Creating a healthy home starts with safe cleaning.

With all of the products, buzzwords and claims out there it can be hard to know where to start, especially now when synthetic chemicals seem like the only answer.

We hope this article sheds light on how you can use Branch Basics to remove germs and keep your household healthy.

Key Takeaways

• Branch Basics removes germs instead of killing them. Like soap and water, Branch Basics lifts and washes germs away from surfaces rather than leaving them behind.

• Removing germs is often more effective than disinfecting. Soap breaks down viruses and lifts bacteria so they can be rinsed away.

• Disinfectants should be used only when necessary. Routine cleaning with soap-based products is usually sufficient for maintaining a healthy home.

Soap and Water vs. Sanitizer/Disinfectant

First a little science!

There are two main categories of cleaning products:

• soap and water
• sanitizers/disinfectants. 

These two product categories handle germs (eg. coronavirus, influenza, etc.) in different ways. Soap and water like Branch Basics REMOVES germs. Sanitizers/disinfectants KILL germs while leaving them in place.

As you can imagine, removing germs with soap and water is the best option.

We don’t recommend the use of sanitizers/disinfectants under normal circumstances because they can:

• Contain toxic synthetic chemicals
• Kill good bacteria¹
• Create resistant superbugs (when some germs don’t die)

With that said, here’s how to stay healthy using Branch Basics.

Hand Washing: The Best Way to Remove Germs

You’ve heard it from doctors, on the news and more than likely from your mom: “wash your hands!”

It is well documented that washing your hands with soap and water like Branch Basics Foaming Wash for at least 20 seconds is the best way to remove germs.²

In the case of viruses, including coronavirus, soap dissolves the fatty membrane that holds the virus together. As the virus falls apart, it is rendered harmless and can easily be washed off under running water.³

If soap and water are not readily available and your only option is hand sanitizer, we recommend reaching for a human-safe one that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Here are three safer options:

• Primally Pure Hand Sanitizer
• Luminance Hand Sanitizer
• Dr. Bronner’s Hand Sanitizer

Cleaning Surfaces with Branch Basics

Routine house cleaning with Branch Basics is sufficient for removing germs and maintaining a healthy home.

We recommend spraying your surfaces with All-Purpose Spray or Bathroom Spray and wiping them clean with a microfiber cloth.

For frequently used surfaces you can add a teaspoon of The Concentrate to a bowl of warm water, and use a microfiber cloth to scrub the surfaces clean.⁴

If someone in your home is sick or vulnerable, you can disinfect frequently touched surfaces with the CDC’s two-step disinfecting procedure:

Step 1: Clean

Spray surfaces with All-Purpose Spray or Bathroom Spray. Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth. This is an important step as dirt and grease interfere with the germ-killing abilities of sanitizers/disinfectants.

Step 2: Disinfect

Spray surfaces with a disinfectant. Make sure to account for dwell time by letting it dry on the surface. As mentioned above, disinfectants can be harmful to your health so here are some safer options:

• Hydrogen Peroxide: Straight 3% hydrogen peroxide⁵
• Alcohol: Solution with at least 70% alcohol (eg. 140 proof vodka)
• Dry Steam Cleaners: High heat steam cleaners are an EPA-approved, chemical-free option for disinfecting surfaces. The jet stream of vapor kills viruses, bacteria, dust mites, mold and mildew in 2-7 seconds.

To test out human-safe cleaning products without a big commitment, try the Branch Basics Starter Kit for an inexpensive, smaller multipurpose cleaner.

Whether you’re washing your hands or cleaning your surfaces, our advice remains the same: clean first!

If you have any questions about using Branch Basics in your home, please reach out to us at info@branchbasics.com or comment below.

Clean the Human-Safe Way

Branch Basics keeps your household clean without synthetic chemicals contained in conventional cleaning products. Check out our tips for to toss the toxins in your cleaning routine:

• Try the Branch Basics laundry routine for clean clothes and bedding.
• Use Oxygen Boost for a thorough clean.
• Check out the Glass Cleaning Essentials Kit to keep your windows (and other glass surfaces) clean and streak-free.

1. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/could-household-disinfectants-be-making-our-children-fat-2018100314949
2. https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/about/index.html
   
3. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/health/soap-coronavirus-handwashing-germs.html
4. https://www.cnn.com/videos/health/2020/04/17/dr-sanjay-gupta-demo-how-to-clean-with-soap-and-water-coronavirus-town-hall-vpx.cnn
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/203115

FAQs

Does Branch Basics kill germs?

No. Branch Basics does not kill germs like disinfectants do. Instead, it removes germs from surfaces the same way soap and water do by lifting them away so they can be wiped or rinsed off.

Is removing germs better than killing them?

In many everyday situations, removing germs is the preferred method. Cleaning with soap lifts germs from surfaces so they can be washed away, rather than leaving chemical residues behind.

Is Branch Basics a disinfectant?

No. Branch Basics is a cleaner, not a disinfectant. It is designed to safely remove dirt, grease, and microbes from surfaces.