A Powerful Homemade Antibacterial Spray
Learn how to make a DIY disinfecting spray that is all natural, cheap, and powerful. This homemade antibacterial spray has three different methods to also make it antiviral. With options like essential oils, white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and alcohol, there’s a recipe for everyone. Here’s a natural alternative to Lysol that will deodorize, sanitize, and kill harmful germs, bacteria, and viruses.
Make Your Own “Lysol” Alternative (Natural Disinfectant Spray)
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase, but you will not be charged a penny extra! And mama, I never recommend products I don’t love or believe in.
Sometimes I wish I could shower in disinfectant.
I live in a house full of germ carriers.
Snotty nosed, finger-licking, double-dipping germ carriers. As a mom of four delightful children, I can’t even count how many times I’ve seen a finger in places that fingers just shouldn’t go.
And then watch as said finger reaches out for me or trails the cloth of my couch.
You guys.
Kids are gross.
Don’t get me wrong, they’re worth all the nasty!
And because they’re worth it, I disinfect my house and furniture and self constantly (ok, not constantly, but it sure does feel like that).
Unfortunately, most household disinfectants sold on the market are just poison in a bottle. I am sadly serious.
The main big brand and similar off-brands have ingredients that are toxic and kill not only bad bacteria, but good bacteria with it (which can actually lead to more sickness).
Some of the ingredients in store-bought disinfecting sprays are linked to cancer and various lung illnesses. All of the ingredients combined equal a product that has scary caution warnings…and if any gets sprayed in the face, you’re probably headed to the ER. Because it could destroy your eyeballs (yes, I’m very scientific in my details).
After learning all of this about Lysol, but seeing how germy and nasty kids are, I found that there’s a really healthy alternative to Lysol disinfecting spray.
Enter this homemade antibacterial spray.
Read next: How to Make Hand Sanitizer (antibacterial & antiviral)
Related: 9 Powerful DIY Cleaners that Cost Pennies to Make
Natural DIY Disinfecting Spray Ingredients
It only requires 3-4 ingredients that you have to buy (but might already have on hand) and water.
Here’s a little bit about the ingredients and why you want them in your homemade disinfecting spray.
Alcohol
Vodka. Vodka, ya’ll. I’ve been pregnant or breastfeeding for what feels like 7 years straight. So this is about all the alcohol I pour.
Vodka is a high-proof alcohol that does a fantastic job sterilizing whatever you’re spraying, but without knocking out the majority of good bacteria. Rubbing alcohol could also be used here if that’s what you have.
Please check updated recipe below following the CDC guidelines for an antiviral disinfectant spray
White Vinegar
White vinegar is a beast when it comes to killing bad bacteria, mold, and pollutants. The smell can be strong at first, but the vinegary smell wears off very quickly, even though it continues working.
Vinegar is also scientifically shown to kill the flu virus, which means it can be a powerful antiviral component.
Want a DIY disinfectant spray without vinegar?
A few of my friends reached out and shared that they just can’t handle the smell of vinegar. If that’s you, there’s a solution for you!
Simply swap out the vinegar for double the essential oils OR for double the alcohol content. It will still be very effective.
Essential Oils
Essential oils offer this homemade disinfecting spray a punch of germ-killing power (that’s a scientific term). Now which essential oils you use in your disinfecting spray is really up to you.
Some great antibacterial essential oils include Thieves blend, tea tree, lavender, peppermint, clove, cinnamon, and rosemary just to name a few.
Lavender and lemon are another favorite combo of mine. I go on peppermint and orange kicks often, too.
Just make sure that they are real, quality essential oils.
Read next: How to tell if your essential oils are FAKE or the real deal
My two favorite brands right now are Plant Therapy and Zongle Therapeutics.
For those of you with pets in the home, research which essential oils are safe for your furry friends. Tea tree oil is a no-no for dog owners.
Other Ways to Make Disinfectant Room Spray
Homemade Disinfectant Spray With Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a fantastic ingredient for a DIY disinfecting spray.
According to the CDC, even 1.5% hydrogen peroxide has been shown to kill viruses, even the current pandemic virus.
To make a disinfectant spray with hydrogen peroxide, simply pour 3% hydrogen peroxide into a 16 oz spray bottle.
Add essential oils, like tea tree, clove, Thieves blend, or lemon.
Shake and spray on surfaces to disinfect.
NOTE: Hydrogen peroxide does have bleaching capabilities. This kind of disinfecting room spray is best used on hard surfaces, and not on cloth or unsealed fabric.
DIY Disinfecting Spray with Isopropyl Alcohol
This is an easy and inexpensive method for a quick disinfectant. The down side is that isopropyl is dangerous if ingested or sprayed in the eyes.
It is best kept out of reach of little hands.
When making this easy room spray, use at least 70% isopropyl alcohol. If you have 90-99% isopropyl, you’ll add either vinegar or water to it.
Vinegar actually remains on surfaces longer and has great antibacterial properties. I recommend using this if your alcohol is 90% or higher.
Pour isopropyl alcohol into a 16 oz spray bottle (glass is best!).
If using 90% or higher alcohol content, add in white vinegar.
Add in essential oils of choice, and shake well.
DIY Disinfectant Spray With Vinegar
Vinegar, as mentioned above, has excellent antibacterial properties.
It makes a great kitchen spray for this reason.
I keep a spray bottle of white vinegar in my kitchen to wipe down cutting boards and counters quickly.
It’s also food-safe, which is a plus in this area!
Vinegar, however, is not a great option to kill viruses. At least not alone.
To make a disinfectant room spray with vinegar, you” want to add it to either high proof vodka or isopropyl alcohol.
Because vinegar doesn’t dissipate as quickly as alcohol, it will remain on the surface longer, killing bad bacteria.
Simply add alcohol of choice (90% or higher) to a 16 oz glass spray bottle and top off with vinegar.
Add antiviral and antibacterial essential oils, twist the top on, and shake well before each use.
Homemade disinfectant spray essential oils combos:
- Springtime: 18 drops lemon and 12 drops lavender
- Icy fresh: 20 drops peppermint and 10 drops orange
- Green Clean: 12 drops tea tree, 10 drops peppermint, and 8 drops rosemary
- Warm and spicy: 14 drops cinnamon, 8 drops clove, 6 drops orange
- Squeeze of summer: 20 drops lemon and 10 drops of orange
What kind of bottle should you store your disinfectant spray in?
The kind of container you store your disinfecting spray in matters.
My top tip is this:
Use a glass bottle.
Alcohol and vinegar can both erode plastic over time, leeching plastic particles into your disinfectant spray.
Essential oils should always be stored in a glass bottle as well. They are extremely potent and will also erode plastic.
To protect essential oils, use a colored glass bottle such as amber or cobalt. Colored glass protects the essential oils from UV rays, which break down the essential oils and reduces their potency.
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Ingredients you need for your DIY Disinfectant
See antiviral measurements below for a more powerful disinfectant spray that is effective against the current virus.
- 1 cup filtered water
- ½ cup vodka (or rubbing alcohol), 40% alcohol content or higher
- ½ cup white vinegar
- 15-30 drops essential oils of choice
Please see April 2020 updated ingredients below to make this antiviral according to the CDC guidelines
Directions
- Legit, just pour in a spray bottle and shake.
- No seriously, you’re done
Antiviral disinfectant spray measurements
October 2020 Update: The CDC recommends disinfectants contain 70% alcohol to be antiviral. They have also found 3% hydrogen peroxide to be effective on the current virus.
To make this disinfectant hold to that standard, use the following measurements:
Antiviral Disinfectant with Isopropyl Alcohol:
- 1 1/2 cups isopropyl/rubbing alcohol, or high-proof vodka like Everclear, 90-99%
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 30 drops antiviral essential oils
Antiviral Disinfectant with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol:
- 1 1/2 cups isopropyl/rubbing alcohol, or high-proof vodka like Everclear, 70%
- 30 drops antiviral essential oils
Antiviral Disinfectant with Hydrogen Peroxide:
- 1 1/2 cups hydrogen peroxide, 3%
- 30 drops antiviral essential oils
*hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleaching agent. Be careful to avoid spraying colored fabric.
NOTE: No added water is needed for the antiviral disinfecting spray so that the alcohol or peroxide stays at the CDC recommendation.
Vinegar dilutes the higher percentages slightly, and is preferred over water as it lingers longer to fight other bacteria.
Read next: The Best DIY Foaming Hand Soap
Top 10 Antiviral Essential Oils
These are 10 of the most powerful antiviral oils, but they’re my favorite because of their versatility.
To Use Your DIY Disinfecting Spray
Spray any surface you want to disinfect with a fine mist and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes. If desired, wipe away any left-over dampness with a dry cloth. You can also spray it and leave it.
Note: I would be careful spraying anything that alcohol could destroy. Some furniture finishes would do better if wiped down after spraying (I make sure to let the disinfectant sit on my dining room table for 5 minutes and then wipe with a cloth after so that it doesn’t damage the finish).
Can you use this DIY disinfectant spray for toys?
Absolutely! If made with vodka, this disinfecting spray is a great option for disinfecting kids’ toys. Especially because it is safer than most name brands.
If using vodka (not rubbing or isoproyl alcohol), this is a DIY disinfectant spray that is safe even for baby toys where they put them in their mouths.
Gently mist toys and allow the spray to sit for 10 minutes.
For baby toys that will be frequently going in a little’s mouth, wipe the toys after the 10 minutes is up with a dry rag to get any residue off and you’re set.
I use this disinfectant on my older son’s Legos and don’t bother to wipe them off.
Related Post: All Natural Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
I use this disinfectant spray on toys (especially the play kitchen toys…my kids just can’t seem to pretend to eat the play food), toilet seats, light switches, counters, tabletops, chairs, door handles, buttons/remotes, and the diaper changing station.
Pretty much everywhere.
I keep a bottle in a cabinet in each bathroom and a bottle in the kitchen/general area.
Now you can make your own safe, effective disinfecting spray. Because kids are gross…Adorably (and not so adorably) so. 😉
Read next: The Best DIY Foaming Hand Soap
Hi, what proof of vodka do you use for this recipe? I purchased the Skol brand… is that good enough ?
Fantastic question. Skol should work PERFECTLY! 80 proof (40% alcohol) is a very effective germ killer, so that’s what I try to find.
Since research shows the oils themselves kill viruses and bacteria, why so much alcohol or vinegar?
Great question! The potency of the oils would be diluted to a much less effective state if they were watered down without the added boost of alcohol and/or vinegar. You can absolutely do a high concentrate of oils to water, but this is extremely expensive, as I’m sure you can imagine! This DIY is effective AND less expensive.
Can witch hazel be used in place of vodka. And can it be paired up with rubbing alcohol
Thanks for your question! From my understanding of research, witch hazel’s bacteria-fighting power mostly comes from the alcohol within the witch hazel. Witch hazel itself is an astringent, making skin tissue constrict, which helps fight skin infection. As a disinfectant for household items, it doesn’t seem very effective. It won’t HURT anything by using it, though.
Rubbing alcohol can be used to replace all of the vodka, or you can double the vinegar. 🙂
I also mixed the alcohol with water, vinegar and oils . Can I use that to clean my kitchen counters and mix a new mix of just alcohol, vinegar and oils for disinfecting? Also, is this recipe good for disinfecting the air? Like you would with Lysol?
Thank you!
Vanessa, thanks for reaching out! I use it to clean my kitchen counters and have no issues. It should be fantastic for that. I also use it on most fabric without a problem. It’s always best to test a small area first.
I don’t know how effective Lysol is at cleansing air (I’d be so interested in reading research on it’s effectiveness), but essential oils can be very beneficial in the air. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to spray this disinfectant in the air, but I can’t vouch for how effective that is (with that being said, you don’t want to purposely inhale the spray, due to the alcohol, just as I’m sure you wouldn’t with spraying Lysol. Spray and walk away ;)). I use anti-viral essential oils in a diffuser to help with purifying the air. My favorite blend right now is this DIY Thieves.
Thank you so much for the reply! What antiviral oils would be safe around dogs?
Vanessa, I absolutely love the questions!
A few great essential oils that are potent antivirals, but are also known to be dog-friendly, would be peppermint, basil, and cinnamon essential oils. Lavender is also known to be safe for dogs, but isn’t quite as high in antiviral properties (still a fantastic one to use, though!).
For a room spray, I suggest using distilled water and either witch hazel or an alcohol (like vodka) to help the essential oil “mix” with the water. You can find the recipe I use by going here.
Have a wonderful Friday. And keep the questions coming if you have more! 🙂
Is this spray safe for cloth toys as well??
I would test a small part to make sure, but I spray cloth toys with it all the time 🙂
What about on upholstery furniture?
Also what % of rubbing alcohol do you recommend. I can only find 71% in this pandemic of a week.
I have not had any issues with spraying upholstery furniture, but I would highly recommend testing a small area first. I spray it over my couch arms regularly without any discoloration (those couch arms see a lot of life here!).
71% should work perfectly here. Anything over 40% in this recipe is still a powerful antibacterial. However, the CDC recommends 60% or more alcohol content for it to be antiviral. I would reduce the amount of water and add more isopropyl/rubbing alcohol so that it stays over that 60%. Vinegar is actually scientifically shown to kill flu virus, so it should play a good role. The essential oils also add a powerful antiviral component, so I would say the alcohol content isn’t actually as necessary as stated. But to play it safe right now in this madness, use more alcohol 😉
I’ll update the recipe to include CDC antiviral qualifications.
Vinegar is corrosive to natural stone and non coated metals so be sure to check finishes!
Very helpful comment! Thank you!
In this day and age I need to make my own cleaning agents
Mahalo (thank you in Hawaiian). I wil make a few bottles of these for my office and station the bottles in strategic areas so everyone can participate in sanitizing areas. BTW, adults are gross too. Just saying…
Aloha
You’re welcome! That’s a fantastic idea.
I laughed out loud reading your comment–true! Adults are pretty gross, too haha!
I Believe in natural products for home use. Impressed with your ideas. Well done and thank you.
I’m so glad! Thank you for taking time to comment 🙂
So, I’ve heard that 1/4 cup of bleach with 1 gallon of distilled water is the same as Lysol… is this correct? With the Corona virus supply’s are low in all stores. So I guess my question is, Is bleach to strong?
Thanks for your question, but I’m not sure if bleach in water is the same as Lysol. I know bleach is an effective cleaner, but it has a lot of potentially dangerous side effects. Bleach will also lighten items with fabric on them. I choose not to use it in my home, personally. Everyone should research and do what they think is best here, though 🙂
These articles are much more thorough on the dangers of bleach and what ways to best use them if needed:
https://draxe.com/health/dangers-of-bleach/
https://wellnessmama.com/59871/avoid-chlorine-in-the-home/
I hope this helps! Let me know if I can better clarify.
Just to make sure> I’m mixing both alcohol and vinegar to make this disinfecting spray
Yes, both. They do not have an adverse reaction together (like how bleach and vinegar are big no-no to combine). Alcohol and vinegar work well together. Alcohol is a more powerful antiviral, but it evaporates quickly. The vinegar will linger longer and continue as an antimicrobial, which is a plus to using both in this recipe.
Good explanation thank you.
I appreciate that, Jenny! Thank YOU!
I just want to say thank you for this diy on disinfectant spray. In a time when it can’t be found anywhere locally, and online people are price gouging. This is truly a blessing.
THANK YOU , Debbe
Oh Debbe, you are welcome. It’s a crazy time, but I’m grateful to be able to offer this resource. Thank YOU for taking the time to offer encouragement. You’ve blessed me with your words today.
Thanks for sharing 🙏
You’re very welcome. I’m glad to share. <3
looking forward to using this spray!
Thank you for leaving a comment! It’s really good to have something effective to make when shelves are bare (or we want something more natural).
I forwarded the disinfectants to my boos and coworkers. My boss wants to know where on CDC’s web site does it say the disinfectant works?
That’s fantastic. Here’s the CDC recommendations and guidelines that this disinfectant (the antiviral version) meets 🙂
Wish you the best!
Can I use distilled water?
To be clear about the 1/4 cup filtered water (omit if less than 90% alcohol)
only If my alcohol is 90% do I add the water. If alcohol is 70% or less I leave it out?
Yes, distilled water will be great in this!
If the alcohol content is less than 90%, leave the water out. If it’s 90% or higher, you can add the water or vinegar. The CDC is saying 70% alcohol for antiviral, so if you have 70% isoprpoyl, just add essential oils and nothing else.
Can 150 proof white rum be used, can’t find alcohol. Thank you for all of the information, what a relief.
Awesome question. As rubbing alcohol is scarce these days, I’ve been getting creative, too! Rum works, but 150 proof is about 75% alcohol, so you’ll want to use it straight to follow CDC guidelines for an antiviral. Just add in essential oils, if you would like. Because rum is not clear, I’d also be careful to not spray it on light fabric, as it may discolor some things. It should be fine on most other hard surfaces, though.
Does this spray have to be in a glass spray bottle? Or can a plastic one be used? Thank you
Glass is recommended because the alcohol can corrode the plastic. Essential oils are also best kept in glass to maintain quality and effectiveness. If you happen to have a 16-32oz glass vinegar bottle, you can use that and transfer the spray nozzle from a plastic bottle onto it!
Hello, I was wondering if i could use this spray on a yoga mat.
Lalita, that should work fine 🙂 I use it on a foam play mat without a problem. Just spray it down, let it sit for a few minutes, and then wipe it dry. Wish you the best!
is this okay to use on soft surfaces, like couches?
I do. I use it on my fabric couch (especially the arms). I’d recommend testing it on a small, less obvious part of the couch first to make sure. 🙂
Thank you for this recipe! Do you know if we use Everclear, which is 95% alcohol 190 proof, would we decrease the amount of Everclear and increase the water? Or would we use the same amounts we would if using (Skol) Vodka? Thank you!
You’re so welcome. Great question, Jenn! I would use it in place of the antiviral amount of isopropyl alcohol:
1 1/2 cups Everclear
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons white vinegar (or you could use water if you’d like to omit vinegar)
30 drops antiviral essential oils
I hope this helps!
Hi, I’m definitely going to try this.
can this recipe be used in pets(dogs)??
Thank you in advance
Hi Janny, this spray is safe to use around animals, depending on the essential oils you use. These are the antiviral essential oils that are safe for use around cats and dogs: rosemary, basil, oregano.
Ones to avoid: peppermint, clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, tea tree, thieves, and citrus.
Of course, still wipe the disinfectant well after letting it sit for 5-10 minutes. It’s not safe for animals to lick when using this high of a content of alcohol. Let me know if I can be of more help!
Thanks. I knew not to use peppermint when I clean for my friend that has a cat. I didn’t know some of these other ones were not ok to use. My friend hates when I clean with vinegar, I guess I will go buy a bottle of vodka.
Patty, I’m glad this was helpful!
A friend of mine hates the smell of cleaning with vinegar, too. She uses all alcohol and it works for her.
I want to make some sprays. Thank you.
I’ve got a bottle in most rooms now haha Thanks for your comment! I hope you are well.
Do you still add the 1 cup filtered water to the stronger mixtures?
For it to be antiviral according to the CDC, you omit the water for the stronger disinfectant spray.
Vinegar is scientifically shown to linger longer than alcohol and continues to kills other bacteria and viruses (like the flue virus, not our current crisis virus), so I suggest using vinegar to cut the strenth of 90-99% alcohol. If you have 70% alcohol, you won’t add anything to dilute it.
Let me know if I need to clarify something better!
Hi,
I have a question regarding the CDC recommendation. If I run out of the rubbing alcohol, can I still use vodka?
Great question. Most vodka you can buy in the store is only 40% alcohol, so it doesn’t meet the CDC requirement (70% alcohol) to be antiviral. It does, however, work for a regular antibacterial disinfecting spray. With added antiviral essential oils, it is still very powerful and effective. But it isn’t CDC approved antiviral.
I hope that helps clarify. Let me know if you have more questions.
Can you double up the recipe if it’s a bigger bottle?
Absolutely! What kind of alcohol are you using? How big is the bottle? I’m happy to double check the measurements so that you’ll be a-ok 🙂
This is the way to go in our new way of living
I very much agree <3
Can I make this without the essential oils? I don’t have any on hand. Thanks!
Absolutely! It’s still very effective with just the alcohol and vinegar.
Wish you the best, Heidi!
Thanks!
Could you use the spray mix for making cleaning wipes
Tonya,Yes, it should work well for that.
very informative and helpful. Thanks for sharing and caring. May God bless you
I’m so glad you found this helpful. Thank you for your encouragement and blessing. That means so much.
Hi, Can I use apple cider vinegar to replace White vinegar?
You can, but apple cider vinegar hasn’t shown the same level of effectiveness as white vinegar for cleaning. You could very easily omit the vinegar and replace it with water or more alcohol, depending on what percentage of alcohol you’re using.
Let me know if I can better clarify!
Is it necessary to use dark bottles? I see you show them but didn’t say they are a must. I read that you should but i see other ads that just have regular bottles.
Sophia, great question. The dark bottles are not a must, but they are preferred. UV light will break down the essential oils over time and lessen their effectiveness–this is why they come in amber or cobalt glass bottles to begin with. But if you keep a clear bottle in a cabinet, it should be ok if that’s what you have! And the alcohol and vinegar do not lose effectiveness 😉
Loved what you wrote. I will be making this tomorrow and for my classroom when I get back. Thank you so much.
Jennifer, thank you for your encouraging comment! I’m so glad you’re going to be making this. Hope you are healthy and safe <3
PS. I have a special spot in my heart for teachers--I taught first and second grade before staying home with my littles!
Can you tell me how long this will last in a glass bottle?
Hi Sarah, It’s very shelf stable, so I’d say at least two years (essential oils start to breakdown between 2-15 years). Mine never lasts longer than a couple months around here, though haha 🙂
Hope you are well!
With the new standards from cdc do you lustily use the water with the increased alcohol and vinegar? Or leave the water out?
Hi Teresa, with the CDC standards, yes, you omit the water.
Here’s the recipe depending on what alcohol you have:
-1 1/2 cups isopropyl/rubbing alcohol, 90-99%
-1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons white vinegar
-30 drops antiviral essential oils
or
-1 1/2 cups isopropyl/rubbing alcohol, 70%
-30 drops antiviral essential oils
I hope you are doing well 🙂
Thank you so much for this DIY….but can you please tell me a natural resources apart from Alocohol…we do not use Alcohol
Maria, thanks for your question! For CDC guidelines, the only other option is bleach (which I personally don’t use). Outside of our current crisis, I have made a low-grade disinfectant with just vinegar, water, and antiviral/antibacterial essential oils like Thieves (cinnamon, clove, rosemary, & lemon). Again, this does not meet CDC antiviral guidelines to be effective against viruses.
I use this natural all-purpose cleaner, and follow with the disinfectant spray.
Let me know if I can be of more help!
With the updated recipe, are we still adding the 1 cup of water? Just making sure. I’m using this and sharing with friends and coworkers! Such a life saver during this crazy time!
Never mind! I just saw someone else post a comment with the same question! Again, thank you SO much!!!
Kortny, awesome, I’m so glad you got it figured out! I’m so thankful for your encouragement and that this DIY can be a blessing. These are crazy times indeed. Hope you are safe and well <3
Arent you worried about spraying vodka on your children’s toys? My child has ASD and puts everything in her mouth….
Jayde, I think this is a very good question to ask. These are my thoughts based on much research, but I encourage you to research as well and find what you’re comfortable with:
I am comfortable with using the vodka on children’s toys. My 14 month old puts everything in her mouth, and vodka is actually one of the safest non-toxic options. Vodka dissipates very quickly, and any teeny-tiny amount of residue left is not harmful to be ingested. It also doesn’t release any harmful chemical by-products when spraying. This is not true of other toxic chemicals. I would never recommend spraying a toy and handing it straight back to the child. I always spray toys down either on a counter or during sleeping times, so that the disinfectant has enough time to actually disinfect, and can then dry/dissipate, and the remainder be wiped before a kiddo would potentially stick it in their mouth.
I hope this helps clarify. Please feel free to let me know if you have more questions!
This is awesome!! I work in home healthcare. Soooo I’m on the frontline so to speak. I’m tired of inhaling Lysol and Clorox wipe fumes. I have been searching for an alternative that is safe to spray myself down with and I’m talking head to toe between patients and before I go home. I have a lot of nurse friends looking for something to spray our scrubs down with too. I’m also germaphobic and don’t mind admitting it. My phobia has served me well. Lol! Thank you
Shonda, bless you!!! Thank you for caring for others right now. You certainly are on the frontlines. I’m soooo thankful that this DIY spray is helpful for you! Praying you stay safe and well.
what is the shelf life of the disinfecting spay
Hi Melinda, The shelf life is long because the alcohol and vinegar (if using) are shelf stable for years. The essential oils are the component that will break down quicker and be less effective over time. That can be between 2-15 years depending on the type of essential oil (or one year if it’s an old batch of EO) from what I understand. So theoretically this spray can last 1-15 years (pretty shockingly awesome!).
Let me know if you have any other questions 🙂
If I have the 70% alcohol can I use this recipe to meet CDC. After I made the mix I seen what you posted about just using alchohol. Also what hard surface is this safe on?
1 cup filtered water
½ rubbing alcohol
½ cup white vinegar
15-30 drops essential oils of choice
The CDC recommends 70% alcohol to be antiviral, so if you have a 70% alcohol, that means you’ll need to leave it undiluted. Essential oils can be added, but just leave out the water and vinegar 🙂
I use it on counters, doors, door handles, light switches, faucets, drawer handles, toilets, vinyl tile floor around toilet, etc. I haven’t had any surfaces with a bad reaction. Some wood finishes aren’t safe to leave it on. It’s best to spray a small indiscreet area first to test.
Also, as one person mentioned in the comments, “vinegar is corrosive to natural stone and non coated metals.”
I hope this helps! Let me know if I need to clarify 🙂
Sounds good! I’ll dump and start over.
Ellen, I’m sorry about that! You can always save a bottle of that mix you made for bathroom disinfectant. It’s very effective against a lot of dangerous bacteria. <3
I look forward to changing my household cleaners, I want my family to be safe.
Susie, that’s fantastic to hear. Yes! Go you.
Love this. Where did you get your glass btl from?
Hey Nicole! I got my glass bottles from Amazon (these exact ones). I have about 8 of them now *shock face* and they’ve worked really well.
So just alcohol and vinegar? No water?
Correct, if you have the 90-99% isopropyl, you would just add vinegar and no water. The CDC recommends 70% alcohol, so vinegar will dilute it, but will also add another layer of antibacterial that lingers longer than the alcohol (which dissipates at a faster rate). I hope that makes sense–just let me know if I need to clarify better!
Hope you are well <3
I missed this.
No problem! I don’t mind at all. Glad you found the answer!
I have 70% alcohol with a bay rum scent. It was all I could find. Can I use it to disinfect ? Can I also use it on a rug I have in my entrance hallway? Can I make hand sanitizer with it and aloe vera? Thank you.
Hi Virginia, yes, you can use bay rum scented alcohol to disinfect. If the bay rum is extracted from bay leaves, just be careful if you have pets 🙂 It should also be fine for hand sanitizer, like this recipe . As for the rug, my only concern would be the lingering fragrance from the bay rum scent. But if that’s not something that would bother you, it should be ok. If you’re concerned, try spraying a small corner first before spraying the whole thing.
I wish you the best!
Hi Melissa!
For the super antiviral mix am I supposed to add filtered water to fill the rest of the bottle or is it made without water? Just alcohol and vinegar? whoa.
Thanks (virtual hug),
Kaitlyn
Hi Kaitlyn! Yep! High-potency stuff. CDC isn’t messing around haha
6-foot-distance hugs to you! 😉
For the new recommendations can you no longer use vodka? If I can still use vodka what would the measurements be?
Hi Melanie, most vodka does not meet the CDC requirements to be antiviral. Generally, vodka is 40% alcohol, and the needed alcohol content according to the CDC is 70% alcohol. It is still a very effective disinfectant against bacteria, but does not meet new recommendations. I hope that helps to clarify.
Wish you the best!
As far as I know you can still buy the 180/190 proof Everclear in Wisconsin and North Dakota. That’s 90-95% alcohol, which isn’t a great idea for house parties, but would work just fine for disinfecting your house. 😉
nevermind, just saw that you addressed this farther down.
Yes! Everclear is so good for cleaning–I don’t think I’d ever be able to swallow that stuff haha
Really excited to try this! BUT since supplies are limited Rubbing Alcohol is hard to come by so I do not want to mess it up…
For the antiviral do you still use the cup of water from the original recipe?
Well I am not the first but I’m sure I will not be the last either… sorry for missing the above comments! 🤦♀️
Absolutely not a problem. This is on me! I’m going to update the post to help clarify. Thank you!!
Kelli, for the antiviral that meets CDC recommendations, you don’t add the water. It needs the high alcohol content 🙂
Hello,
All I have are plastic bottles. Can I use those instead of the glass bottels?
Michelle, in a pinch, you absolutely can! Alcohol can corrode the plastic after a while and essential oils stay more effective in dark glass bottles. But if you’re using up the disinfectant fairly quickly, and keeping it in a dark cupboard, it should be totally fine and maintain potency for a couple months.
Hi! Can Everclear still be used by the new CDC standards? Mine is 190 proof. Thanks. 🙂
Oh yes, Everclear would work great. 190 proof is about 98% alcohol, I believe. So you’ll add 1 1/2 cups Everclear and 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons white vinegar, plus any essential oils you want to use. <3
Yay, that’s perfect! Thank you SO much!
-Kelli
You’re so welcome, Kelli!
Just wondering if you could use this same recipe to make disinfecting wipes too? I like to have spray and also wipes on hand for a quick wipe down. Thanks! 😊
Stacy, yes, this solution would definitely work for wipes! I actually will have a post about this soon, but coffee filters make a handy and cheap wipe (very similar to disinfecting wipes at stores for carts). I also have made disinfecting wipes with wash cloths like these for something with more scrubbing “oomph.”
Hi, thank you so much for this post, life saver. So i can use the same recipe to make desinfecting wipes? Can i do the wipes with paper towel? And also can i use it as hand wipes. Thank you in advance for your response.
Hi Vanessa!
This can be used to make wipes. Coffee filters actually work really well since they’re fairly tough! However, this would be a bit harsh for hand wipes, I think. This hand sanitizer is probably a better option for that.
I am definitely interested in disenfectant product. I am a cancer patient with NO immune system. Thank you!
You are welcome. My heart goes out to you–Stay safe! I wish you the best <3
Can you use grain alcohol in place of vodka?
High-alcohol content grain alcohol, like Everclear, works GREAT in this disinfecting spray *thumbs up*
I have cats. I do use some essential oils for my diabetic foot pain, but I don’t know if it is a good idea to spray them around the house. I have been using hydrogen peroxide, white vinegar, and alcohol for disinfectant. I cleaned my washing machine with 4 cups of white distilled vinegar a nd 1 cup of baking soda while it was filling up. I had to end up running the cycle again and used a cup of bleach. Then I scrubbed out all the crevices. It didn’t smell anymore. I know bleach isn’t the best, but the bacteria that came out of that machine was really Nasty!! I clean it once a month. All that nasty makes your clothes smell!! I guess l will try the aloe Vera gel and alcohol recipe for hand soap!!
Pam, that’s great!
Yes, making sure to not spray around pets is a good idea. Rosemary and lemongrass are two that are cat-safe if you end up wanting to use essential oils in a spray.
Thanks for the tip about your washing machine! Great idea to clean it monthly.
What kind of essential oils do you use (brand) and where do u get them from???
I just recently started using essential oils in the diffuser and I bought them from Target, but i have a friend who gets them from young living. Is there a difference with the essential oils and do they need to be pure and not store bought???
Awesome question, Amanda! This is the kind of stuff I could talk about for hours haha!
I’m not devoted to one particular brand, but my current favorite is Zongle Therapeutics. I buy it HERE.
What you want to look for in essential oils is:
1. Therapeutic grade
2. Italian name listed
3. No other ingredients listed (no carrier oils)
4. Brand website states it’s GC/MS tested
5. Organic when possible
This will be the most powerful & pure essential oils with the least chance to cause allergic reactions.
Zongle therapeutics meets all of these criteria, but is not an MLM. That means it’s way more cost-effective than Young Living or doTERRA from my experience.
Like I said, I love talking about this, so feel free to ask more questions or shoot me an e-mail 🙂
Thank you so much for adding the info about some essential oils being toxic to dogs and cats. I was making this to spray with tea tree oil and using it where I am keeping 5 puppies. I had no idea! You saved them!! Hero!
Oh phew! So glad!
I’m thankful my sister mentioned it to me once about tea tree oil! I steer clear of my dog’s crate with that stuff 🙂
Can I still use Vodka or does it have to be Alcohol
Hi Ana, It depends. If you want to make antiviral level spray, you’ll need alcohol that’s at least 70% alcohol. Many of the vodka’s you buy in stores are only 40%. If you can find vodka that’s 70% or higher you’re set!
Just wondering where the CDC or the EPA lists essential oils that have been specifically approved for use against COVID-19. You list ten, but I can’t find any of them in either place. Maybe I’m just looking in the wrong spot?
Hi Keara!
The CDC itself doesn’t recommend essential oils for COVID19 simply because it’s a new virus and there hasn’t been substantial research on their effectiveness against it. However, I’m still opting to add them because research DOES show that they’re effective against harmful bacteria and other virus’. The best thing we can do now is try to stay healthy, so I’m gunning for ALL the harmful things so that I don’t compromise my immune system. 😉 I hope that helps clarify. Let me know if you have more questions!
Question… what if all I have is 50% rubbing alcohol? Can I double up on it and use it?
Hi Keri, thanks for your question! Unfortunately the alcohol content won’t get any higher than 50%, because the solution itself is diluted. It is still a great antibacterial, but the CDC recommends 70% to be effective against viruses.
Thank you! I will have to try to find the 70% alcohol, want to make sure it will kill viruses.
Thank you! Looking forward to making and using this.
You are welcome! I wish you the very best.
I’m hoping to get clarification on the CDC GUIDLINES. Just alcohol and no water? Am I reading this right? Or is it the same amount of water as the original recipe with the alcohol measurement below? It’s impossible to find rubbing alcohol these days and the price of 70% vodka is $$$$ in Canada so I would love to add water to this recipe if I can but I don’t want to compromise the recipe.
Hi Tammy, yes, the CDC recommends 70% alcohol to be effective against the new virus. That means no water or vinegar if it’s under 90% alcohol volume. If you have 90% isopropyl, you add vinegar to dilute slightly but also lend antibacterial power.
It’s definitely hard to get hands on potent stuff these days! I feel for you. We haven’t found it many places, either. I definitely have been washing more down with all-purpose spray. I’ve been disinfecting a bit more sparingly, focusing on high traffic spots. We’re all washing our hands more frequently, and not touching anything until we’ve washed our hands after going to the grocery store, etc.
I’m very interest in learning about safe and natural cleaners
Flora, that’s fantastic. It’s amazing to see how powerful natural cleaners can be–and that many are inexpensive!
Dear ladies,
I am a scientist, and I use to make my cleaning materials with vinegar or lemon juice/citric acid. They are fantastic cleaners BUT NOT desinfectants.
for Desinfectants: 70% alcohol – or 10% peroxide
nothing else. and in times of pandemic this is important!!
great site !!!
I could not find any rubbing alcohol anywhere, so ended up getting everclear which is 190 proof. Will that work? And if does it change amount used??
That will work great! This is one of the best and safest alcohol options you can use right now. 190 proof means it’s about 95% alcohol. So you’ll add 1 1/2 cups everclear with 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons of vinegar and any essential oils, if using.
Let me know if you have any other questions. Wish you the best!
Wow! Thank you! This was a fantastic tutorial. I LOVE your blends. I feel like I have some options now!
Jenny, you are so welcome! Thank you for taking time to encourage me today. It’s much appreciated 🙂 Hope you are safe and well!
Hi,
What do you recomend for leather car furnture..
I would suggest using this spray, but be sure to wipe it off after 5 minutes. To keep the leather from drying out, rub some leather oil onto the car furniture every week or so. I use coconut oil with orange essential oil on my car seats. Let me know if I can be of more help!
If you sell how can I buy?
Sorry, Lucy, I do not sell this spray. 🙂 I wish you the best!
How long will it keep in the bottle? Thank you for this amazing idea!!
Gina, awesomely enough, this stuff will last 9 months to 2 years, depending on how old the essential oils are. Hope you are safe and well!
Hello, I have not been able to find rubbing alcohol in my country Trinidad as there is a shortage of this can mentholated spirit be used or hydrogen peroxide, in your recipe as substitutes
Hi Patrice, there certainly is an unprecedented shortage going on! From what I’ve read, methylated spirits can be used to disinfect, as the alcohol content tends to be 90%. I would be careful spraying it on wood surfaces, though. Hydrogen peroxide is showing effective in killing the current virus, according to NCBI (you can view the article here). You can make it just by pouring 3% hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle and add essential oils of choice. Hydrogen peroxide, as you probably know, bleaches fabric, so it’s not a good option for upholstery or colored bedding. I wish you the very best. Please let me know if you have any other questions 🙂
The NCBI article was written in 1977. It does NOT pertain to this strain of the virus which is why it’s called COVID-19. In general, hydrogen peroxide is effective but in the commercial strength cleaner level. I clean with peroxide all the time but not to disinfect for COVID.
Hello there, I appreciate your concerns, however I wanted to share some science based resources. I have been reading current research on disinfectants that are tested against covid-19, and hydrogen peroxide, even at a more diluted percentage than 3% you can buy in stores, is showing effective at deactivating the virus. It is now being recommended as a covid-19 disinfectant. You can read this article about the new research, and this one about new recommendations for disinfecting, which the antiviral sprays fall under. I hope you stay well.
I am running low on Lysol. Its hard to find now. I need to be extra careful simce my daughter has severe asthma. We found out she is allergic to alochol when she was 2 by drinking someone’s drink. How can I make one this so I can spray out bedding and house. Thanks.
Hello Tamaiya! I want to make sure I understand: are you trying to find a substitute for the alcohol in this DIY disinfectant recipe? Or are you asking if it’s safe to use on bedding? Alcohol is the main disinfecting ingredient, but is also found in Lysol. If you’re looking for an option that doesn’t contain alcohol, plain 3% hydrogen peroxide is showing effective against the virus. It does bleach colored fabrics, though. The above disinfecting spray recipe is safe to use on bedding. Please let me know if I can help further or clarify anything 🙂
Do you know if I can use the Thieves Household Cleaner in place of the essential oil with your mixture of vinegar & alcohol?
Hi Miranda, I would not suggest using the cleaner with the vinegar, as they essentially cancel each other out. You could absolutely use it in place of the vinegar, though! It would be a great disinfecting all-purpose cleaner that way.
This is the best DIY cleaning method I’m going to try this out
Thanks, Debra! It’s been a life saver for me.
🙂 Thanks for taking time to leave a comment!
Soo glad i found THIS!! Especially NOW during the covid-19. Thank you soo very much!
Laura, you are very welcome! Thank YOU for taking time to comment and encourage me. Let me know if you have any questions.
Take care!
I do similar cleaning with vinegar and water love the essential oil idea.
Angela, thanks for your comment! That’s fantastic! Vinegar has been scientifically shown to kill flu viruses–it’s pretty impressive! There isn’t research on it’s effectiveness against the current virus, though. I’m interested to see how it does as more research is done.
I love adding essential oils to my cleaning recipes–they kick it up a notch 🙂
Thank you so much for this information. It was simple, concise, and very informative. Bless your heart for sharing this. What type of spray bottle do you suggest…glass or plastic? I also loved that you suggested a few essential oil blends and included the amounts needed. I’m going to use them in my diffuser as well to help with the air quality in my car and home. Again thank you for sharing I gotta this.🤗🙏🏽
Nikita, you are so welcome. I”m very glad it was helpful to you 🙂 Thank you for taking time to encourage & bless me this morning! It touched my heart.
As for the type of spray bottle: I recommend a colored glass bottle if you’re using vinegar or essential oils in your disinfecting mix. Vinegar is known to breakdown plastics. Essential oils can also breakdown plastic over time, so glass is best. The colored glass is important for essential oils because they become less effective quickly if they’re exposed to UV rays. Storing them in an amber or cobalt blue glass bottle will extend their effectiveness.
Please feel free to reach out with any other questions!
One more question 🙂
Rather than diffusing, can you mix distilled water and lavender oil to disinfect the air?
Thank you so much!
Can you use this on office Keyboards, chairs, and desks???
Yes you can 🙂 If the desk chair is fabric, I’d test it on a small area first. I’ve never had a problem with fabrics, though.
This is a great cleaner! I’m looking forward to using it in my home. Can I substitute lemon juice for the essential oils?
Hi Michelle! Great question. There are two things to keep in mind when using lemon juice. First, Lemon juice has the fruits’ natural sugars in it, so it can actually get sticky if you spray and leave it. If you are wiping up the disinfectant after waiting a few minutes, this won’t be an issue. The second thing to be aware of is that lemon juice can have a whitening effect. So I would test in on a small area before spraying over everything 🙂
Thank you very much!! My asthma has been activated since I’ve been having to use more cleaning products… and my husband doesn’t seem to get it. Yesterday he came home with a few cleaning products (ALL containing Clorox). So, I’m definitely going to return them asap. I want to try to do the diy version of disinfectant. I have a question, if I use fresh lemons or oranges will that ber ok?
Hi Jennifer! I’m so sorry about your asthma flaring up. It’s pretty shocking how irritating normal cleaning supplies can be to our bodies. I’d rather not compromise health for the sake of health haha Obviously I’m with ya.
Fresh lemons and oranges are best when they can be rinsed from the surface (natural sticky sugars and such). This disinfectant is effective without the essential oils, they’re just an added bonus. You can either leave it without, OR you could add lemon or orange peel to the bottle. It will naturally pull the oils from the peel into the spray.
Thanks for the information, i am bookmarking it for future updates.
I’m going to have to try this disinfecting spray out! I love the smell of rosemary, so I’ll probably use that essential oil. I’m curious to know if you have used this on carpet? One of my kids has a sensitive stomach, and I’m always calling up my local carpet cleaner to clean and disinfect my carpets. This disinfectant spray would be awesome to have on hand for my carpets after any vomit accidents.
Hello,
So is the first recipe that contains water a disinfectant or a cleaner? Because the addition of the second recipe makes me wonder about the efficacy of the first recipe. However the first recipe is the one I’m more interested in since it would be the cheaper option and I want to spray it on EVERYTHING (dramatizing, lol).
Emily, hahaha! I can relate to wanting to spray everything!!
The first recipe is a disinfectant, but it is low-grade. It is not effective against covid, according to the CDC. It has essential oils and vinegar, though, so it IS still effective against the flu virus and many germs.
Right now I like my disinfectant strong, so for a budget choice I opt to go with 70% isopropyl alcohol from $1 store, topped with a bit of white vinegar and germ-busting essential oils and call it a day.
Hope this helps!
Can I do 30 drops of lemon juice instead of essential oil?
Emily, great question! I would not use lemon juice in place of essential oil. It will leave your sprayed surface very sticky. You can omit the lemon eo as the alcohol and vinegar will be highly effective on their own.