Simple Disinfectant

I know when I had a baby, it opened up a whole new world for me in terms of how I cleaned. I had always made a few of my own cleaning products, mostly to save money. But when I became pregnant, it became more about health.

Many conventional cleaners contain ingredients that can be harmful to us—and we breathe them in all the time. When I learned that professional cleaners have a higher risk of respiratory disease than the average person, it really spoke volumes to me. Health was no longer something I was doing just for myself, but for my family.

One of the first things I decided to replace was the general disinfectant I used for cleaning the bathroom and frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs.

A simple DIY disinfectant spray

What’s important when you’re making your own cleaner is that it actually helps reduce germs you don’t want living around your home.

This recipe uses isopropyl alcohol. For disinfecting, you’ll want a final alcohol concentration of at least 60%. You can use isopropyl alcohol straight from the bottle, but I find that harsh, so I prefer a slightly diluted spray using 91% isopropyl alcohol.

Ingredients

91% isopropyl alcohol
Water (distilled water is best for glass)
Essential oils (optional) for scent

Scent options (optional)

If you’d like a scent, add 15-30 total drops of essential oil per 16 oz spray bottle (start small—you can always add more).

Fresh + clean: lemon + eucalyptus (or lemon + tea tree)
Calming: lavender + a little lemon
Bright + herbal: rosemary + orange
Holiday: sweet orange + clove (use fewer clove drops—it’s strong)
My Personal Favorite: Lemon + Basil

Ratio

2:1 ratio of 91% isopropyl alcohol to water
(Example: 2/3 cup 91% isopropyl alcohol + 1/3 cup water = ~61% final concentration)

Directions

Add water to a clean spray bottle.
Add isopropyl alcohol.
(Optional) Add a few drops of essential oil.
Shake gently to combine.
Spray the surface until visibly wet.

Contact time (don’t skip this)

Contact time is very important if you want a homemade cleaner to be successful against bacteria and viruses. Make sure the surface stays visibly wet for 30 seconds to 1 minute before wiping or simply let it air dry.

Tips

If you want to use this cleaner on glass (it works beautifully), use distilled water so you don’t leave streaks behind.
Label your bottle with the ratio and date you made it.
Essential oils can be tough on some plastics and may leave residue on certain surfaces. If you notice cloudiness or streaks, skip the oils or use less.

Safety notes

Don’t use this on surfaces that can be damaged by alcohol (test a small area first).
Keep away from heat/flames (isopropyl alcohol is flammable).
Store out of reach of children.
This is a simple DIY option, not an EPA-registered disinfectant. When you need a product with specific kill claims (certain viruses, mold, etc.), follow the label on an EPA-registered disinfectant for that use case.

Journal articles on effectiveness

ŞAHİNER, A., HALAT, E., & YAPAR, E. A. (2019). Comparison of bactericidal and fungicidal efficacy of antiseptic formulations according to EN 13727 and EN 13624 standards. Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences, 49(5), 1564–1567. https://doi.org/10.3906/sag-1906-53

Keen, J. N., Austin, M., Huang, L. S., Messing, S., & Wyatt, J. D. (2010). Efficacy of soaking in 70% isopropyl alcohol on aerobic bacterial decontamination of surgical instruments and gloves for serial mouse laparotomies. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci., 49(6), 832–837. PMID: 21205449; PMCID: PMC2994051