If you have been to the store lately, you have likely seen a reduction in certain home supplies such as disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, hand soap, and even home cleaning products. The spread of COVID-19 has increased the demand for such products, and manufacturers are struggling to keep up. No worries, you can create your own home cleaning and disinfecting toolkit right at home with a few simple supplies that you most likely already have or can easily acquire. Read on to find out how.
Homemade Disinfecting Wipes
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup rubbing alcohol
- 2 Tbsp Dawn dish soap
- 2Tbsp ammonia
- 20 drops tea tree essential oil
- 20 drops lemon essential oil
- 24 rags cut into 4×6” squares (old washcloths/towels work great)
Instructions
- Place the rags in a plastic container with a lid.
- Combine solution ingredients and pour over the rags.
- Use rags as needed to disinfect and throw them into the wash when you are finished.
Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer Gel
Ingredients
- ½ cup aloe vera gel (use 100% pure aloe vera gel, not after sun products)
- ¼ cup witch hazel
- 5 drops tea tree essential oil
- 5 drops orange essential oil
- 5 drops clove essential oil
- 1 Tbsp vegetable glycerin
Instructions
- Pour everything into your Vitamix and use the immersion blender to combine
- Once well blended, pour into squeeze bottles.
- Use as you would commercial hand sanitizer.
- Store out of the sunlight in a cool and dark location.
Smells So Good Liquid Hand Soap
Ingredients
- 1 cup distilled water
- ¼ cup liquid castile soap
- 1 Tbsp fractionated coconut oil
- 7 drops grapefruit essential oil
- 8 drops lime essential oil
- Soap dispenser
Instructions
- Add all ingredients together in a clean soap dispenser and shake to combine.
- Wash hands, as usual, using the solution, rinse, and pat dry.
All-Purpose Cleaning Spray
Ingredients
- ½ cup white vinegar
- 2 Tbsp. baking soda
- 5 drops tea tree essential oil
- 5 drops lemon essential oil
- 12-oz clean glass spray bottle
Instructions
- Mix the vinegar, essential oils, and a little bit of water in a clean spray bottle.
- Add in baking soda.
- Fill the bottle to the top with water
- Shake gently before use and wipe up surfaces with a clean cloth.
Homemade Lavender Laundry Detergent
Ingredients
- 1 cups of Borax
- 1 cup Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda (not baking soda)
- 5.5 oz Fels Naptha soap
- 30 drops lavender essential oil
- 5-gallon bucket with a lid
Instructions
- Grate the soap and add shreds to a pot with 4 cups of hot water. Heat on medium-high until completely melted. This usually takes about 10 minutes.
- Fill the 5-gallon bucket halfway up with hot water. Pour in the melted soap mixture and give it a stir.
- Stir in the borax and washing soda.
- Add essential oil and stir again
- Fill the bucket to the top with warm water and stir again.
- Put on the lid and let the soap sit for 24 hours.
- The consistency will be like egg noodle soup.
- Pour into empty containers for storage and use.
- Use as you would commercial laundry soap.
Better Than Dryer Sheets
Supplies
- Squares of fabric (old towels work great)
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 20 drops of your favorite essential oil like lavender, orange or lemon
Instructions
- Combine vinegar and essential oil in a mason jar.
- Put the lid on securely and shake vigorously to mix.
- Place the pieces of fabric into the mixture and ring out the excess solution.
- Place the dryer sheets in a glass container with a lid, or you can use another clean mason jar with a lid.
There you have it, your very own home cleaning and disinfecting kit. Stay safe!
-The Alternative Daily
Disclaimer: None of this has been proven to prevent, treat or remedy the Covid-19, these are just things to consider