Alcohol Vinegar Tea Tree & Lavender Spray
I like a clean house, but I don’t like harsh chemicals. I used to use whatever all-purpose disinfectant spray was cheapest. As I became more aware of the toxic effects of household cleaners, I started to phase them out of my home. Now, this alcohol vinegar tea tree & lavender spray is my main, multipurpose cleaning agent.
This spray is a cheap and effective disinfectant and deodorizer. All four ingredients are antimicrobial to varying degrees – alcohol being the most potent, followed by vinegar, tea tree and then lavender. The ingredients are all pungent, but the alcohol and vinegar scents dissipate quickly, leaving the pleasant tea tree and lavender smells behind. This spray is also easy to make and very versatile.
Ingredients: Alcohol, vinegar, tea tree oil and lavender oil.
To make your own alcohol vinegar tea tree and lavender spray start with a empty spray bottle and fill it 30% full of alcohol and 30% full of vinegar (you can eyeball it – no need to be super precise). Then, fill the rest of the bottle with water. Add about 15 drops of tea tree oil and 15 drops of lavender oil. Close up the spray bottle and invert back and forth several times. Make sure to label the bottle so you know what’s in it. [You’ll see below that I also have a bottle of plain water and a bottle of water and citric acid.]
Remember to label your bottle.
I use this spray to clean in the kitchen and bathroom. I either just spray and wipe the surface (table, stove top, sink, counter, tub, etc.) with a damp cloth, or I use a magic eraser or other abrasive if it needs to be scrubbed.
I also use this mixture sprayed onto a cloth to wipe my toddler’s toys and board books. And, it can be sprayed directly on stuffed animals and left to dry to fight germs. The spray is also a great deodorizer (like an all-natural Febreze) and I use it on carpet and couches.