These days the demand for disinfectants and sanitizers have increased many folds and you may notice these products are hardly available on store shelves. Learn how to make this easy DIY disinfectant spray to easily disinfect doorknobs, handles, shopping carts and so many more surfaces while on the go.

COVID-19 has got many people scared and searching for products to keep them safe from what the WHO has now officially classified as pandemic. The best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is to wash your hands regularly with soap and water as soap is able to make the virus inactive.

People are making use of disinfectant sprays more than ever to prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria in their homes and offices. Right now, is the perfect time to make your own disinfectant spray at home which is super-duper easy and affordable.

Make sure to have atleast 70% alcohol in your disinfectant otherwise it will not be effective as per various studies and guidelines.

Difference between Cleansing and Disinfecting: Many people confuse between cleanser and disinfectant.

A cleanser is not a disinfectant and a disinfectant is not a cleanser.

A cleanser will remove dirt from a surface but it doesn’t kill germs. Similarly, a disinfectant will kill germs but it will not remove soils and stains from surfaces. Therefore, you first need to cleanse the surface with a cleanser and then disinfect to kill the germs.

Why you should make this DIY Disinfectant spray:

• Its super effective. As per the guidelines the alcohol content has to be more than 70%
• Its cheap to make at home. Ethanol is widely available at pharmacies and grocery stores for less than $1 for a litre
• Smells wonderful. You can add essential oils for their aroma as well as anti-viral properties
• Supplies are easy to find. These days disinfectant sprays are totally out of stock everywhere. It uses only 3 ingredients which are easily available at pharmacies and grocery stores
• You know the ingredients. Lot of disinfectants have harmful ingredients in them, by making one by yourself you know exactly what is in it.

Where to use this Disinfectant spray: You can use this on most of the surfaces. We use is on most touch areas like Door knobs, sink handles, refrigerator handles, keys, shopping carts, outdoor bells, mobile phones, (after spraying on a tissue and then wipe clean them)

How to make Disinfectant spray:

This disinfectant spray requires only 3 Ingredients each with an important role and is super easy to make:

Ingredients:

Instructions:

Pour 75ml Ethanol in the spray bottle using a funnel. Next add essential oils (we have used essential oils which are known for their anti-viral properties ). Next add 23 ml distilled water and shake well until combined. Shake well before use, spray and wipe areas you want to disinfect.

About the Ingredients:

Isopropyl Alcohol or Ethanol?

It’s a common question as to which one to use? And what is the difference?

First of all both are alcohols and both have similar disinfectant properties. However, they have slight differences when rubbed on skin. Both are typically used at a concentration of 70% in water.

Ethanol effectively destroys many types of bacterial and viral cells. It is present in some soaps and hand wipes but is capable of drying out skin and therefore should not be used directly without additional agents.

Isopropyl Alcohol also known as rubbing alcohol, is typically used in products which are used for disinfecting skin like hand sanitizer as it does not dry skin and therefore a better solution for disinfecting skin than ethanol.

For disinfecting surfaces, Ethanol and Isopropyl alcohol both are equally effective. Ethanol may be purely used in surface cleansing applications, but isopropyl Alcohol can double up use as an antiseptic and is often used in hospitals.

Essential oils

Eucalyptus Essential oil is helpful in reduces fever and fights off viruses. It has potent germicide properties which makes it ideal for fighting infections, bacteria and viruses.

Thyme Essential oil is a powerful anti-infectious agent which has been found to kill many bacteria and fungi in addition to viruses.  When used in conjunction with Tea Tree and Eucalyptus, it has shown to reduce viral ability to spread by more than 96%.

Bergamot Essential oil has shown significant reduction in viral growth and is effective in killing flu viral bacteria. It has efficient cold and flu healing properties.

Cinnamon Essential oil Is known to fight off multiple virus strains. It also helps to clear surfaces and air. Research has shown has cinnamon leaf oil is effective against flu viruses when combined with other essential oils like Eucalyptus and Rosemary.

Tea Tree essential oil is useful for inhibiting the growth of bacteria and helps fight infections. It is also known to kill airborne influenza viruses

Melissa, also known as lemon balm is a well known antiviral herb. Many studies have shown that Melissa Essential oil is able to stop flu viruses ability to replicate which is necessary for the disease to spread or survive.

Risks with essential oils:

• Essential oils are meant only for topical use, never Inhale them
• Always do a patch test before applying them on larger body parts as they could cause irritation
• Always dilute essential oil in carrier oils before use. Never use them directly as they are highly concentrated
• Essential oils are not safe to use during pregnancy and for breastfeeding women
• Store them away from reach of children and pets
• Keep in cool place away from direct sunlight

Use distilled water for all your DIY cleaning supplies as it is free of contaminants and any natural minerals. Using distilled water in cleaning applications will not leave any mineral residue on the surfaces.

Clean away!! Gently shake before every use and disinfect table tops, door knobs, telephones etc. This is such a simple DIY Disinfectant recipe which smells wonderful while being efficient at the same time.

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional nor chemical formulator or pharmacist. This is DIY recipe I use at home to kill germs and disinfect my house. Please use at your own risk.