Re: OT--sterilizing plastic?

[Guest guest]

White vinegar is good for surface cleaning in the kitchen.  I hate to admit but I also use citrus/fruit cleaner on the cutting mats.  Expensive but depends on what has been cut or spilled.  The folks cooked out and for a few days, I smelled something.  Could not find it.  Was soo nauseas.  I decided to take the kitchen apart and found where they had cut a chicken on the board and there was raw chicken juice all underneath.  The smell was hideous.  Nobody else seemed to notice it (yet) but they would have in another couple of days.  So I took that apart, soap, used vinegar, the concentrated citrus spray and let everything air dry.  Sometimes you have to clean the entire area including whatever was contaminated to make sure you get it all.  You didn't get specific on what it is so just thought I'd mention ;-).

 

Depending on what the item is and you know bacteria has absorbed, I'd probably toss it to be safe.  If you can't stick it in the dishwasher or spray it down, put it outside or someplace with ventillation and where you can hose it or spray it down, not sure what else you can do.  I don't do that as much as I use to (toss everything because I'm so grossed out) but depending on expense vs. work vs. if it's saveable then decide from there.  Sometimes it's cheaper to buy a new one. 

 

Debbie 41 cd

 

Hey all, I'm having trouble cleaning some plastic into which bacteria has absorbed :( it's too large to soak, I'm not sure what to do. What can be done?I cleaned it extensively with regular chemical sensitivity friendly products, ineffectively, then tried dumping isopropyl alcohol on it. no go I'm terrified to try bleach because I think that will absorb in too and drive my sensitivities nuts. I don't know what to do. ethyl alcohol? vinegar? more isopropyl? would neosporin help?

Thanks for any help!!

[Guest guest]

Here is some things I found for you. Katy

Kitchen Cutting Boards and Countertops – Cleaning with Vinegar

The best way to sanitize kitchen food preparation surfaces such as countertops and wood cutting boards is to use the following vinegar and hydrogen peroxide germ-killing combo:

Using a spray bottle, apply undiluted apple cider vinegar or white vinegar to the kitchen surface to be cleaned.

Then immediately spray the same area with 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (available in all drugstores) from another spray bottle.

Wipe the area clean or rinse with water.

According to Sumner, a food scientist at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, it does not matter whether you spray the vinegar before or after the hydrogen peroxide, the effect is the same, it kills virtually all Salmonella, Shigella, or E. Coli bacteria on heavily contaminated food preparation surfaces.She also found that using both sprays was 10 times more effective than using either spray by itself and more effective than chlorine bleach and all other commercially available kitchen cleaners.The vinegar / hydrogen peroxide sprays also work well to clean meats, fruits and vegetables of disease-causing germs.Reference:Science News Online – Food for Thought – 9/28/96

Cleaning with vinegar is a great way to avoid exposure to many hazardous commercial household cleaners and it's cheaper, safer and easier on the environment.The cheaper distilled white vinegar, available at your local supermarket, is the best type to use for cleaning. The acetic acid in vinegar is an effective disinfectant, deodorizer, and cleaner which will cut grease and soap scum, dissolve mineral buildup, and inhibit mold and bacteria growth.For the household, a number of time-honored vinegar cleaning recipes are included some of which require, for best results, the addition of other readily available non-toxic ingredients such as:

Salt - to help dissolve tarnish. Baking soda - to absorb odors and act as a mild abrasive. Hydrogen Peroxide - to help disinfect.Caution: Do not add vinegar directly to materials containing ammonia since this could produce harmful vapors.

____________________________________________________________TODAY: iPads for $23.74?Special Report: Apple iPads are being auctioned for an incredible 80% off!QuiBids.com

[Guest guest]

How about Grapefruit Seed Extract? We have a bottle in the kitchen that we wash

fruits/veggies/countertops/etc. Pricey, but you dilute it with water, so it

lasts a pretty long time.

Holly

Crohn's

SCD 12/01/08

>

> Hey all,

>

> I'm having trouble cleaning some plastic into which bacteria has absorbed

> it's too large to soak, I'm not sure what to do. What can be done?

>

> I cleaned it extensively with regular chemical sensitivity friendly

> products, ineffectively, then tried dumping isopropyl alcohol on it. no go

> I'm terrified to try bleach because I think that will absorb in too and

> drive my sensitivities nuts. I don't know what to do. ethyl alcohol?

> vinegar? more isopropyl? would neosporin help?

>

>

> Thanks for any help!!

>

>