Homemade Disinfectant Spray: Plus Why It Really Works!
This natural crunchy momma chooses to opt out of cleaning with bleach and other harsh chemicals, because of their negative effects on our bodies. With a lot of trial and error and extensive research, I found this recipe to be my favorite and the most effective so far… plus it smells so good! I still want to have one of my chemist friends test it out… but for now, we will go with the research already done!
Bad bleach… 
Bleach exposure can cause irritation in the eyes, mouth, lungs and on skin. Those with asthma or other breathing problems are more affected by its fumes (my mom included). It can even burn our tissues, internally and externally, especially in small kids.
The worst problem with bleach is when it is mixed with other household cleaners, like toilet bowl cleaners, window cleaners, dish detergents, vinegar, ammonia and other acids. These mixtures cause toxic chlorine gas to be released. According to The National Center of Biotechnology Information, article on Bleach Toxicity, Chlorine gas exposures, even at low levels, almost always irritates mucous membrane and causes coughing, breathing problems, burning watery eyes, and a runny nose. Higher levels can cause chest pain, severe breathing problems, fluid in the lungs, pneumonia, and vomiting.
Ok enough of the bad news…
So, how DO you kill bacteria without bleach or other harsh chemicals? Short answer: Alcohol, Distilled Water, Vinegar, Tea Tree Oil and Lemongrass Oil! 
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If you want to know WHY AND HOW keep reading… If you just want the recipe, scroll to the bottom
Dr. Axe says it best: “Disinfecting is different from cleaning because disinfectants kill bacteria so that it is unable to reproduce. Cleaning pretty much just moves it around the surface, but does not actually kill bacteria that may be present.”
Lets start with why you need alcohol and distilled water… this is so cool!
70 % isopropyl alcohol, acts as a disinfectant and kills microorganisms by dissolving the plasma membrane of the cell wall. It kills viruses, fungi and most bacteria. Isopropyl alcohol is the most widely used disinfectant in many hospitals, pharmaceutical industries and other health care facilities.
Why do you need to add distilled water
Distilled water is important because it is bacteria free.
Water in general, plays an important role because when mixed with alcohol, it rapidly denatures the proteins and causes cell membrane damage. 💥 This is what we want! Water acts as the spark plug in the reaction of alcohol with the bacteria. How crazy is that!
For bacteria to be killed, most disinfectants need to have at least 20 seconds of wet contact time. Meaning, the longer it is on the surface, the better it can do its job of disinfecting and killing different strains of bacteria. Hand sanitizer, for example, needs to be WET on your hands for at least 20 seconds for it to kill most germs and bacteria. (I just learned that fact this year by a chemist friend! 😉) So a 70% alcohol solution takes more time to evaporate from surfaces and the distilled water added to it, increases its contact time before it evaporates. Which leads me to my next point…
(Reference: The National Center for Biotechnology Information: Research Article Antiseptics and Disinfectants)
Why is 70 % isopropyl alcohol best?
Isopropyl alcohol concentrations higher than 70%, evaporate too quickly, not allowing the alcohol to do its job in disinfecting. So do not buy 80-100% thinking it is better, as they dry to quickly. I almost made this mistake when starting out…
If you’re using vodka on the other hand, you need to use a high proof vodka, around 190 proof, in order to do an effective job at disinfecting. (Which is fine to substitute with, but it’s more expensive. Some people like it because it smells better the isopropyl alcohol. But, in my opinion, with the essential oils mixed in, the isopropyl alcohol smell diminishes and it actually smells good.)
The 100% isopropyl alcohol changes the proteins into a solid state, which instantly leads microorganism’s in a dormant stage, rather than killing them. While 70% isopropyl alcohol solution penetrates the cell wall at slower rate, leading to microorganism death.
Thus 70% isopropyl alcohol solution, in water is more effective than 100% and has more disinfecting capacity.
(Reference: The National Center for Biotechnology Information: Research Article Antiseptics and Disinfectants)
Why Vinegar?
First let me get out there my love for vinegar! It’s amazing and cheep and is so versatile! It is like the cleaning guru for crud, laundry, smells, hair, stains, disinfecting and more!
Ok, back to the facts: Household vinegar is a mild acid, with a pH of around 2.5. The acid kills bacteria and viruses, by chemically changing their proteins and fats and destroying their cell structures (according to ABC Health and Wellbeing). Vinegar also helps remove dirt, grim, soap scum and sticky stuff and has other great cleaning properties.
Acetic Acid, aka Vinegar, is important in this whole concoction, because it has disinfecting properties of its own. It kills different strains of bacteria and viruses than alcohol. So the combination of the both alcohol and vinegar (plus the essential oils) will destroy a majority of the bacteria, viruses and fungi that you may have living in your home.
Again the longer the disinfectant spray sits on the surface, the more it disinfects. Certain bacterias and viruses need between 10 and 30 minutes of contact time with the disinfectant, before it will completely destroy them, according to American Society of Microbiology.
Does Tea tree and Lemongrass oil really disinfect?
Yes they do! Pure essential oils are truly amazing. And to know that these wonderful resources are right in nature, is breathtaking. It just reminds me how big and how loving our heavenly father is… he’s provided it all for us!
I think my top 5 daily essential oils are tea tree, lemon/ lemongrass, peppermint, lavender and a calm-me-down oil mixture. I use Edens Garden, because they are high quality, pure and reasonably priced!
Tea Tree oil- aka: Melaleuca oil
Tea tree oil is an essential oil derived from the Australian plant Melaleuca alternifolia. According to Dr. Axe, tea tree’s primary active ingredients include terpene hydrocarbons, monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. It is these compounds that give tea tree its antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activity. The hydrocarbons found in this oil are capable of traveling through air, pores of the skin and mucus membranes. Which is why tea tree oil is commonly used aromatically and topically to kill germs, fight infections and soothe skin conditions.
Tea tree has great antibacterial properties and will aid in disinfecting your home.
Lemongrass oil
Lemongrass oil comes from the leaves or grasses of the lemongrass plant, most often the Cymbopogon flexuosus or Cymbopogon citratus plants.
The compounds that make up the oil are known to have antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, insecticidal, and anti-inflammatory properties. Lemongrass can prevent the growth of some bacteria and yeast, and it also contains antioxidant properties. Antioxidants can remove potentially damaging oxidizing agents in living organisms. The oil from lemongrass also kills some of the bacteria that is not killed by vinegar, such as staphylococcus. (Reference: Dr. Axe: Lemongrass essential oil)
So it is another great addition to your homemade natural disinfecting spray!
Ok, here is the natural disinfectant recipe!
Homemade Natural Disinfectant Spray
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup 70% Isopropyl Alcohol your normal household alochol cleaner
- 1/4 cup Distilled white vinegar
- 1/2 cup Distilled water
- 40 Drops Tea Tree oil Melaleuca oil
- 40 drops Lemongrass oil
Instructions
- Mix all of the ingredients together in a larger glass spray bottle (like a 16oz bottle- it makes just over 8.7oz). You want to use glass if possible because citrus oils can eat away at any plastic.
- Put the cap on and shake well.
- Shake well before each use because the oils can separate.
Notes
Cleaning on wood or natural stone: In most cases 70% isopropyl alcohol is not strong enough to damage your wood surfaces. If your table does have a finish on it, it may break it down… but since the alcohol will be diluted, probably not. Also note that the acids in vinegar can damage natural stone and some wood surfaces. Just please, test a small area first before spraying your entire surface with your disinfectant spray.
You can purchase the ingredients here: 16 oz Glass spray bottles 70% Isopropyl Alcohol Distilled white vinegar Tea Tree oil and Lemongrass oil
How to clean properly
I know that sounds funny… but just to make sure, Im adding it in here. 
First you want to clean the surface with a basic natural household cleaner or hot soapy water. Next, you want to spray your natural disinfectant spray on the surface and let it sit for a few minutes. Then you will wipe up the remaining cleaner.
Cleaning the bathroom example: I wipe down the toilet first with my basic household natural all-purpose cleaner. Then I spray the toilet with my natural disinfectant spay and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. While it is sitting and disinfecting, I clean my sink area and floor… then I switch.
Cleaning raw meat from a cutting board and knife: I clean the areas with hot soapy water first, getting off all the grim and slime. Then I spray my natural disinfectant spray on the surfaces and let them sit for 10 minutes before rinsing them. After they sat, I scrub them again with hot soapy water. Now, I don’t know how necessary the last soapy water scrub is… but I have an irrational fear with cleaning raw meat, so I do it and sometimes repeat the entire process twice. 
To sum up
Opt for more natural cleaners rather than the harsh chemicals most commonly used today. Its better for you, your family and of the environment!
Plus, making your own, is so much cheeper then buying other natural cleaners (or so claimed natural cleaners) and it only takes about 5 minutes to put together!
Don’t forget to check out my Homemade Natural All-Purpose Cleaner recipe here!
Want more?
Check out my online ebook, The Simply Natural Home Handbook, for a complete “how-to” guide for cleaning out your home and products of unwanted toxins and chemicals. This handbook is equipped with full recipes, links for supplies and helps you develop an understanding of why certain natural substitutes work. Get started today by detoxing your cleaning solutions, laundry, body care products, water, air and health remedies!
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Can you use Lemon oil instead of Lemongrass oil?
Yes, you most certainly can! I interchange them myself. They both have very similar cleaning powers 😉
Hello, can this recipe also be used for a room air fresher/disinfectant?
Hi Juliette! Sorry for my late reply… I had my 3rd baby!
I wouldn’t use the recipe as an air disinfectant/ freshener, just because there is vinegar and alcohol in it and I don’t want it to ruin any surfaces in your house that may be more sensitive.
Instead, I would use something like a lemon oil and water spray mix for an air freshener (or any oil you enjoy- lavender is also very nice or a lavender and peppermint mix has been my favorite lately).
If you want a room disinfectant spray, I would use a lemon/lemongrass, tea tree oil, and water spray mix or even just thieves (from young living) or fighting 5 (from Edens garden) and water spray mix.
Hope this is still helpful despite my late reply!