Trying to avoid harsh chemicals? Interested in making your own household products? Try this simple DIY Disinfecting Spray!
What’s Wrong with Lysol?
Lysol, one of the world’s top selling disinfectant sprays, was first formulated using coal tar derivatives in 1889 to stop a cholera epidemic. By 1911, it had become the most common way to commit suicide in Australia. Lysol was used as a method for birth control method during the 1920s until women understood the hazards of douching with something so toxic. (See the Smithsonian article Lysol’s Vintage Ads Subtly Pushed Women to Use Its Disinfectant as Birth Control.)
Now Lysol is formulated with such compounds as dimethyl benzyl ammonium saccharinate, a chemical difficult to pronounce and hard on the immune system.
Natural Alternatives to Lysol
Add one or more of the following ingredients to create this chemical-free disinfecting spray!
1. Colloidal Silver
Colloidal silver is a bioactive substance that has been used for centuries for wound care. The silver ion (Ag+) is bioactive with strong antimicrobial properties. It makes an ideal addition to a purifying spray.
Sources of colloidal silver
2. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil (TTO) is known for its potent disinfecting properties. TTO, or melaleuca, is also an active antifungal and antiviral agent. (See Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties.)
Sources of Tea Tree Oil
DIY Disinfecting Spray Recipe
Ingredients:
8 ounces filtered water
1 ounce Colloidal Silver
*1 ounce vodka (optional)
10-15 drops tea tree oil (other purifying essential oils include thyme, rosemary, lavender, and lemongrass)
*You only need a tiny bit of vodka, so if keeping alcohol in the home is a problem, be sure to buy the smallest bottle. The vodka works as an excellent preservative and allows the aroma of the oils to permeate the room.
Instructions:
Combine ingredients in glass jar. Stir. Pour into spray bottles. Enjoy!
You can repurpose an old spray bottle or invest in a new one. I love Miron violet glass for sprays. You may be more likely to do without the vodka as this glass acts as a preservative. Learn more in the post Miron Violet Glass.
Top Ten Uses for DIY Disinfecting Spray
- Sick room
- Door knob
- TV remote
- Laundry hamper
- Toothbrush
- Cell phone and other devices
- Cutting boards
- Countertops
- Toilet bowls and tanks
- Surface mold
DIY Disinfecting Spray
DIY Disinfecting Spray
- Category: Cleaning, DIY, Natural Living
Ingredients
- 8 ounces filtered water
- 1 teaspoon colloidal silver
- 1 dash tea tree oil (or other purifying essential oil)
- 1 teaspoon vodka (optional)
Instructions
- Combine in a glass jar or glass measuring cup. ( I use 10-15 drops of essential oil.)
- Stir.
- Pour into glass spray bottles.
Interested in purchasing this disinfecting spray? Check out Just So’s Purifying Spray.
Excellent informative post. I’ve just started using essential oils ( like tea tree) and am glad to have some suggestions what to do with them. This post is perfect. Going to make the spray right now and am checking out the bottles too.
Happy Thanksgiviing
Great to hear from you, Judee! Miron glass is a bit expensive but it’s a great investment.
I, too, am interested in a non-chemical approach to cleaning but according to the study below colloidal silver does not have antimicrobial properties.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15114827
Did you find any studies to substantiate the antimicrobial claim?
Thanks!
You can double up on the tea tree oil if desired, or try any number of other essential oils like thyme or cilantro. There are other studies that indicate a strong antimicrobial effect like this one: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23017226. It’s so tough because there are often conflicting studies. I love what Dr. Robert Becker says about colloidal silver in his book The Body Electric. He found it to be one of the most healing substances post surgery partially due to its conducting properties. (He was an orthopedic surgeon.)
I do not have any of the silver –is it necessary? I went and bought some vodka after listening to “toxic Tuesday” and my husband had the stomach bug yesterday so I want to disinfect the house — is oils, water, and vodka efficient?
Yes, vodka is a potent disinfectant on its own!
Thank you! So would I do 8 ounces water and just 1 teaspoon vodka along with oils then? Doesn’t seem like much vodka!!??
You don’t need much vodka, I promise. Especially with the essential oils.
Are you aware that there are tiny bottles of alcohol called shooters. The only have a couple of onces in them and are just a few dollars to buy. That is what I use when I need vodka for cleaning. We have a toddler so we keep it in the freezer until needed out of reach of little hands.
Thank you for this tip, Keara!!
Hi so excited to finally find a disinfectant using silver. Are these 2 different recipes? The amounts are different and I want to make sure I’m using the right one. Thanks!
Same recipe! Hope it works well for you.
When you spray down surfaces do you have to wipe it afterwards? Or do you allow it to air dry?
Good question! I leave it to air dry but either way would be fine depending on the surface.