Homemade Sanitizer and Anti Bacterial Wipes

Last Updated on 2020-10-23 by Linda

Continuing on from this mornings theme  the world has gone crazy and now there are no sanitizers, anti bacterial wipes or any toilet paper. Now don’t get me wrong I am not judging anyone regarding their very real fears and concerns. I am however judging their JUDGEMENT and purchasing habits.

I understand the wipes, sort of but the TP situation has me scratching my head. Honestly what good is 100 rolls of paper going to do you? Two weeks of possible quarantine has me thinking milk, eggs, bread and maybe wine.

Even Rick and crew in The Walking Dead only missed chocolate, cigarettes and maybe beer.  Did you ever hear them worried about toilet paper? I am worried at the moment, really worried. Real people, meaning me are running out of paper, time to figure out a few home remedies for everything I guess.

Disclosure:  Please note I will often  include affiliate links of the products that I am using if I think that is helpful. A Labour of life and myself will only share what I am using. There is no additional cost to you but I may receive a commission to help me keep this fun space running

Homemade Toilet Paper

This one is pretty simple, similar to the good ole days with baby diapers.  Old sheets, shirts, rags cut up in little squares.  Keep a basket in each bathroom and you are set.  Oh yea you might want to get a few diaper genies for “used” storage.

Or maybe keep a stack of old Harlequins beside the can. Easy reading followed by nice soft paper will do in a pinch maybe?  Isn’t it sad that one has to worry about  toilet paper when the world is spinning on its axis.

On a serious note, I hope it doesn’t come to this but wth.  Honesty folks I am not prepared to line up to get in to a club so I sure as heck won’t line up for toilet paper.  Kleenex has just become my best friend

Homemade Hand Sanitizer

Now let’s get to the Purell situation or any hand sanitizer actually. Again have you checked out Amazon, its crazy.  I picked up a bottle a few weeks ago to make some homemade chalk paste but I don’t want to waste it now. That little bottle may be all that’s between me and some big bad germs.

Never fear there is a fix and it’s less smelly  than the homemade Toilet paper route.  Make your own Homemade Sanitizer with a few simple ingredients. Go have a peek in your cupboards and check if you have the following supplies. If not, you can probably get some of them at the drugstore (if there is any left) or as always, on Amazon, although they are selling out there too. Thankfully I got my oils from Simply Earth a few months ago, so I was set,

• 2/3 cup 99% rubbing alcohol or 120 proof alcohol
• 1/3 cup aloe vera gel.
• 8-10 drops essential oil, maybe peppermint or lavender

You can substitute the essential oils in this recipe below for any other combination of antibacterial essential oils from this list:

• Eucalyptus
• Lemongrass
• Tea Tree Oil
• Grapefruit
• Palmarosa
• Cinnamon
• Rosemary
• Bergamot
• Orange
• Clove
• Oregano
• Thyme
• Basil
• Lavender
• Peppermint

You may also want to grab  a bowl and spoon, a funnel and a spray bottle to help with this fun project.

Remember the key to making an effective homemade sanitizer is in the alcohol and I don[‘t mean whisky or rum.  Alcohol must be 60% or higher after mixing. Even subbing real liquor will not work, unless you use it straight up, not to drink, to wipe.  Use the 120 proof or get 99% rubbing alcohol from any store.

Mix them all together and get spraying and wiping.

Buyers Beware

Sad story a friend ran into a lady at Canadian Tire and she was buying a much lower alcohol percentage.  She told the lady if she was making her own anti bacterial lotion ten she needed the 99%. The lady actually replied oh I don’t care, I am making this and selling it to others, they won’t even notice.  Sad folks really sad.  Make your own don’t buy it OK, or at least ask the seller what they used.

Creating Anti Bacterial Wipes

Next up on our list are homemade sanitizer wipe substitutes. What you will need for this simple and economical project are a few handy items.  Most you should have on hand except maybe the castile soap, that can be found everywhere ( I got mine on Amazon, yep still available)

• jar with lid
• vodka
• essential oils
• Castile soap
• distilled water
• old cotton T-shirt cut into squares or cotton cloths

How to make the Sanitizer:

1-3/4 cup water, 1/4 cup vinegar, 1/4 tsp castile soap, and 10 drops of essential oils.  Mix well  ( see list above for possible oils) Add cotton squares to mason jar and then add wet ingredients. Mix well together and pour into mason jar.  This homemade sanitizer and wipes should last 2-3 months under normal conditions.  For today I would suggest it may last a week, sorry but it is a crazy time.

 

Extra Tips:  Disinfecting on the cheap and keeping all those disposable wipes out of the land fill! If you could even find any lol. I found this DYI disinfectant on clorox.com:
“a disinfecting bleach can be used as follows. Pre-clean any surface. Make a disinfecting solution (3/4 cup Clorox® Regular Bleach  in a gallon of water); wash or wipe this solution on the surface; allow to stand for at least 5 minutes; rinse and air dry.” The smell is strong and you may need a mask but it can work.

 

FYI all antibacterial wipes should actually wet the surface and airdry for true effectiveness, a quick swipe does not kill the germs. Click to Tweet

Wear gloves and a mask is a good idea as well. Don’t forget to wipe down the surface with a wet cloth after it dries to remove any chemical residue (and the nasty stuff you killed).  Any cloth will do.

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