vitally important to keep your house pest and vermin free. These critters such as mice, fire ants, fleas , ticks and rats are loaded with disease and germs that can be severely harmful to humans.

If you prefer to disinfect your household the old fashioned way, visit these two online sites for tips on maintaining a household .

Lysol

Clorox bleach