Here is how you make the best antibacterial DIY cleaning wipes for your house that smell amazing! Make them reusable or not to clean up all the spills and eliminate germs in your home.
I was kinda’ done buying them in bulk to use around the house to clean up spills. I finally got around to making these DIY cleaning wipes that work great and save me a ton of money too! (originally published 5/18, affiliate links present)
If you’re like me you use a lot of wipes! I haven’t had children in diapers for over 8 years but every room has wipes for sure. I have them in my car, some in my purse, and literally in every room of the house I feel.
- Of course I still have small packages in my car and purse but around the house I didn’t really need prepackaged wipes. I felt like making them myself was the way to go there!
In addition to saving money (which I love) I was able to add amazing scents using essential oils which I love.
** Note, all of these products should be kept away from animals and children for safety reasons.
These are great for a lot of reasons. If you are a teacher and in need of cleaning desks at the end of the day, or a parent, they work great.
I always suggest using items you already have around the house as far as the jar and ingredients go. If you don’t have everything I will provide links to purchase them online as well below.
- I use them when I work through our monthly cleaning schedule checklists here.
- If you have a bit of time on your hands, or want a feasible way to work through every room in your home, I suggest printing those out.
Homemade antibacterial wipes
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup rubbing alcohol (at least 70% strength)
- or if you just want to clean and not necessarily disinfect you can use vinegar
- 1 tbsp liquid detergent or dish soap
- Micro fiber cloths
- A large air tight jar, spray bottle, or size you’d like to use
- 6 drops lavender oil
- Double or triple these amounts to make as much as you’d like.
- Submerge cloths in liquid, secure lid and shake.
- Take out and use one at a time, or spray mixture and use cloths to clean surfaces.
Yes you can add a few drops of essential oils to this mixture for scent as well. That part is entirely up to you but I like the addition of one.
The above “recipe” is great for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces. I also have a 2nd method using bleach if you want to use thick paper towels instead of cloths.
The second method if you have these ingredients on hand at home:
- Thick paper towels
- Bleach
- Distilled water
- Tea tree oil
- Wipe container
Time needed: 15 minutes.
Homemade Antibacterial Wipes
- Cut paper towels
Use a serrated knife to cut thick paper towel roll in half.
- Mix ingredients
In another bowl mix 2 tbsp. bleach, 2 cups distilled water and 3 drops tea tree oil. Then pour this over the cut paper towels so it can absorb.
- Soak
Allow paper towels to absorb as much liquid as possible, then remove the middle piece of cardboard.
- Package
Put roll of soaked paper towels into a container and pour liquid left in a bowl over the top. Seal container so they stay moist and don’t evaporate.
Homemade hand sanitizer
- 1 cup of isopropyl alcohol
- should be 91% pure
- ½ cup of aloe vera gel
- 15 drops of tea tree oil
- this is known as an antibacterial essential oil
- I was late to the game when it came to using these little bottles.
- You can read my essential oils 101 post about my journey here. I will say they work amazingly well with these do it yourself cleaning cloths.
Of course it is totally up to you which essential oils you use, this one is probably my all time favorite!
DIY cleaning wipes
The recipe below is not necessarily antibacterial and germ fighting, rather primarily focused on cleaning surfaces.
- 1 glass jar
- 4 cups warm water
- 2 tbsp. castile soap
- 10 drops lemongrass essential oil
- 10 drops lavender essential oil – or any other combo of oils you desire
- Reusable cloth wipes
Directions to make homemade cleaning wipes
- Add 1/2 your water to the glass container
- Add your soap
- Add 10 drops of each oil and mix well
- Cut your reusable wipes in half
- Roll each one up and put into your container standing up as seen in pics above
- Add the rest of your water
- Close the lid tightly and shake well
- Use, rinse, put back into container and reuse over and over again!
If you go ahead to make these diy cleaning wipes let us know what scent you added and if you did anything differently!
Looking for more around the house ideas? This is how to get rid of gnats naturally with household items under your sink!
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Sherry Peterson says
I love these wipes. I use an empty plastic coffee can for my wipes. If I use bleach, I always use a large glass canning jar. I started out with paper towels, then moved on to old washcloths or microfiber ones. I use 1 or 2 and let them dry, then wash all with my whites. The alcohol and bleach will dissipate. I have used Everclear alcohol when I couldn’t find any alcohol in the stores. This past summer when all things went back in stock, I would buy 1 or 2 bottles every shopping trip. This virus or the flu or any other virus will always be around. May as well get used to “the new normal” I also make the mix into a spray bottle and spray my fabric masks. Take care of yourselves.
Cathy says
I’m curious about using the bleach solution with “thick paper towels”. I’ve tried using bleach with paper towels before (Brawny-type towels), and they turned to mush. The link to the “thick paper towels” is broken, so can you tell us more about what kind you’re recommending? Could the bleach solution be used with microfiber cloths? Could the alcohol solution be used with the paper towels?
Thanks!
The Typical Mom says
yes you could flip flop the two depending on which you prefer, I fixed the link to one that is now available
Linda says
can i use peppermint oil instead of lavender oil? would it still be the 6 drops? thank you
The Typical Mom says
Yes, depending on how strong of a scent you wanted that would be up to you
Linda says
Thank you so helpful
Julia says
I use white wash cloths I buy at Costco for cleaning and wash them with my whites and bleach. They don’t stay white but I don’t care they are for cleaning.
Sue says
Robin
If you can’t find the correct strength of alcohol for your antibacterial cleaning just add about one half teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide to your alcohol solution.
Laura Lambrecht says
Thank you! During this pandemic I can not find any alcohol of the proper strength, your tip helps me immensely !!!!
Sara says
I’m going to put these in babywipe box to keep in my car to wipe down my car before after work. Is it safe to have this container with isopropyl in my car? I wanted just leave it in there for use.
The Typical Mom says
I would just say I wouldn’t keep them in direct sunlight or really extreme heat which it shouldn’t be at this point in the year.
Rod Jerls says
If you cant find the alcohol that you need, you can buy Everclear. I did a little research and found the following info. 120 Proof is 60% alcohol, 151 proof is 75.5% and 190 proof is 95% alcohol. It can be used as a substitute for the rubbing alcohol. Just thought this would help.
Connie says
Thank you. Have all ingredients except no rubbing alcohol to be found.
ELIZABETH E TUTTLE says
Everclear is not sold in Ohio, it is illegal.
Robin says
Because everyone is grabbing up supplies these days, I could only find 50% isopropyl alcohol. What do you think: will it work if I just reduce the amount of water that I add…or increase the amount of alcohol to the water amount?
The Typical Mom says
I know, it has been difficult lately for that. This is just an educated mom guess as to what I would do in that case of course: I might add a bit less water yes. Of course it is better than not having anything at all. I would check daily on Amazon too as items are stocked each day like I just found this one in stock. (affiliate lik) https://amzn.to/2UB1Xqo
Shelly says
I have heard that vodka or moon shine can be used if you can’t get the alcohol.
Shelly w
Paula says
Buy Everclear or something similar. It is 190 proof or 95% alcohol. All liquor stores should have it. Works great for hand sanitizer and spray.
Linden Peters says
The CDC has stated that to disinfect a surface, the solution has to be at least 60% alcohol. that means 2 cups alcohol to 1 cup water. Another pro tip: use washable microfiber cloths and stop buying the disposable stuff that is running out in stores.
Linda says
2 cups of ?what percentage? of alcohol to the 1 cup of water? 91% or 50% 🤷🏻♀️
melissa says
roughly how many wipes does it take to wipe down your kitchen? I typically go through 3-4 disposable ones just to get my kitchen done since they are drying out so fast.
Kae says
I have used this formula for years (without the scented oils, due to allergies.) I use old washcloths and then after I am through wiping everything down, I let the cloth dry and wash in washer with my towels. I use them to clean the bathroom, and wouldn’t want to put it back in the plastic tub I keep them in. I keep a tub of cloths in each bathroom. Best idea I have ever used.
Nikki says
Hi I’ve researched and have found white vinegar with a 5% acidity kills germs and can be used as an antibacterial, shop bought are usually around 4% so are not appropriate,I hope this helps
Linden Peters says
Vinegar is not as effective as alcohol, bleach, or peroxide. The CDC is recommending using a solution of 60% alcohol or higher.
Georgia Hadjicosta says
Hi,I love the ideafor disinfect wipes.I will definitely t
ry it. IAM GOING TO MAKE TO WAYS,1 WITH ALCOHOL AND 2 WITH CLORAX.also I will use lemon juice rather the essential oils. (Allergy),.I will sent comments. THANKS.
Georgia Hadjicosta says
I CAN WAIT TO TRY,them.AFTER WERE GOING THOUGH THE C9.Georgia.
Mary says
I want to ask a question about the first recipe listed above. It is called anti-bacterial but I do not see anything that will actually kill bacteria like alcohol. It lists vinegar and dish soap. Will this kill germs?
Deborah says
Can the soap be dish detergent?
Kae says
I use Dawn, so yes any liquid will work
Dave T says
I briefly had the same thought… but I guess wash them surely… otherwise the solution would eventually get dirty, along with the rest of the clothes.
Dave T says
error correction…
I briefly had the same thought… but I guess wash them surely… otherwise the solution would eventually get dirty, along with the rest of the cloths.
Kae says
I wash mine in the washer with my dish towels. I only use it once. I use it in the bathroom, so I wouldn’t want to use again.
Susan says
Do you wash your kitchen towels with the used bathroom wipes?
I don’t think I can bring myself to wash anything else with the used bathroom wipes. I guess bleach would disinfect it all in the wash.
T says
Just curious after use would you put them back in or wash them?
Kae says
Wash them. Especially if it picks up particles of food or if you use them in the bathroom.
Stacey says
So, has anyone washed the re-usable wipes in the washer put bleach or just detergent? I would do a separate washing from other stuff.
Narred Lawrence says
Great useful post. I’m using natural bamboo disinfectant cleansing wipes from WOW Wipes which is 100% bamboo with a pleasant scent and eco-friendly too. Thanks for sharing a useful post.
Teri says
Tea tree oil can make your dog very sick. So be careful if you have a beloved fur baby
Micheke says
I had bred small chihuahua. Tea tree oil what I use for fleas. Still do. I never had one ever get sick from tea tree oil. But have from poison you get from the vets.