If you find disinfectant wipes in stores right now, consider yourself lucky. Cleaning supplies, disinfectant products, and antibacterial soaps are scarce because people are stocking up on anything and everything that could help combat the coronavirus. What do you do if you can’t get your hands on your usual cleaning supplies? What if online shipping is delayed and you are low on supplies? There’s no need to panic because you can easily make disinfectant products like the disinfectant wipes in this article.
In order to effectively keep your home free of coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends regularly disinfecting high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, kitchen counters, faucets, tables, bathrooms, and phones. It is also beneficial to clean your groceries upon bringing them into your home. To properly clean everything, though, you need to have the right ingredients.
Items You Can Use
According to Dean Davies, cleaning supervisor for Fantastic Services, which specializes in antiviral sanitation, you only need a handful of items to make DIY cleaning products. You may already have them in your cabinets and you don’t even know it. The following products are EPA-registered disinfectants that have been effective at combatting coronavirus.
Isopropyl Alcohol
As we mentioned in our post about DIY disinfectant spray (click here to view), you need to purchase isopropyl alcohol with a 70% concentration in order for it to be effective against coronavirus. Isopropyl alcohol has disinfecting qualities when it is left on a surface for at least 30 seconds. It is safe for all surfaces, but it may discolor certain plastics. Do a spot test first before using it everywhere.
Household Bleach
When properly diluted, bleach is effective at killing bacteria and viruses. The CDC recommends diluting four teaspoons of bleach in one quart of water. If that is all you are using to clean the house, let this solution sit on whichever surface you are cleaning for 10 minutes before wiping it away. Don’t ever combine bleach with ammonia, rubbing alcohol, or acidic compounds like vinegar because it can create dangerous chemical compounds.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide has been proven to be effective against bacteria, yeasts, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms. Make sure that you buy hydrogen peroxide that is at least 3% for it to be effective at killing germs. Additionally, keep in mind that it needs to remain on a surface for six to eight minutes before wiping it off.
Disposable Disinfectant Wipes
Ingredients:
- 1 roll of paper towels
- 1/3-1/2 cup household bleach
- 1 gallon of water
- tall airtight container that is big enough to fit a roll of paper towels
- gloves for handling bleach
Instructions:
- Put on your gloves and pour the water into the tall, large airtight container. Pour in the bleach and gently stir to combine.
- Place the entire roll of paper towels in the bleach solution, cover, and allow the towels to soak for five minutes.
- Pour excess bleach solution into a spray bottle and use it for cleaning other surfaces in the house. Store the paper towels in that airtight container and use when ready.
Reusable Disinfecting Wipes
Ingredients:
- An old T-shirt or cotton fabric
- 2/3 cup 99% isopropyl alcohol
- 1/3 cup water
Instructions:
- Cut the T-shirt or cotton fabric into squares that are similar in size to regular disinfectant wipes.
- In a large airtight container, mix the isopropyl alcohol and water.
- Gently place the fabric squares into this solution, cover the container, and let them soak for 10 minutes.
- Drain the solution and keep the soaked fabric squares in a sealed container. Use when ready.
- You can store the used wipes in another airtight container. Wash the used wipes in the washer on a hot water setting before you remake the solution and soak them again for reuse.
