sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do ... bleach isn't all bad, just need to manage the use, and don't mix it with acids to avoid the resulting gas reactions .... vinegar can do a lot, but make sure you use the strongest you can find, pickleing vinegar, usually 6% acetic acid, might work fine around the bird - I'm partial to good natural made apple cider vinegar, but that might be cuz I make it :)

an exceptionally good antibacterial food is pure cranberry juice, can eliminate bacteria that cause tooth decay, ulcers, and urinary tract infections

Bill

I'm sure you know all the bad stuff about MRSA. So listen to yourself. You know the protocols but don't want to follow them because you won't be green and you don't want to expose your parrot to chlorox. You ask "any ideas?". You don't need our ideas, you know what you have to do so do it. I'm sorry you are having to experience this but as the parent you have to do all you can to protect your kids- no choice, end of story. Bill's comments on acetic acid and cranberry juice are true but your situation is far beyond their help. Please just bite the bullet and follow the established protocol. Tom

Part of being green is knowing when to use the "real stuff" and only using it when you have to. Seems like this is the time for you !

Not sure, but I am thinking that once your toddler and mother are feeling better that you can go back to using greener alternatives. I do use a tea tree cleaner that works very well. It is called "sol-u-guard" however you can only buy it through melaleuca reps (annoying!!!) It is supposed to be 99.9% effective at killing staph. however they dont' really tell you what is in it, so it may not be better or greener than bleach.
Tea tree is a really awesome antibacterial tho.

Also the best defense is keeping healthy! I also have birds so I do feel for you. I would be more concerned with spray cleaners than liquid ones. Also, if you can, move your bird into another room where you may not be bleaching.

also there is lavedar its antibacterial. and i use vinegar religiously!!! for everything, now at sams club, i dont know how green it is, i haven't used it in a while, but they have this one stuff it kills hiv, and its in the laundrysoap isle its preventative?? ummmm..... one is yellow, theres another that is pink, i love the yellow one. its great!! kinda along the lines of ammonia, in a 1 gal bottle! my brother has mrse, we find out friday if he's cleared or not, him and his wife had their baby and he hasn't got to hold her yet. he's afraid of giving it to her. so i do understand!! and i just got a email about clorox going green!!! so there ya go!!!! :'))

i thought i'd post this for ya, so ya won't think i'm nuts or something :'))

Here is a link that might be useful: clorox goes green

Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) is a powerful antibacterial, antifungal agent. I use it exclusively to clean wounds, and it can also be used to clean anything else you can think of including the inside of your mouth. I also put several drops in my Neti pot along with the salt. Nutribiotic is the best manufacturer.

Do you know about Manuka Honey for MRSA? Tomorrow I will post a BBC link (today the site seems to be having problems), and there are lots of other sites if you put Manuka honey and MRSA in Google.

Ashita

Here it is

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3787867.stm

and

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/2497183.stm

Ashita