Learn how to make this DIY Disinfecting Spray so that you can easily disinfect doorknobs, handles, carts and so many other surfaces at home or on-the-go. This is so easy to make a very cost-effective and you can easily control the ingredients you put in it. Keep reading for all the details.

You can also learn How to Make DIY Disinfecting Wipes HERE, Hand Sanitizer, and Foaming Hand Sanitizer.

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Disclaimer: I am not claiming that this DIY Disinfecting Spray recipe will kill bacteria or viruses. This recipe does, however, contain rubbing alcohol which is isopropyl alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol is a widely used disinfectant. (You can learn more here.) However, due to the nature of any DIY, I can not guarantee the percentage of alcohol in the final product you create, and as such, I am not claiming any percentage of alcohol will be contained in it nor the possible benefits. Alcohol can harm some surfaces so please do your research and ensure that you only use this on surfaces safe for alcohol use. Do not spray this on yourself or your children. Please note that this recipe is NOT SAFE for consumption. Seek medical treatment if consumption occurs. Simply Designing and its owners are not responsible for any outcomes of making, storing, ingesting or using this product in any way shape or form. Please consult my privacy policy for more use of site terms.

DIY Disinfecting Spray

No matter what season it is, we always need to be conscious of germs in our environment.

I am a HUGE advocator of washing your hands often with soap and water, using hand sanitizer when hand washing is not available and keeping our surfaces clean in preventative measures to help stop the spread of germs.

Cleaning vs Disinfecting Surfaces

Properly CLEANING a surface with soap and water will actually REMOVE germs from the surface (or your hands) and this is always recommended!

DISINFECTING surfaces can KILL germs, but not actually remove the dead germs from the surface.

I personally prefer to clean surfaces to remove germs, but sometimes that is not practical and sometimes we need to be able to disinfect surfaces instead.

My DIY Disinfecting Wipes are a great alternative when you feel like you really need to disinfect a surface for whatever reason.

But sometimes wipes aren't as practical and so today I wanted to make a DIY Disinfecting Spray so that you can just spray this on surfaces as needed to help kill germs.

If you want to learn more about the difference between cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting, see my post HERE.

When should I use a disinfecting spray?

Personally, I prefer to clean all surfaces in my home using soap, or a household cleaner, and water. But sometimes you just want to sanitize a surface like a shopping cart handle, a hotel room door or an airplane tray table. This disinfecting spray is the perfect way to disinfect a surface on-the-go or to give your own door handles or light switches quick disinfection.

I do not recommend you only use disinfecting spray around your house because it is better to remove the germs from the surface than just kill them. But again, this disinfecting spray is great to use occasionally around your home, or on-the-go when washing surfaces with soap and water, or household cleaner are not an option.

Where should I use disinfecting spray?

Not on people. Seriously. This is not for use on people.

Alcohol can harm some surfaces so please check manufacturer instructions first.

But I find this is safe for most hard surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, cart handles, phones, remotes, fridge door handles, front door handles, etc.

How does disinfecting spray work?

This DIY Disinfecting Spray contains 70% isopropyl alcohol and a few drops of essential oil. 70% Isopropyl Alcohol is currently used in labs to sanitize surfaces and you can learn more about cleaning with alcohol here.

Isopropyl Alcohol KILLS germs on surfaces. This means that when you use a disinfecting spray liberally, the spray is able to KILL (not remove) germs on the surface.

What if I can't find rubbing alcohol? What can I sub for rubbing alcohol?

Rubbing alcohol can be difficult to find. A great sub is to use drinkable, grain alcohol (aka ethyl alcohol) like Everclear or Vodka. Look at the proof and cut that number in half, that is the perfect of alcohol in the bottle. So if you are using 140 proof alcohol, that will be equivalent to 70% alcohol which is the minimum % of alcohol you should use for this recipe.

Why should you make your own Disinfecting Spray?

It is easy and quick! I can make this in less time than it takes me to go to the store.
Supplies are easy to find. I don't know about where you live, but some disinfecting sprays are totally out of stock everywhere. This recipe uses supplies many of us will already have at home!
It is cost-effective! Seriously, you are going to save major cash by making this yourself!
You know exactly what is in it! A lot of disinfecting sprays have harmful ingredients in them. You know exactly what is in the bottle when you make it yourself.
You can customize it. Want it to smell a certain way? Add a different essential oil!
It is very effective! The CDC recommends that hand sanitizers contain 60% alcohol, and most labs clean with 70% alcohol. This recipe, if you omit the essential oils, is 70% alcohol or higher. You can snag 91% alcohol too which is my preferred choice! Then you can add all the essential oils you want and still be within the recommendations.

What ingredients do you need to make disinfecting spray:

2 oz 70% or 91% Isopropyl Alcohol (aka rubbing alcohol) or 140 proof or higher grain alcohol like Everclear or Vodka
20 drops Thieves Essential Oil
2 oz Spray Bottle

Let's talk about why we want these ingredients in homemade disinfecting wipes for a minute:

Alcohol - disinfects surfaces, aka kills germs

Thieves Essential Oil - will make them smell amazing, plus check out the benefits of this oil on the PubMed site here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3346404

How to make Disinfecting Spray

Pour almost 2oz of alcohol into your spray bottle
Add 20 drops of Thieves Essential Oil
Replace lid on bottle and shake
Shake before use

Isn't that so insanely easy to make?

If you want a different smell, you can add additional oils or replace the oils I suggested. It is up to you, but I personally love the properties of Thieves and Peppermint.

Snag the printable recipe below:

Yield: 2 oz

DIY Disinfecting Spray

Learn how to make this DIY Disinfecting Spray so that you can easily disinfect doorknobs, handles, carts and so many other surfaces at home or on-the-go.

Active Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Estimated Cost Low

Materials

2 oz 70% or 91% Isopropyl Alcohol (aka rubbing alcohol) or 140 proof or higher grain alcohol like Everclear or Vodka
20 drops Thieves Essential Oil
2 oz Spray Bottle

Tools

Funnel

Instructions

Pour almost 2oz of alcohol into your spray bottle
Add 20 drops of Thieves Essential Oil
Replace lid on bottle and shake
Shake before use

DIY Disinfecting Spray