Maybe your local supermarket has run out of household cleaners and disinfectants. Or perhaps you’re looking for an effective, all-natural option without any harsh chemicals. In any case, it’s possible to make a homemade cleaning spray to keep your home spic, span, and germ-free!
This household cleaner is easy to make and smells divine, courtesy of The Herbal Handbook For Homesteaders: Farmed and Foraged Herbal Remedies and Recipes.
In the book, author Abby Artemisia shares an incredible collection of recipes, from fire tonics, salves, and tinctures for allergies and muscle pain, to cold and flu remedies and household cleaners. She’s got you covered.
Do Homemade Disinfectants Work?
Yes! Artemisia says white vinegar, aromatic herbs, and citrus fruit were all used in formulas made to protect people from the plague.
According to ABC News, vinegar-based cleaners are not as effective as commercial ones, but they do the trick where dirt, grime, and many germs are concerned.
Vinegar is 5% acetic acid, which kills bacteria and viruses (including the flu and tuberculosis!) by destroying their cell structures.
A UK study looking at how to prepare for a flu pandemic also found that malt vinegar can rapidly inactivate a flu virus.
So what are you waiting for? Try this easy, all-natural recipe to help you save big bucks and keep the house clean!
Antibacterial Cleaning Spray
- 1 lemon or other citrus fruit, cut into slices
- 1 tablespoon of dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon of dried lavender, chopped pine needles, or another fragrant herb of choice
- ¾ cup of white vinegar
- 10 drops of essential oil, such as lavender or peppermint (optional)
- 1-quart (960 ml) Mason jar with lid
- Parchment paper or wax paper
- Small spray bottle
- In the Mason jar, combine the citrus fruit, thyme, fragrant herbs, and vinegar. Cut a piece of parchment paper or wax paper twice as big as the opening of the jar and place it between the jar and the lid. Set aside in a cool, dark place to infuse for about two weeks. Stir or shake daily.
- After two weeks, strain the mixture into a spray bottle. Add the essential oils. The cleaner is ready to be used to disinfect surfaces immediately, and will store for six months!
Looking for other all-natural remedies? Try this post: Nature-Approved: Try These Remedies Made From Medicinal Plants.