How to Clean With Home Remedy Disinfectants

Go green with home remedy disinfectants.

If you want to disinfect various surfaces around your home, consider cleaning with home remedy disinfectants. Although you can buy commercial disinfectants, they are costly and often contain toxic ingredients that are harmful to people and the environment. Choose homemade disinfectants to sanitize your home, and protect yourself and the environment, and save money, too.

Things You'll Need

• Borax powder
• White vinegar
• Water
• 3 empty spray bottles
• Rags
• Medium saucepan
• Handful of dried or fresh thyme
• Colander
• 1 squirt liquid Castile soap
• 1 tsp. sodium lauryl sulfate
• 1/4 tsp. eucalyptus oil
• 1/4 tsp. lavender essential oil
• 3 drops tea tree oil
• Medium bowl
• Spoon
• Funnel

Instructions

Recipe 1

1. Combine 2 tsp. borax powder, 4 tbsp. white vinegar, and 3 cups of hot water in a clean, empty spray bottle. Secure the lid, and shake the bottle.

2. Spray the mixture onto a damp rag. Wipe kitchen and bathroom countertops, tile floors, appliances, toilets, bathtubs, and walls with this solution.

3. Let the surface air-dry without rinsing. If you notice any residue from the cleaning solution, buff the surface with a dry rag.

Recipe 2

1. Pour 2 1/2 cups of water into a medium saucepan. Add a handful of dried or fresh thyme, and bring the water to a boil.

2. Cover the pot, and let the mixture simmer on medium-low heat for three to five hours. Allow it to cool for an hour, then strain through a colander into a clean bowl.

3. Transfer the thyme water to a clean, empty 32 oz. spray bottle. Top the bottle off with white vinegar, and add a squirt of liquid Castile soap. Secure the lid on the bottle and shake it well.

4. Spray this mixture on surfaces that need to be disinfected. The mixture can also be sprayed onto fabric and upholstery. Allow the solution to air-dry without rinsing.

Recipe 3

1. Pour 2 cups of hot water, 1 tsp. sodium lauryl sulfate, 1 tsp. borax powder, 2 tbsp. white vinegar, 1/4 tsp. of eucalyptus oil, 1/4 tsp. lavender essential oil, and 3 drops of tea tree oil into a medium bowl. Stir with a spoon until the dry ingredients have dissolved completely.

2. Use a funnel to transfer the mixture to a clean, empty spray bottle. Secure the lid on the bottle, and shake it up.

3. Spray the mixture onto any surface except glass. Scrub with a rag, then rinse with a damp rag.

Tips & Warnings

• Always test your homemade disinfectant on an inconspicuous area of the surface or item you are cleaning to check for any color changes or damage to the surface.

• Label your bottles of disinfectants appropriately.

References

• Eartheasy: Nontoxic Home Cleaning
• Tip Nut: Homemade Herbal Cleaner Recipes