Vinegar Disinfectant Spray for Home and Car

Last Updated on November 8, 2022 by Ellen Christian

This homemade vinegar disinfectant spray is the basis for many natural cleaning recipes. Vinegar is a non-toxic cleaning product that can be used to disinfect many surfaces in your kitchen, bathroom or car. And, the added isopropyl alcohol gives this even more strength.

Vinegar Disinfectant Spray

In most cases, all you need to truly deep clean your home is a few natural products. This vinegar disinfectant spray is an easy, frugal way to clean your home while killing germs and bacteria.

Does it work for everything? No, but it does keep your home sparkling clean and kill many common bacteria.

Does vinegar kill germs?

Yes, another name for white vinegar is acetic acid. It can destroy some types of bacteria and viruses. And, it is a safe disinfectant to use around children and animals. However, there is no scientific evidence that it kills the flu.

Vinegar also works wonderfully to kill and prevent the growth of mold and mildew. This is my number one preferred cleaning solution to clean our bathroom for this reason.

And, to help make this vinegar disinfectant spray more potent, it has added isopropyl alcohol which is on the list of approved disinfectants for flu viruses. Check out the CDC list of approved sanitizers.

But I don’t like the smell!

OK, so vinegar isn’t everyone’s favorite scent. But, just like you can buy scented cleaning products at the store, you can change the scent.

Just add your favorite types of essential oil to this vinegar disinfectant spray to change the scent. I often use lemon or orange essential oil with this vinegar disinfectant spray.

What can I disinfect with this?

You can clean and disinfect many common surfaces with this vinegar disinfectant spray. I have used vinegar to clean the refrigerator, bathroom, kitchen counters, the kids’ toys, and my car.

It’s a wonderful all-purpose cleaner that’s safe and natural.

How can I make a vinegar disinfectant spray?

You only need a few simple materials to make this spray. You should be able to find the vinegar in your grocery store.

But, if you can’t, you can order it online as well.

• 1/4 cup Distilled white vinegar
• 1/2 cup Isopropyl alcohol
• 1 cup Distilled Water
• 5 – 10 drops of tea tree essential oil
• Spray bottle
• 5 – 10 drops of clove essential oil
• 5 – 10 drops of sweet orange essential oil
• Measuring cup
• Funnel
• Whisk

This is very simple to make. Just add all of the ingredients to a large glass measuring cup and whisk to combine. Then, carefully pour it into your spray bottle. Spray on surfaces and wipe clean with a soft cloth.

Instructions:

• Add your water, vodka, vinegar, and baking soda in a glass measuring cup. Whisk together gently.
• Add in your essential oils.
• Gently whisk all the ingredients together until well incorporated.
• Using a funnel, add the mixture into your bottle, stopping about ½” from the top. Add the top and screw on tightly.
• Label the bottle so you know the contents.

Do you have to rinse after using this?

No, there is no need to rinse after you use this. If you use isopropyl alcohol and have small children, I would avoid using it on their toys. It’s not something that they should put in their mouths. 

If you’ll be using this near where pets and small children play, I would leave out the isopropyl alcohol.

How long will this stay good?

If you store this in a dark place, this homemade vinegar disinfectant spray should stay good for about three months. Do not leave it out on the counter in the sunlight. That will diminish the effectiveness.

So, we generally only make a small bottle and use what we have when we clean before making another batch. Making it only takes a few minutes so there really isn’t need to make up a lot ahead of time.

More ways to clean with vinegar

• DIY Citrus Spray
• Homemade Sanitizer Spray
• Tips For a Cleaner Greener Home
• How to Remove Stains from Your Clothes
• Baking Soda Air Freshener
• Homemade Fabric Softener Sheets
• Best essential oils for odor elimination
• Baking soda on plants

Or you may want to learn how to make cranberry juice.