Powerful DIY Disinfectant Spray | 3 Ingredients

We all know how important it is to keep our hands washed with soap and water during this Covid-19 time. It’s just as important to keep the surfaces in our homes disinfected. However, we can’t take our cell phones, fridge handles and steering wheels under the faucet and wash with soap and water. Therefore, we need something to clean these surfaces with. This simple and POWERFUL DIY disinfectant spray recipe is the one to get the job done and only takes 3 simple ingredients.

This disinfectant spray is quick and inexpensive to make up and calls for supplies and ingredients you are most likely to have right in your home.

How effective is this diy disinfectant spray?

The CDC gives several recommendations and solutions for disinfecting. I love that isopropyl alcohol is on the list for effectiveness. Some of the other choices, like bleach, I don’t feel so great about and want to avoid as much as possible. Household bleach comes with all kinds of toxic red flags.

If you want to read about the toxic concerns regarding bleach and other chemical cleaners, this site is a good reference and one I go to frequently when considering products. I even have their app on my phone that scans products to see the rating of toxicity right when I’m at the store. I love it.

As most of you know, I have been making my own non-toxic cleaners for many years and swear by their effectiveness. I felt I needed to amp up my all purpose cleaner recipe with a few stronger ingredients because of the pandemic. Some of you may already have my list of cleaning recipes, but if you don’t, you can find the updated version HERE. It’s a free download and I would love for you to have a copy. This recipe has been added to the list.

What are the ingredients and why are they so effective?

When I make up a DIY recipe, I am all about knowing the WHY about the ingredients that goes in it. So, here is a little information about the 3 items that go into this spray.

1-Isopropyl Alcohol

Isopropyl Alcohol is a natural antibacterial and antiviral. Alcohol damages the cell walls of organisms, therefore allowing the alcohol to enter the organism and destroy it.

According to the CDC, you want to use an alcohol that is at least 70% alcohol to disinfect surfaces. Some say you can use either ethanol (that’s what is in the alcohol that you drink), but I have read a lot of controversial information about that.

Now I know isopropyl alcohol may be like liquid gold to some of you and is hard to, or even impossible to find in the stores right now. Luckily I had stockpiled several bottles years ago, so I was able to make up several batches of this stuff.

If you can’t find rubbing alcohol, my All Non-Toxic All Purpose Cleaner will be better than nothing, and you can find the post and recipe HERE.

2-Hydrogen Peroxide

According to an article from the CDC, hydrogen peroxide is active against a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, yeasts, fungi, viruses, and spores

3-Essential Oils

I am a big fan of using essential oils. Although they are not a one all, cure all substance, they do have amazing properties and I take advantage and use them all the time.

Some oils that I recommend and have antibacterial, antiviral, antimicrobial, anti fungal, antiseptic, and deodorizing properties are:

Diy disinfectant spray Ingredients

  • 16 oz. isopropyl alcohol (70%) also called rubbing alcohol.
  • 1/2 tsp. hydrogen peroxide
  • Essentials oils

I recommend:

Use what oils that you have available

Instructions

1. Using a narrow tip funnel, fill a 16 oz. glass spray bottle most of the way full with alcohol.

2. Add 1/2 teaspoon hydrogen peroxide

3. Remove the funnel and add the following essential oils

  • tea tree essential oil, 30 drops 
  • lemon essential oil, 15 drops 
  • lavender essential oil, 15 drops 
  • eucalyptus essential oil, 15 drops 

4. Apply the spray nozzle and shake well.

5. I highly recommend adding some kind of label.

If you’re like me, if you don’t label the jar, you will forget what the heck was in the jar and then you won’t be able to use it effectively.

I’m a painters tape kind of gal and use it all the time to label things. So it can be as simple as writing on a piece of painters tape with a sharpie. But label your jars!

You can download the FREE printable label and recipe HERE.

There are 3 of each style of label. They measure 4 x 2.25 inches.

If you want the labels printed on weatherproof polyester paper, you can purchase the labels in my ETSY shop.

I love these jars with spray nozzles

How to use the disinfectant spray

Shake bottle well before each use! Spray and leave on for up to 30 seconds and wipe. It will evaporate quickly.

Spray on:

  • counter tops
  • handles 
  • door knobs
  • computer keyboards
  • toilet seats/handle
  • faucets
  • cell phones
  • steering wheels

I clean our phones every morning and go through the house spraying on common surfaces regularly. 

You can make the spray up in smaller batches to put in smaller bottles. I keep 8 oz. bottles full of disinfecting spray in my car, by my computer, and in the kitchen. My favorite is to have the mini bottles in my purse and whenever I travel. 

Make your own MINI travel disinfectant spray using an empty 15 ml essential oil bottle.

Get the spray attachments here

Here is the video tutorial.

Play Video

You got this!

Stay well my friends!

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

Connect:

DIY NO SEW Face Mask – Upcycled T Shirt – 5 Minutes

With the latest recommendation to wear masks when we go out and about, there has been a need to acquire a mask. As you know, most of us just go to the store and purchase one. A few weeks ago I posted a tutorial on how to sew a DIY face mask. However, not everyone knows how to sew or has access to a sewing machine.

I have been getting a lot of requests for “no-sew” masks, so I started doing some research and experimenting. I tried folding the bandanna thing and several other ways, but I had a hard time finding a method that was easy to understand and that wasn’t bulky and awkward to wear.

One of my customers, Suzette Gardner, clued me in on a technique she was using to make masks out of upcycled t-shirts. Now we’re talking. This is my territory. You all know how I love using upcycled t-shirts! So I gave it a whirl and loved how the knit felt on your face and how quick they were to make.

So here you have it, a tutorial on how to make a DIY no sew face mask, using an upcycled t-shirt that you can make in only 5 minutes. If the shirt is long-sleeved, you can make two more masks using the sleeves! I’ll walk you through that at the end of the post.

Materials and Items Needed

  • Upcycled T-Shirt (the larger the better)
  • If you have a long sleeve shirt, you can make a mask with each sleeve.
  • The t-shirt needs to be at least 16 inches wide. Cotton t-shirts are the best.
  • Rotary Cutter and Ruler (optional)
  • Scissors
  • Flannel Scrap (for the additional filter, optional) Cut to approximately 4 x 6 inches

DIY No Sew Face Mask Instructions

Trim off the hem of the shirt.

Cut two, 1 inch strips the width of the shirt

Cut off the seams on both sides

Take the strips and pull the fabric to CURL the fabric for the mask ties.

They need to be at least 16 inches long, more if you have the fabric

Measure from the bottom of the shirt and cut

  • 8 inches for an ADULT MASK
  • 7 inches for TEEN
  • 6 inches for CHILD

Take one of those pieces and place the wrong side of the fabric facing up.

If you want more layers you can double the fabric.

Place the ties vertically 4 inches from the edge.

Fold the sides over the strap so the tie is against the fold.

They should overlap in the center, making the width of the mask around 8 inches for adults, 7 teens,s and 6 for children.

Take the ends of the ties and make a knot as close to the end as you can.

This will be the top of the mask.

 

Take the mask and place it over your nose rim.

Hold it in place while you pull the bottom ties to cinch in the mask.

Keep adjusting and pulling the ties until you get the fit that you like.

Tuck in the fabric that may be sticking out.

Want additional filter capabilities?

Cut a piece of flannel about 4×6 inches and place inside before folding the mask.

No Sew Face Mask using the t-shirt sleeves

Cut off sleeve and measure 16 inches.

Follow the same folding instructions as before.

Slightly gather the wider side and tuck into the sleeve opening. 

The sleeve version will give more layers and more filterability.

I love how these masks feel when you have them on! So comfortable! 

Play Video

BAM! This will only take you 5 minutes or less. 

No excuses now. Get you and your loved ones a mask made.

NEED A GENUINE N95 Respirator Mask Reusable, (FDA Registered) Face Mask?

Check out this reputable source

Take care of yourselves, my friends. Keep smiling and finding the good in your day.

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

Connect:

Chair Yoga for Anxiety and Depression

chair yoga for anxiety

Are any of you struggling with all the things going on in the WORLD right now? It’s very easy to let the heaviness get you down. Anxiety and depression is a common thing right now, but there are some things we can do to help alleviate it. Living in survival mode for days on end is NOT A GOOD THING!

We all have to find ways to adapt, and one of those things is finding new ways in which we release stress. A lot of us, me included, are used to going to some kind of class: a yoga class, the gym, water aerobics, or walking with a friend. And now we can’t.

Although we can still exercise from home, or walk by ourselves, it’s not the same and takes a lot of motivation. However, as I mentioned in a previous post, WE HAVE GOT TO KEEP MOVING!

Movement can be VERY effective for counteracting anxiety and depression. It doesn’t’ have to be major movement. I know a lot of you out there are very limited on what you can and can’t do as far as movement goes. NO WORRIES. There are things you can do, even while sitting in a chair.

I just uploaded a short video to my YouTube station with some stretches and exercises to get your whole body moving. Don’t expect to sweat with this workout, those classes are coming, but do expect to feel better.

Play Video

If you want to skip to the relaxation portion of the video, it is marked in the description. 

How will this chair yoga class help with anxiety and depression?

  • It will get your mind off whatever you’re stressing about
  • Movement and stretching are proven to help with your sense of wellbeing.
  • I show you a few techniques to help relieve stiffness in your neck and tension headaches.
  • Best of all, I guide you through a 10 minute guided meditation to help you relax every part of your body.

Movement is so important and vital not only for our physical health but for our emotional health as well. Know that you are NOT alone in this. We are all in this together.

This will take effort on your part. None can move your body for you. Push through the dread, the feelings of being overwhelmed, the hopelessness, and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

We will get through this. Be easy on yourself, take care of yourself. Reach out and share this with anyone who you think could benefit from this.

Check out my other video tutorials, and don’t forget to love and take care of your FEET!

Until next time my friends.

Sending love your way,

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

Connect: