Do you ever get tired of going to the store to purchase cleaning products? They seem to run out so quickly, now more than ever as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. It can be frustrating to spend so much on them and know so little about the ingredients in them. You may even have allergies to commercial cleaning products, or they may be harming your respiratory system. We’re putting an end to all of this by giving you a bathroom disinfectant spray that you can count on.
For starters, the bathroom disinfectant spray in this article has three simple ingredients. You know what they are and understand how they work. There is no need to search the Internet for definitions on ingredients that you can’t even pronounce. Throughout the pandemic, medical experts continued to weigh in on the efficacy of the ingredients in this spray against germs, viruses, and bacteria. Since the virus doesn’t show signs of slowing, it’s our duty to present you with a natural disinfectant product. Before we do that, let’s explore why the ingredients in this recipe make it so effective.
70% Isopropyl Alcohol
When it comes to disinfecting with alcohol or alcohol-based hand sanitizer, it needs to contain at least 70% alcohol. This concentration is effective at killing organisms by denaturing their proteins. According to Dr. Lucky Sekhon, a fertility specialist and board certified OBGYN in New York City, 70% isopropyl alcohol works to, “…dissolve their lipids and is effective against most bacteria and fungi and many viruses.” You don’t want to go higher than 70% alcohol, though. The reason for this is because a higher alcohol solution, 99% for example, is too powerful. It only breaks down the outside of the germ cell and doesn’t penetrate the germ. The 70% solution is the perfect combination of water and alcohol. It crosses the cell barrier to attack and kill the bacteria or virus in question.
Distilled White Vinegar
Vinegar is extremely popular in the natural home cleaning world, especially for sinks, countertops, and shower heads. It is a very effective alternative to harsh cleaners, but it does have a signature potent smell. Additionally, it is eco-friendly, but is it an effective disinfectant? Cleaners work to remove dirt or debris from a surface, while a disinfectant works to destroy germs, bacteria, or viruses on contact. Distilled white vinegar is an excellent cleaner, containing 5% acetic acid that helps remove and dissolve grime and dirt. Vinegar has some issues as a disinfectant. Studies found that it demonstrated a limited ability to reduce Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and E. coli. Vinegar was not effective at killing the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.
DIY Natural Bathroom Disinfectant
Ingredients:
- 1 cup water
- 1.25 cups isopropyl alcohol (with 70% alcohol content)
- 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
- 10 drops tea tree oil
Instructions:
- Add all of the ingredients to a spray bottle and swirl to combine.
- Before you spray this on a surface, it’s best to pre-clean the surface with hot, soapy water and then dry it.
- Once this step is complete, spray the surface in question, wait five minutes, and then wipe dry.
Notes:
- Do not use any vinegar solution on marble, granite, or other natural stone surfaces. If you need to clean those surfaces, omit the vinegar from this recipe and add 1/4 cup more of isopropyl alcohol.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
