Homemade Disinfecting Wipes - If you love Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, you're going to love this DIY version! Affordable enough to keep a container in every room of your house!
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I've been fighting a cold this week. . .again. I just had one a few weeks ago. I've been traveling more than usual for work as of late, so I'm attributing it to being outside of my "bubble" a bit too much. Colds are such a drag, let me tell you. I've been feeling kind of miserable, but I have no other choice than to just push through.
I will admit that I'm a bit of a germaphobe, so I'm usually overly prepared for cold and flu season. I'm also a huge fan of Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. I use them to wipe down our bathrooms on a daily basis - and when someone in the family is sick, I use them to wipe down door handles, countertops, chairs and everything else you can think of.
If you are as big of fan as I am, you're going to be elated to hear that you can make your own wipes RIGHT AT HOME. That's right! Today, I'm sharing an easy recipe for Homemade Disinfecting Wipes. The recipe uses ingredients that most of us already have right in our homes, making these wipes a very affordable option - affordable enough to place a container in every room of your house!
Homemade Disinfecting Wipes Ingredients
The solution that makes up the wipes requires only THREE ingredients:
- ¼ cup 70% Isopropyl rubbing alcohol
- 2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid
- 1 cup water
The rubbing alcohol is a key ingredient and any Isopropyl solution between 70% and 90% alcohol acts quickly on bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
I also like to use an antibacterial dishwashing liquid like Palmolive. It eliminates 99.9% of e. Coli, salmonella and staph in seconds and I really like its fresh, citrus smell.
When it comes to what to use for your wipes that you pour your solution over, you have several options:
- Roll of paper toweling cut in half and placed in empty coffee containers
- Old rags or washcloths (these you'll need to launder vs. just throwing away)
- Shop towels cut in smaller squares
- Rags in a Box cut in smaller squares
- Baby wipes in their original tub
I prefer to use the baby wipes because:
- In my opinion, they're the easiest option.
- I choose not to launder the wipes after I use them.
- I still purchase baby wipes even though my kids are in elementary school.
I'm pretty sure I've had this container for at least 6-7 years. If you decide to go the baby wipes route, the solution works on moist or dry wipes.
Because I always have a few containers around the house AND one in the car, there's usually one container that dries out before the others, so I tend to make that tub into disinfecting wipes.
Making Your Homemade Disinfecting Wipes
All you need to do is combine the three ingredients together. . .
And pour it on top of the wipes.
If you decide to use rags, washcloths or thicker cloths as your wipes, they may be more absorbent and you may need more solution. Feel free to double the recipe.
Once the wipes have had a chance to soak up the solution, they're ready to use!
Where to Use Your Disinfecting Wipes?
These wipes are great at cleaning countertops in the bathroom and kitchen. You can also use them for doorknobs, sinks, faucets and toilets to kill germs, as well as on phones and remotes.
Just think about all of things in your home that get handled a lot. I have also used them successfully on my walls and tile floors.
This cold and flu season, be prepared, and have several containers of homemade disinfecting wipes ready to go.
As I continue fighting off this cold, I'll be using mine regularly to ensure the rest of my family stays healthy and congestion free!
And please, don't forget to leave a comment if you have other ideas on where or how these wipes can be used. We all benefit when we share our knowledge!
Ready for More DIY Cleaning & Sanitizing Ideas?
- DIY Hand Sanitizer
- Homemade Odor Eliminator
- Miracle Carpet Cleaner
- Dishwasher Detergent
- Removing Hard Water Stains From Your Toilet
Homemade Disinfecting Wipes
Materials
- ¼ cup 70% Isopropyl rubbing alcohol
- 2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- All you need to do is combine the three ingredients together.
- And pour it on top of the wipes.
- If you decide to use rags, washcloths or thicker cloths as your wipes, they may be more absorbent and you may need more solution. Feel free to double the recipe.
- Once the wipes have had a chance to soak up the solution, they're ready to use!
Notes
- Proportion Matters: Maintain the correct ratio of ingredients to ensure the effectiveness of your homemade disinfecting wipes. Adjust the recipe accordingly if you're making a larger batch, but maintain the proportions of rubbing alcohol, dishwashing liquid, and water.
- Choose Absorbent Materials: Opt for materials like paper towels, thin cloths, or wipes designed for cleaning, as they absorb the solution effectively. Thicker materials may require more solution to saturate properly.
- Storage Considerations: Store your homemade disinfecting wipes in an airtight container to prevent evaporation of the solution and maintain their moisture. Label the container clearly and keep it out of reach of children and pets.
Stacey
Hi Sara! I’ve been using this recipe since April 2020 (heat of covid) and, honestly, I’m never turning back. This is my “go to” disinfecting wipe recipe now. I have no desire to buy pre-made wipes in the store. I use the Huggins Natural Care wipes (I’m bulk from Sam’s). I keep these around the house, in the cars, at my office, and send a batch to my girls when sending them packages. Thank you!
Sara
So great to hear that, Stacey!!
Mandy
I have a lot of bleach, can I use bleach instead of rubbing alcohol?
Sara
Unfortunately, no. Not in this recipe. You can, however, make my all purpose spray! Here is the recipe: https://bitzngiggles.com/homemade-all-purpose-cleaner/
Beth
Hi...I just made these wipes without drying them before pouring in the solution. It’s only been a few minutes but all I get on the wipe is soap. Do I need to wait a while before using, leave open the top or start over with another package of wipes? Any suggestion is appreciated. Thanks!
Sara
The solution within the wipes may be causing the soapiness. If you're going to use baby wipes, you should dry out the wipes before adding the solution.
Kate
Hi
How many baby wipes should I use for one recipe?
Sara
I used a regular sized container of wipes. I allowed them to dry out before I poured the solution in. If you want to increase the saturation you could just use half of the wipes and make a new batch with the other half.
Sarah Nuncio
Hello. I used huggies 64 pack of wipes. They were still moist. It seemed like all of the wipes did not get enough of the solution so I doubled up. Does it work better if the wipes are dry? Should I have not doubled the recipe. Thank you!
Sara
I usually dry out the wipes before using them. Doubling the recipe is okay. Next time try to dry out the container of wipes before you make your next batch!