Ratio of Bleach to Water in a Disinfectant

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Chlorine bleach is more than just a help in the laundry room. It is a powerful disinfecting tool. Combine bleach with water to dilute it enough to make it safe for use around your home.

Kitchen Use

To use bleach and water as a household disinfectant in the kitchen, add 1/2 tsp. of liquid chlorine bleach to a spray bottle containing 1 quart of water. This ratio of bleach and water will clean and disinfect your countertops. The solution does not need to be rinsed away and is not strong enough to bleach household linens.

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Medical Use

If you need to disinfect medical items like thermometers or are using bleach as an anti-microbial agent, the ideal ratio is one part bleach to 10 parts water. After using the bleach solution to disinfect, rinse the cleaned item with clear water.

Considerations

When cleaning with bleach, keep your work area well-ventilated and wear gloves to protect your hands. Bleach loses its effectiveness as a disinfectant over time, so you cannot store bleach and water mixtures for more than a month or two.

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