According to this vinegar and bicarb clean, but don't disinfect. I'm sceptical of these studies to though. You can find an argument for or against anything these days. It's worth the read though to help you make a decision about natural versus chemical.
Natural disinfectants lack killer instinct, study shows - CNN
Natural Disinfectants lack killer instinct, Study shows:
Conventional disinfectants used in the experiment included Clorox, ethanol, Mr. Clean Ultra, Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Antibacterial Kitchen Cleaner. Hospital disinfectants were TBQ, Vesphene and ethanol. Natural alternatives included vinegar and baking soda.
The good news was that all of the commercial disinfectants were very good, eliminating 99.9 percent or more of microbes, said William Rutala, professor of medicine at UNC. The bad news was that such natural products as vinegar and baking soda didnt work nearly as well.
An estimated 30 million foodborne infections occur each year, causing more than 9,000 deaths, Rutala said. Scientists also believe that more than two million hospitalacquired infections annually cause 19,000 deaths and contribute to another 58,000 fatalities. Contamination in daycare centers frequently leads to diarrhea and other diseases.
In their study, the scientists examined the effect of commercial and natural disinfectants on diseasecausing microbes during 30second and fiveminute exposures. The organisms used in the test included Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella choleraesuis, Escherichia coli 0157H7, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, poliovirus, and vancomycinsusceptible and vancomycinresistant Enterococcus species.
The commercial products killed almost all of the germs. The natural alternatives, vinegar and baking soda, paled in comparison, killing 90 percent or less of the germs.
Clorox and Lysol Disinfectant Spray fared especially well with the poliovirus microbe, doing away with more than 99.9 percent of the virus. Though poliovirus is virtually nonexistent in the United States, Rutala and his colleagues tested the virus because it is more difficult to kill and therefore provides a good indication of effective disinfecting properties.
The researchers conducted their study in large measure to test the claims of commercial manufacturers. Many products on the market are not tested against significant viruses and bacteria, said Rutala. Growing concern about emerging infectious diseases and antibioticresistant microbes also fueled their curiosity.
We now know that kitchen and bathroom surfaces in most homes show high levels of contamination that can lead to disease and that disinfectants can eliminate most of that contamination, Rutala said. What we dont know yet is whether disinfecting drains, taps, handles and toilet seats would actually decrease infection rates among family members. It may be that more direct contact in families such as touching, kissing, sneezing and sharing food or eating utensils plays a much bigger role in spreading infections.
