Dilute Bleach
Bleach is a powerful cleaner that’s useful for disinfecting and sanitizing all kinds of surfaces. The most important thing is to always dilute it with water before you use it. Bleach solutions for general surface cleaning and sanitizing food-related items must be mixed using different ratios.
Contents
Steps
Using Bleach as a Disinfectant
- Mix bleach and water for disinfecting surfaces. When you want to clean non-porous surfaces such as toilets and showers, sinks, and vinyl or tile floors, use a bleach to water ratio of 1:32. Add a half cup (118.3 ml) of bleach to a gallon (3.8 L) of water. Mix this in a sturdy plastic bucket.
- Apply the solution to the surface you want to disinfect. Using a mop for floors or a clean rag for other surfaces, carefully dip into the solution and wring the mop or rag out. Wipe the surface in sweeping motions. Go in a back and forth pattern to make sure you cover the whole area.
- Make sure not to clean with bleach on surfaces like wood, leather, canvas, or carpet. Bleach will stain and fade this type of porous surface.
- Rinse the surface with clean, cold water. If you let the bleach solution dry on the surface, it can leave residue. Always use a bucket of clean water, and a clean mop or rag if possible, to completely rinse the surface. A bleach odor may remain in the air after you rinse the surface, which is okay.
Sanitizing Food-Related Items
- Wash dishes, silverware, and glasses with soap and water. Bleach is great for sanitizing all kinds of kitchen items, but always wash the items first. Use regular dishwashing detergent and hot water. Scrub the items thoroughly to remove all food residue from them. Rinse the dishes after you wash them.
- Fill your sink with cold water. Drain the hot soapy water from the sink. If you have an empty one gallon jug, fill this a couple of times to fill the sink. If you know about how much water your sink can hold, go ahead and run the water straight into the sink. You’ll want to use two to three gallons.
- Add one tablespoon (1.8 ml) of bleach per gallon (3.8 L) of water. Use a much weaker solution for items that come into contact with food than you would for other surfaces. One or two teaspoons (5-10 ml) to one tablespoon (14.8 ml) per gallon (3.8 L) of water is the best ratio.
- Soak the dishes for two minutes. Place the already-washed dishes into the bleach and water solution. Let them soak for at least two minutes so the bleach has time to sanitize and kill any germs that remain on the items.
- Set the dishes in a drying rack to air dry. Never put dishes, glasses, or utensils back in the drawer or cabinet while they are still wet. Leave the items to sit and let the remaining water and bleach evaporate off of them. There’s no need to rinse after the soak.
Working Safely with Bleach
- Wear rubber gloves when working with bleach. Chlorine bleach, which is the most common kind, is a strong acid. Bleach will burn your skin if you get it on yourself. Wear gloves that go up your forearm to protect from splashes.
- Even after you dilute the bleach, it’s best to wear gloves.
- Work in a well-ventilated room. Just as bleach can burn your skin, it’s also harmful if you breathe its fumes for a long period of time. Open the windows when you can, and set up fans to move the air around.
- If you have any breathing problems, wear a mask to reduce the intake of fumes, or avoid using bleach altogether.
- Pour the bleach over a sink or tub. Undiluted bleach will fade and ruin many different materials. Never pour it over a wood floor or carpet. A stainless steel sink or a plastic wash tub is the best place to dilute your bleach.
- Avoid using undiluted bleach. Bleach is highly concentrated and is not meant to be used undiluted. Without diluting bleach with water, you’ll likely do more damage than good. Bleach is strong enough to still be effective even in a diluted state.
- Use cold water. If you mix bleach with hot water, you’ll increase the fumes that are released from the bleach. This worsens the already hazardous breathing situation. In addition, hot water decomposes the active ingredient in bleach making it essentially useless.
