In our quest for a clean home, eliminating germs is just as important as tidying up. While cleaning removes dirt and debris, disinfecting kills harmful microorganisms. Although Clorox wipes are a popular choice for this task, they can be costly and sometimes hard to find—especially in times of high demand. Luckily, making your own disinfectant wipes at home is simple and budget-friendly.
Our preferred recipe utilizes rubbing alcohol, steering clear of the hassles associated with storing hydrogen peroxide or the unpleasant smell of bleach. You might wonder, can these bleach-free wipes be as effective as store-bought options? The answer is yes, as both Clorox and Lysol disinfectant wipes are also bleach-free.
One major advantage of DIY disinfectant wipes is knowing exactly what goes into them. These wipes are perfect for sanitizing door handles, light switches, keyboards, and various surfaces around your kitchen and bathroom. With the grease-cutting power of Dawn dish soap combined with the disinfecting properties of rubbing alcohol, you have a great solution that even polishes metal fixtures!
Ingredients Needed:
- 1 cup of water
- ½ cup of rubbing alcohol (70-91% isopropyl alcohol)
- 1 teaspoon of Dawn dish soap
- 1 roll of paper towels (or thin rags)
- 2-5 drops of tea tree oil (optional)
Instructions:
- If using paper towels, cut the roll in half using a serrated knife. For cloth rags, cut them into smaller squares.
- Place the paper towel roll in an empty container, such as a baby wipes holder or a jar.
- In a bowl, mix the water, rubbing alcohol, dish soap, and tea tree oil.
- Pour the mixture around the edges of the paper towel roll, allowing it to soak in. Be careful not to drown the towels.
- Remove the cardboard roll or simply pull wipes from the center.
- Store in a sealed container. If using rags, wash them after each use.
Tips:
- Always pre-clean surfaces before using the wipes, and allow them to air dry after application.
- Use room temperature water for mixing.
- Stick with 70% alcohol; higher concentrations may evaporate too quickly to be effective.
- If the wipes dry out, add more rubbing alcohol as needed.
- Experiment with different essential oils for fragrance and antimicrobial benefits. Lemon essential oil mimics the scent of Clorox wipes quite well.
- For travel, cut the roll into thirds and pack them for convenience.
While vinegar is great for cleaning, it’s not as effective for disinfection as rubbing alcohol. Avoid mixing bleach with these wipes.
Now that you know how to craft your own disinfectant wipes, discover how much further your dollar can stretch for cleaning supplies in your home. If you’re looking for other alternatives to Clorox wipes, consider using rubbing alcohol or EPA-approved disinfectants. For a gentle option, extremely diluted bleach solutions can be effective but should be handled with care.
Need a quick solution for cleaning? Check out our other blog post here for more tips. For those investigating home insemination, Make a Mom provides a comprehensive guide, and the CDC offers excellent resources regarding pregnancy and home insemination.
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In summary, making your DIY disinfectant wipes is a straightforward process that not only saves money but also gives you control over the ingredients. With just a few basic supplies, you can keep your home germ-free and sparkling clean!
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