Homemade Disinfecting Spray and Deodorizer Recipe With Essential Oils
Cold and flu season is coming, so I need to start disinfecting my home again. I use natural cleaners to clean my home because my son has asthma. It saves a lot of money and helps us all breathe a little easier. This disinfecting spray recipe is easy to make and works great to naturally kill germs.
I used vinegar, alcohol, distilled water, and tea tree oil to make my disinfecting spray.
I chose tea tree oil because it is antibacterial, but you can use other essential oils. I include other oils and blends in my blog post, so click over to see the other oils that I recommend.
You'll need:
1/2 cup vodka
1/2 cup white vinegar
3/4 cup distilled water
50 drops essential oils (I used tea tree oil)
Mix the vodka, white vinegar, and distilled water in a container. I used a large measuring cup.
Then add your essential oils.
Pour into a spray bottle. You can use a 16 ounce spray bottle, but I like smaller spray bottles. I have a little spray bottle that I keep in my car to disinfect my steering wheel, hands, and whatever else gets dirty.
I also use a 4-ounce spray bottle at home to hit door knobs and other areas.
To use, first clean the area to remove dirt and grease. Then spray and let sit for 10 minutes. You can wipe it dry, but you don't have to rinse this.
Be sure to visit my blog post for more essential oils, tips, and more information about how the ingredients work.
Comments
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Check out the alternative oils if you have pets - tea tree oil can be toxic.
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Hello, yes, always check the safety of essential oils for all pets, kids, pregnant or nursing women, and the elderly.
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The above mixture will not destroy corona virus. Vinegar is ineffective because it will not break down the fatty outer layer of the virus. Vodka or any spirits are also ineffective against Covid19. The strongest vodka is only 40% alcohol. You need at least 65% alcohol to kill corona virus. While tea tree oil when used full strength has been shown to have antibacterial and antiviral properties, there has been no research done on any essential oil and corona virus. You can go to the CDC website for Covid 19 to confirm this information.
The vodka also will not kill common cold and flu viruses, nor E. coli - the most common bathroom bacteria. There is just not enough alcohol in it. The vinegar will kill those- but it take 30 mins of the area remaining wet with full strength vinegar in order for that to happen. Vinegar is not recommended for use on metals- over time it will break them down. The warranties for most manufacturers of kitchen and bathroom faucets are voided if you use vinegar on them.
Best options for killing corona virus are: warm water and soap, or warm/hot water and detergent, isopropyl alcohol or any mixture that contains at least 65% isopropyl alcohol (undiluted Listerine is 65% alcohol), or a bleach solution of 1 part bleach to 5 parts water. The bleach solution will lose its effectiveness in about 24 hours, so you need to make a fresh batch each day. Peroxide works, but you need to use it in its pure form and that can damage your skin. With any cleaning mixture, don’t just spray and wipe. To kill corona virus you need to vigorously rub the area. The amount of time the area needs to be left wet depends on the solution. Isopropyl alcohol (70%) will destroy the virus in 30 seconds, bleach solution can take up to 5 mins and full strength peroxide, 6-8 minutes.
So while Vinegar will kill common cold and flu viruses, as well as E. coli, it will not destroy corona virus. As far as vodka- save it for cocktails.
We all want to protect our families and ourselves from this deadly pandemic.
Stay safe!
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
I don't have alcoholic beverages in my home. What can I use instead of Vodka ?