Can I safely use a combination of vinegar and dilute bleach to sterilize utensils in the home?

Question

In February 2006 researchers.reported at the American Society for Microbiology, that a solution of vinegar and household bleach could be used, not just as a powerful disinfectant, but as a very effect sterilizing agent against bacterial spoors dried onto test surfaces. According to the researchers, " Bacterial spoors dried onto surfaces are considered the most resistant to disinfectants of all microbes, and a disinfectant that can kill such spoors would be expected to also kill all types of vegetative bacteria, fungi, mycrobacteria (TB), and viruses." They found that the vinegar bleach solution sterilized all of the surfaces tested within 20 minutes, while a diluted bleach solution alone was only effective in killing all of the spoors on 2.5 percent of the surfaces after 20 minutes.

Source:http://www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com/vinegar-as-a-disinfectant.html

OK so it's effective and safe to use on counters & other surfaces, but is it safe to use on eating utensils as well?

Sorry, that link is

http://www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com/vinegar-as-a-disinfectant.html

Answer 1

I would be very careful with this. Mixtures of household bleach and acids have been known to release chlorine, which is very poisonous and was used as a war gas in the first world war. A very small amount of vinegar, like up to a tenth by volume of the bleach might do no harm. But I would not even consider that because it is impossible to know just how strong the vinegar and bleach are unless you test them first. DON"T DO IT! Once the bleach solution becomes acid it releases chlorine. There have been cases of people dying because they mixed bleach and acid toilet cleaners.

Bleach is mixed with sodium carbonate to lower the pH and prevent this.

The reality is that if a counter is cleaned with ordinary dish soap or liquid detergent nearly all bacteria are killed or severely weakened. Spores might survive. You will probably breathe in more bacteria in a minute than are sitting on the cleaned counter or eating utensils. Most bacteria are completely harmless and some are beneficial.

Answer 2

Very dangerous!!!! Bleach is an alkaline hypochlorite solution. Vinegar is an acid. Mixing the 2 will make the solution more acidic & can cause the release of Cl2 gas, which is extremely harmfull if inhaled.

Answer 3

yeah u can use coz when an acid is mixed with a base the product is only a salt

Answer 4

Use Milton it is especially prepared as an anti-bacterial and is available from all pharmacies.

Answer 5

yeah, it would be safe to use it on your eating utensils. i'd just make sure that they air-dried before i used them.

Answer 6

it is edible so of course it is safe to use vinigar and bleech is used in swimming pools and in small concentrations is quite safe

Answer 7

Whoa, never heard that!!

At first glance I was scared I was going to blow myslef up ... 'cas I use this in my laundry. I can see how u may be concerned for silverware ... Dunno really.