Can I make my own homemade disinfectant spray? Everyone has a virus and you are out of disinfectant spray. Can you make your own? The answer is YES!
It is easy to make your own disinfectant spray out of common household products. And, it only takes about five minutes.
White vinegar has been used as a household cleaning product for many generations. It is antiseptic, cleans well, and takes out odors.
Combine vinegar with alcohol and voila! You have an antibacterial, antiviral cleaning product that eliminates odors. Add some essential oil and it smells good, too! Homemade disinfectant sprays let you control what is in your home and don’t depend on store availability!
Alcohol kills viruses and bacteria. Just make sure you use a strong alcohol. Rubbing alcohol greater than 61% will work for regular disinfecting. But you can use 91% alcohol if someone in the household has a virus or bacterial infection.
While some people use vodka because it doesn’t smell like, well, rubbing alcohol, it is more expensive. And, be careful to use a high-proof, at least 80 or 90 proof, to kill germs. The cheapest vodka is okay. You’re not going to drink it!
Optional: If you want your disinfectant spray to be scented, just add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for fragrance.
For added germ protection, use one of the essential oils that also have antiviral or antibacterial activity. Suggestions include lavender, cinnamon, clove, tea tree, oregano, lemon balm, lemon, grapefruit, frankincense, peppermint.
Note: Make sure to use 100% essential oil for the best results. I only buy 100% pure therapeutic grade organic and mix with my own coconut oil, so I know what I have. I like Plant Therapy, a set from them was my first ever buy for essential oils.
Here are a couple of simple recipes for a homemade disinfectant spray that smells good, eliminates odors, and kills mold, mildew AND viruses and bacteria.
We recommend using distilled water if you have a lot of minerals in your water. Hard water from minerals can sometimes leave a film (easily wiped off). But you can go ahead with tap water or bottled water if that is all you have.
Remember to spray and let your homemade disinfectant remain on the surface at least ten to fifteen minutes to work effectively.
5 minutes (or less) to homemade disinfectant spray
Recipe 1. Alcohol Based (strong solution)·
1 part water
1 part 61% or greater rubbing alcohol·
10-30 drops essential oil, if desired
Shake well. Put in spray bottle and shake well before each use.
To use, shake bottle, then spray surface to be disinfected. Let sit at least 10-15 minutes before wiping off.
Recipe 2. Vinegar, Vodka & Essential Oil·
½ cup white vinegar·
½ cup distilled water·
2/3 cup high-proof vodka (or rubbing alcohol 61-91%)·
40 drops of tea tree essential oil·
30 drops lemongrass essential oil
Shake well. Put in spray bottle and shake well before each use. Let sit at least 10-15 minutes before wiping off.
Note: Tea tree and Lemongrass both contain antiviral and antibacterial components. This will make a strong disinfectant. But tea tree oil is toxic to dogs, do not put on them, expose them to it, or diffuse it while they are present.
Recipe 3. Vinegar and Vodka·
½ cup water·
½ cup white vinegar·
20 drops essential oil
½ cup high-proof vodka (or rubbing alcohol 61-91%)·
Shake well. Put in spray bottle and shake well before each use.
To use, shake it up and then spray surface to be disinfected. Let sit at least 10-15 minutes before wiping off.
Recipe 4. Lemon, Vinegar, & Baking Soda Cleaning Spray·
4 cups hot water·
½ cup white vinegar·
2 tablespoons baking soda·
1 lemon·
4-6 drops lemon oil
Add vinegar and baking soda to hot water. Cut lemon in half and add to hot mixture. Let cool to room temperature. Add lemon oil. Strain to remove lemon seeds & peel. Put in spray bottle. To use, shake bottle, then spray surface to be disinfected. Let sit at least 10-15 minutes before wiping off. Note: This recipe makes a good cleaning spray, but will not be as effective at killing viruses and bacteria as sprays that contain alcohol.
NOTE: Effective at cleaning kitchen counters, stovetops, refrigerators, door knobs, windows, light switches, kitchen and bathroom sinks and fixtures. We recommend testing on other surfaces to make sure it is safe for the finish before using.
Also, these sprays are useful for day-to-day cleaning, and for regular colds and viruses. But the Wuhan Coronavirus is new and we can make no claim as to whether these cleaning sprays will be effective against it. However, keeping germs and viruses of any type out of your home will help.
And if you are interested in using natural ingredients for more than just your cleaners, here is a book by Claude Davis that I recommend! His Lost Book of Remedies is a must-read for anyone who understands that not everything from the past is worthless!
#homemadedisinfectantsprays
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