The kitchen is one of the most common rooms in your home for germs to congregate. Luckily, you can use a DIY kitchen spray to get rid of those microbes.
You can add your choice of essential oils to make the spray smell good, and you can use it as part of your normal cleaning routine. Here are the steps you can follow to make the best DIY kitchen spray for you and your family.
1. Gather What You Need
The first step to making DIY kitchen spray is to gather your supplies and ingredients. You should make sure you have a clean workspace and that your kids are in another room. In case you spill something, you don’t want to risk their safety.
Here’s what you need to make DIY kitchen spray:
- 16-ounce glass spray bottle (with top)
- Alcohol (140 proof or higher or at least 70 percent)
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Essential oils of your choice
- Label for the bottle
You may want to lay down some paper towels in case you spill something. You’ll also need a teaspoon to measure the hydrogen peroxide and a dropper for the essential oils. If you don’t have a label maker, you can print one out or find a label at your local craft store.
2. Fill the Spray Bottle
Once you have everything set up, it’s time to fill your glass spray bottle with high-proof alcohol. While you could use something with lower alcohol content, it won’t be as effective.
The CDC recommends at least 70 percent alcohol content for disinfecting products. Then, your DIY kitchen spray will kill more germs that make their way onto surfaces. Rubbing alcohol works very well, but you can also use Everclear or similar products.
If no manufacturer guidance is available, consider the use of alcohol-based wipes or sprays containing at least 70% alcohol to disinfect touch screens. Dry surfaces thoroughly to avoid pooling of liquids.
CDC.gov
You should fill the bottle almost all of the way, but you’ll need to leave some room for the oils. Depending on how many essential oils you want to add, you may need to leave more or less room. However, the majority of the DIY kitchen spray should be alcohol.
3. Add Hydrogen Peroxide
Another reason to allow extra space in your spray bottle is to add some hydrogen peroxide. It can help the alcohol when it comes to killing viruses, bacteria and other pathogens.
You should make sure the hydrogen peroxide has a concentration of three percent. More than that can be slightly toxic, but that small concentration is more than enough to disinfect your kitchen.
When using a 16-ounce bottle, add one half of a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide. If you have a larger or smaller bottle, you should adjust the ratio. For example, you can use a full teaspoon in a 32-ounce spray bottle.
4. Add Essential Oils
Now it’s time to add some essential oils to make your DIY kitchen spray smell good. But the right essential oils can help disinfect as well. If you want to add disinfecting oils, consider the following:
- Tea tree essential oil as an antiseptic and antifungal cleaner
- Peppermint essential oil as an antibacterial cleaner and pest deterrent
- Lemon essential oil as an antiviral and antibacterial cleaner
- Eucalyptus essential oil as an antiviral cleaner and antiseptic
- Lavender as an antimicrobial and antibacterial cleaner
Other essential oils also have cleaning properties, so you can consider what smell you want. But if you can’t decide, you can add 30 drops of tea tree oil, and 15 drops each of lemon, eucalyptus and lavender essential oils.
5. Mix Well
Once you add all of your ingredients, add the top so that there’s a good seal. Then, shake the bottle to mix everything well. You should mix the bottle both when you first make the DIY kitchen spray but also whenever you use it.
Don’t be afraid to shake the bottle for longer than you think is necessary. You want to integrate the essential oils with the alcohol and hydrogen peroxide. If you don’t mix it well, the oils may separate, which can make the whole substance less effective.
And as the bottle sits, the ingredients can separate, so a good shake will ensure they mix back together. Then, you can use the cleanser throughout your kitchen on your counters and appliances.
6. Label and Store
After you mix your DIY kitchen spray so that everything combines, you can store the bottle. Place it with your other cleaning supplies, but make sure you keep it out of reach of your children. Then, you won’t have to worry about them getting into it.
If you have other DIY sprays, you may want to add a label to the bottle. Then, you can list the ingredients or essential oils. That way, you can recognize which spray is which when you go to clean your house.
7. Use on Common Surfaces
When you need to clean your kitchen, you can use your new DIY kitchen spray like normal. It works well on counters, furniture and appliances. You don’t have to adjust your cleaning routine, and the natural solution won’t have as many chemicals as a store-bought option.
Don’t forget to grab a cloth to help you get into small corners in your kitchen. You can use a paper towel or a fabric cloth, so you can choose what works better for you.
The Best DIY Kitchen Spray
If you want to make a good quality DIY kitchen spray with a nice smell, you can do so easily. All you need is some alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and your favorite essential oils.
Mix those ingredients in a spray bottle, and you can use the cleanser like any other. Then, you can use it regularly to keep you and your family safe and healthy. You can even use this spray outside of the kitchen! I use it on my little’s baby shoes, or even to wipe down their night lights.
