Clean your home and freshen it at the same time with this natural essential oil disinfectant cleaning spray.
It’s an all-natural, non-toxic powerful cleaner that disinfects, sanitizes, deodorizes, and even kills mold & mildew.
And it does all of this with a great, fresh clean scent.
Before discovering essential oils years ago, I used to clean, disinfect, and deodorize my home with harsh, toxic chemicals like Lysol and bleach. But every time I’d use them I’d get a headache. Headache or not, I used to think that using those harsh chemicals was the only way to get my bathroom and kitchen really clean. So I suffered on.
Thankfully, now I know better.
I can get my home clean, disinfected, deodorized, and mold-free naturally. No headaches needed. No toxins needed. No chemical smells needed.
Looking for how to make homemade Lysol or Clorox wipes? Find my recipe for DIY disinfecting wipes here
There are so many reasons why I love this homemade disinfecting spray more than Lysol and bleach
- natural
- non-toxic
- powerful cleaner & disinfectant
- eliminates stinky odors
- fights mold & mildew
- shines countertops, faucets, and doorknobs
- fresh & clean scent that smells great!
- easy to make – I can whip up a batch in about a minute with just a couple ingredients
Which essential oils have disinfecting properties?
Even after years of using essential oils, it still amazes me all that they can do. The essential oils listed below are just some of the many essential oils that have disinfecting properties like being antibacterial, antiviral, antimicrobial, antifugal, antiseptic, and deodorizing.
- tea tree
- lavender
- geranium
- lemon
- orange
- eucalyptus
- rosemary
- cinnamon
- clove
- thyme
- peppermint
Get a free printable of this chart here
I use this disinfecting spray all over my home.
It’s great on hard surfaces (like countertops and doorknobs), but it also works great as a fabric refresher (aka “Febreeze”).
Here are just some of the places I use it:
- door handles
- light switches
- toilet handles
- faucets
- countertops
- trashcans
- remote controls
- furniture- sofas, chairs, and throw pillows (especially great after someone in family ahs been sick)
- stinky shoes and athletic gear
- mattress
- carpet & rugs
How to make essential oil disinfectant spray
step 1:Â fill a 16 oz glass spray bottle most of the way full with high-proof alcohol
According to the CDC, you want to use an alcohol that is at least 70% alcohol to disinfect surfaces.
You can use either ethanol (that’s what in the alcohol that you drink) or isopropyl alcohol (that’s what’s commonly called rubbing alcohol). Both ethanol and isopropyl alcohol are effective disinfectants.
The key is to use a product that is at least 70% alcohol.
Here are just some of the alcohols that you can use to properly disinfect surfaces for viruses and other germs:
- 70%+ ethanol products — Look for 140 proof or higher drinkable grain alcohols. You’ll find these in the grain-alcohol (ie vodka) section of your local liquor store.
- Everclear (190 proof, 92.4% ethanol)
- Spirytus vodka (note: While most vodka sold in the United States is only 80 proof or 40% alcohol, Spirytus vodka is 192 proof, 96% alcohol. When using vodka in this homemade “Lysol” disinfecting spray make sure that you choose a vodka that is at least 140 proof)
- Golden Grain (190 proof, 95% alcohol)
- 70%+ isopropyl alcohol – You’ll find these in the pharmaceutical section of your local Walmart, Target, or drug store. Look for bottles labeled isopropyl alcohol, also called rubbing alcohol.
- 70% rubbing alcohol
- 91% rubbing alcohol
- 99% rubbing alcohol
step 2:Â add 1/2 teaspoon hydrogen peroxide
A study published in the Journal of Hospital Infection suggested that viruses could be “efficiently inactivated” with disinfectants that contain alcohol and .5% hydrogen peroxide.
step 3:Â add the following essential oils
30 drops tea tree essential oil
15 drops lemon essential oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
15 drops eucalyptus essential oil
Not only do these essential oils have natural disinfecting properties, the combination of these essential oils smells incredible!
BONUS– these essential oils also eliminate stinky odors, fight mold & mildew, and are antimicrobial.
step 4:Â put on spray top and shake to mix well
step 5:Â add a label ( click here to get a free printable of my label + printable recipe)
Here’s the essential oil disinfecting spray recipe one more time
1. fill a 16 oz glass spray bottle most of the way full with alcohol that is 140 proof or greater (70%+ alcohol) such as Everclear or rubbing alcohol
2. add 1/2 teaspoon hydrogen peroxide
3. add the following essential oils
- 30 drops tea tree essential oil
- 15 drops lemon essential oil
- 15 drops lavender essential oil
- 15 drops eucalyptus essential oil
4. put on spray top and shake to mix well
5. add a label
( click here to get a free printable of my label + printable recipe)
How to use essential oil disinfecting spray
To Disinfect:
- pre-clean surface
- shake spray bottle each time before use
- spray directly on counter, faucets, doorknobs, etc. However, for remote controls, light switches and other electrical items, spray disinfectant onto cloth first and then wipe item with cloth
- leave surface wet for a few minutes and allow to air dry
To Control and Prevent Mold & Mildew:
- shake spray bottle each time before use
- apply to pre-cleaned surface (such as tile grout, shower wall, sink, etc)
- spray enough so that surface stays wet for at least 3 minutes
- let air dry
- use once a week or when mold and mildew growth appears
To Deodorize:
- shake spray bottle each time before use
- spray on surfaces as needed
- I spray in stinky shoes and on athletic equipment, and then allow to air dry overnight
- I spray in and around trashcans
To Spot Sanitize, Deodorize & Refresh Fabrics (aka Febreeze):
- shake spray bottle each time before use
- spot test on fabric in an inconspicuous spot
- spray until fabric is slightly damp, but not overly wet
- fabric should remain wet for 30 seconds.
- let air dry
- for difficult odors, reapply
Disinfecting Wipes
Want another way to easily disinfect your home?
Find my recipe for homemade Lysol and Clorox wipes here.
They’re easy to make and super convenient to both around my home as well as portable to take with me to disinfect shopping carts, restaurant tables, and more.
here are a few other essential oil posts that I think you’ll like:
Streak-Free Window & Mirror Glass Cleaner
How to Make Natural Dishwasher Detergent Tabs
Homemade Dish Soap with Essential Oils
DIY Soft Scrub Cleaner with Essential Oils
8 DIY Recipes for Cleaning with Lemon Essential Oil
Homemade Poo-Pourri (No.2 “Before You Go” Toilet Spray)
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Disclaimer: Please know that this website contains affiliate links. This means that should you click on certain links, and then subsequently purchase a product, I will receive a small commission. The price is exactly the same for you as it would be without the affiliate link.Â
You are absolutely amazing! I’m so thankful for all the wonderful recipes you’ve shared!!!!!
I love this recipe and have shared it with many friends. Last December, the week before Christmas, my husband and I went out of town for the weekend. He started getting sick the day we left. I “doctored” him as best I could while we were gone and I didn’t want to get sick either. I’ve always coughed when I sprayed Lysol or Febreze, too. I found your recipe and made some. Oh my, it smells so good. When I spray it, I don’t cough. Oh, and I didn’t get sick like he did either. I use an old Febreze bottle that I cleaned out because the sprayer is larger and more forceful. I spray before we have company or anytime I just want to smell that wonderful smell. Thank you for this great recipe.
Is this disinfectant cleaner safe for granite countertops?
Thank you!
Is there another essential oil you’d recommend to use instead of lavender? I’m highly allergic to it.
Thanks!
There are many options. Geranium and sweet orange would both be good substitutes in this recipe.
Hi,
If i use rubbing alcohol instead of vodka, should I use water too? Thanks for sharing!
I’d try it with straight rubbing alcohol (no water), but realize that the smell will be quite strong. Rubbing alcohol doesn’t necessarily smell bad, but it is strong. It reminds me of the smell of doctors’ offices because doctors often use rubbing alcohol to clean instruments.
Hi there…thank you so much for this recipe! I’m curious as to which eucalyptus you recommend…radiata or globulus?
radiata
When I click on the print label, it just takes me to another page, the same one, not the label.
here’s on how to get free printables:
– click on the link for the printable. That will open up a pop-up box where you enter your email.
– Tip: If you’re on your phone, make sure that you fully open the blog post. If you just open it from Facebook, you probably won’t be able to print anything because of how Facebook works. Click on the three little dots in the upper righthand corner and select “open Safari” to open up a site outside of the Facebook app.
– You do need to enter your email each time you want a printable, but as long as you use the same email address, you’ll only be on my list once. It’s kind of like a membership site, but without needing to use a password.
– After you enter your email, then a new tab will open a pdf of the printable.
What size labels do you use for these projects and what size for roller balls? I’m ready to start some projects and cannot find what size.
I don’t use pre-cut labels. I simply print on regular, plain copy paper and then cut out the labels. I then put the label face side down on packing tape and use that to adhere the label to the bottle. Through trial and error over the years, I’ve found that to work best for me. It’s super cheap, I can make the labels any size I want, don’t have to mess with an Avery template, and it’s the most durable.
But if you wanted to use pre-cut labels, then the 2 inch by 2 inch size would be good for roller bottles and 3 inch by 3 inch would be a good size for most cleaners.
Could you use peroxide in place of the vodka or alcohol? If not why?
Yes, you could use hydrogen peroxide in place of the alcohol. Just be sure to keep in in a very dark bottle as any light kills hydrogen peroxides effectiveness.
You’d spray it on the surface, give it a few minutes to bubble up and do its thing, then wipe clean.
note: I wouldn’t use hydrogen peroxide on granite or other natural stone surfaces, as it can be too harsh.