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:
- Tea tree (melaleuca)
- Lavender
- Eucalyptus
- Rosemary
- Cinnamon
- Clove
- Thyme
- Geranium
- Lemon
- Orange essential oil
- Peppermint
Diy disinfectant spray Ingredients
- 16 oz. isopropyl alcohol (70%) also called rubbing alcohol.
- 1/2 tsp. hydrogen peroxide
- Essentials oils
I recommend:
- Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca), 30 drops
- Lavender, 15 drops
- Eucalyptus, 15 drops
- Lemon, 15 drops
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!
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.
You got this!
Stay well my friends!
Jan Howell
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Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.
