Recipe for Homemade Lemon and Lavender Disinfecting Spray

Make your own disinfecting spray minus the chlorine and other harmful solvents. This recipe for homemade lemon and lavender disinfecting spray uses essential oils, water, hydrogen peroxide and vodka. These two important ingredients have strong antiseptic properties and do not give off noxious fumes or toxic residue. 

To make about 1 pint of lavender and lemon disinfecting spray, you will need the following:  

• 1/4 cup vodka (cheap vodka will do)
• 1/2 cup 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (available at your local drugstore)
• 1 cup distilled water
• 10 drops essential oil of lavender
• 5 drops essential oil of lemon
  
  

Here's how to make it: In a spray bottle, combine all the ingredients and swirl to mix them. Do not shake the bottle vigorously or the active oxygen in the hydrogen peroxide will go flat and lose its action. Spray the surface and wipe it or spray it and let dry.

This spray works best for giving surfaces a quick final wiping after some deep cleaning. You may also use it for cleaning cutting boards as a general disinfectant right after scrubbing the board with dish detergent and water. 

As a perfect alternative to homemade solutions, we recommend Mrs. Meyer's Multi-Surface Cleaner Concentrate. This eco-friendly cleaner is great for all nonporous surfaces, such as finished wood, tile, countertops, walls, porcelain, bathroom fixtures, and sealed natural and synthetic stone. All ingredients are plant based, nontoxic, chlorine free and biodegradable. Its natural fragrances are derived from essential oils. Be sure to dilute the formula before use.