How to Make a Natural Disinfectant

Co-authored by Hunter Rising Medically reviewed by Susan Stocker

Last Updated: July 24, 2024 Approved

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Many commercially made cleaning products are created with hazardous chemicals that can cause respiratory problems, skin irritations and can even pollute the air in your home. Instead of using these products, you can easily make a natural disinfectant at home using ingredients like vinegar, rubbing alcohol and essential oils, which help to reduce your exposure to chemicals while keeping your house as clean as store-bought disinfectants.

Note: Vinegar is not effective against the COVID-19 virus. Solutions with less than 60% alcohol are also not effective against the novel coronavirus. Use caution when making your own disinfectants, since it is difficult to ensure effectiveness.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Making Rubbing Alcohol and Hydrogen Peroxide-Based Disinfectants

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1
Use basic undiluted rubbing alcohol. Choose a product that has at least 70% alcohol content, or else it won’t effectively kill bacteria or viruses. Put the rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle so you easily apply it to any surface.
- This cleaning solution should be effective against coronavirus.
- Do not dilute your rubbing alcohol with water since it is easy to make an error and end up with a percentage that would be ineffective!
2
Make a herbal rubbing alcohol spray. Pour 10-30 drops of thyme or another essential oil of your choice into an 8 fluid ounces (240 ml) glass spray bottle. Fill the rest of the spray bottle with rubbing alcohol that has at least 60% alcohol content. Shake the bottle to mix the ingredients and store it in a cupboard or pantry.^{[1]
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- This cleaner is also effective to use for the novel coronavirus.
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3
Use a vinegar and hydrogen peroxide combination. Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide work well to disinfect, but they should not be combined in a single container as they make a peracetic acid which can be hazardous. Instead, add undiluted white vinegar to one spray bottle and 3% hydrogen peroxide to another.^{[2]
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- You cannot use this cleaner to combat against coronavirus.
- To use, clean a surface, then spray it with one mixture, let it sit for about 5 minutes, then wipe with a clean cloth and spray with the other. Let it sit for 5 minutes and then wipe with another clean cloth.
- It does not matter if you start with the vinegar or with the rubbing alcohol.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making Vinegar-Based Disinfectants

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1
Make a basic vinegar-based spray. In a standard-sized glass spray bottle, add 1 part water, 1 part vinegar and 5-15 drops of 100% essential oil or lemon oil. You can use whichever essential oil whose scent you prefer, or customize the scent according to what room in your home you are cleaning.
- Vinegar-based disinfectants will not work to disinfect surfaces from viruses, including the novel coronavirus.
- Lemon essential oil is traditionally used to clean the kitchen, as the lemon scent can neutralize strong kitchen smells.
- Tea tree and eucalyptus oil are great for neutralizing bathroom odors.
- You may prefer to use milder smelling essential oils such as chamomile or vanilla in the parts of your houses where you are not worried about eliminating odors.
- Essential oils can sometimes react with plastic, which is why you should use a glass spray bottle.
2
Make disinfectant wipes. If you want to make disinfectant wipes rather than a spray, follow the same recipe as if making a basic vinegar spray, but instead of putting the ingredients in a spray bottle, put them instead in a large glass jar and swirl them to combine. Cut 15-20 pieces of cloth into 10 in (25 cm) squares and place them inside the jar of cleaner.^{[3]
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- These wipes do not disinfect surfaces contaminated with coronavirus.
- Press down the cloths inside the glass jar so that they are submerged and can soak up the cleaner. Then place the lid on the top of the jar and store the wipes in a cupboard or pantry.
- To use the wipes, take out a wipe and wring it out to remove excess cleaner, then use it to wipe surfaces clean.
3
Make a vinegar and baking soda spray. In a clean bowl or bucket, add 4 cups (950 ml) of hot water, ¹⁄₄ cup (59 ml) of white vinegar, and 2 tablespoons (28.8 g) of baking soda. Mix until the baking soda dissolves, then cut a lemon in half and squeeze both halves into the solution. Drop both rinds of the lemon into the mixture and wait for it to cool.^{[4]
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- Vinegar and baking soda are not effective against COVID-19.
- Once cooled, add 4 drops of lemon essential oil or the essential oil of your choice. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve to remove any lemon pulp, seeds or rind, then transfer the mixture into a spray bottle.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using the Disinfectant Spray

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Disinfecting does not clean the surface or remove dirt or any other buildup, so it’s important to thoroughly clean the surface before disinfecting. Clean with a natural or organic cleaner if you are looking to avoid harsh chemicals.
Shake the spray thoroughly to make sure that all the ingredients of the spray are mixed and that the spray will be effective.
Hold the spray bottle of natural disinfectant an arm’s length from the surface you need to disinfect and spray thoroughly. Spray all the surfaces you are disinfecting if you are disinfecting multiple surfaces.
Wait for about 10 minutes to let the disinfectant sit and more effectively attach to and eliminate germs.
After 10 minutes, wipe the disinfected surface with a microfiber cloth. If you’ve cleaned multiple surfaces in a kitchen or bathroom, use a separate cloth for each surface to avoid contamination.

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Expert Q&A

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Question

What's the best non-toxic, natural disinfectant?

Chris Willatt
House Cleaning Professional
Chris Willatt is a House Cleaning Professional based in Denver, Colorado. Chris is the owner of Alpine Maids, a cleaning agency that he founded in 2015. Chris is on a mission to elevate what it means to be a cleaning professional and has built up Alpine Maids with that goal in mind. Chris has been featured in USA Today, Forbes, and Readers Digest. Alpine Maids received Angie's List Super Service Award for three years in a row from 2016-2018. They were also awarded Colorado's "Top Rated Local House Cleaning" Award in 2018 and were featured on the Inc. 5000 Company List.

Chris Willatt

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

It's actually extremely hard to find a disinfect that's both natural and non-toxic. Peroxide is kind of your only eco-friendly, non-toxic option, but even that can be dangerous depending on how you use the product.

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Question

How do you use homemade disinfectant?

Chris Willatt
House Cleaning Professional
Chris Willatt is a House Cleaning Professional based in Denver, Colorado. Chris is the owner of Alpine Maids, a cleaning agency that he founded in 2015. Chris is on a mission to elevate what it means to be a cleaning professional and has built up Alpine Maids with that goal in mind. Chris has been featured in USA Today, Forbes, and Readers Digest. Alpine Maids received Angie's List Super Service Award for three years in a row from 2016-2018. They were also awarded Colorado's "Top Rated Local House Cleaning" Award in 2018 and were featured on the Inc. 5000 Company List.

Chris Willatt

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

Spray or wipe the disinfectant onto the surface you want to clean, then let it sit for 10 minutes or more before wiping it away.

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Question

How do you use natural disinfectant as a wipe?

Jonathan Tavarez
Cleaning Specialist
Jonathan Tavarez is a Cleaning Specialist based in Tampa, Florida. He is the Founder of Pro Housekeepers, a premium cleaning service catering to residential and commercial clients across the United States. Founded in 2015, Pro Housekeepers uses rigorous training methodologies to ensure high-quality cleaning standards. He has also since founded Germaphobix, a hygiene and sanitization product company, where he leveraged his expertise in the cleaning industry to make innovative products. Jonathan has over nine years of professional cleaning experience and has over six years of experience as the Communications Director for the United Nations Association, Tampa Bay. Jonathan earned a BS in Management and Marketing from the University of South Florida in 2012.

Jonathan Tavarez

Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

Spray your cleaner on a microfiber cloth, then wipe the surface in an S-pattern so you don't just spread the dirt around. Also, make sure you leave the surface wet long enough for the product to work—don't just wipe it off right away.

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Tips

If you are using essential oils in your spray, try to use a glass spray bottle, as essential oils can react with plastic.

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You can whip up a great smelling, homemade antibacterial spray by mixing half vinegar and half distilled water. Then, add your drops of cinnamon essential oil and 6 drops of orange essential oil. Smells great and very effective!

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Shake well before each application of the spray.

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