*This post was originally share in early 2014, but it is now updated and expanded! It may contain affiliate links. For more info, read my disclosure policy.
In the past year or so I’ve made the switch to safer, more natural cleaning products for my home. The perfumes and chemicals in regular products give me a serious headache.. So much that I have to walk quickly and hold my breath going down that aisle at the store!
One of my favorite DIY cleaning recipes are these DIY disinfecting wipes. They are so easy to put together and I like that they are totally safe.. no nasty chemicals! I can count on them to clean and disinfect my house. They work great for wiping down counters, sinks, doorknobs, light switches, and such.
Here’s how to make your own!
You’ll need:
- 1 roll of high-quality paper towels
- A deep container
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup vinegar
- essential oil (I used lemon)
Cut paper towels down to fit in your container.. the deepest one I had would hold slightly less than half a roll of paper towels.
Set out your container and add the water.
Then add the vinegar and essential oil into the container. 5 to 10 drops of essential oil is plenty for disinfecting power and to cover up some of the vinegar smell.
Next, put the paper towels in and let them soak for several minutes.
Put the lid on, flip the container upside down, and let sit for another 5 to 10 minutes.
Remove the lid and pull wipes from the center.
And then get to work cleaning! 🙂
I like to keep these in the kitchen since I use them most to clean up my counter tops. I’ll be honest, cutting the paper towels apart is no fun.. but it’s totally worth it and I’m always glad that I took the time to make another batch of these.
What are your favorite green cleaning tips?
Looks easy enough! Thanks for sharing this tip. It’s especially helpful with people cooped up with their germs this time of year!
Thanks for stopping by! It is especially helpful this time of year when you want to easily be able to wipe everything down to kill germs!
That is GREAT advice! Never would have thought that it could be this easy. Thank you!
So glad you liked the idea, Joanna! Hope you have a chance to make them too. Thank you for visiting!
Hi from DIY Dreamer. I used to make my own baby wipes using a similiar method. I never thought to do this! Pinned on my http://www.pinterest.com/Aw2sl/clean-clean-clean/ board.
Thanks for visiting and pinning, Jessica! Baby wipes is a great idea, too! I bet they can be made in a very similar way.
I’ve read that vinegar disinfects as well as bleach. Don’t know if it’s true, but I’d always rather use vinegar.
Vinegar does work great as a cleaner and disinfectant! The essential oil really gives that a boost, too. Thanks for stopping by!
That is one great and clever way to make your own wipes! Thanks for sharing.
Such a good idea, I love cleaning with vinegar. I bet these come in handy. Thanks for sharing.
I love cleaning with vinegar too and they really do come in handy! Thanks so much for visiting!
Love it! Seems easy enough and less harmful. Can’t wait to try it! Thank you so much for sharing!
I’d love to know what you think of them once you make your own! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Love this! I have used your recipe for wipes and they work great~
Yes, they are awesome! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I really like this creative solution. I’ll have to try it because I sure love a clean counter.
I love a clean counter too! These work so great for quick clean ups like that. Thanks for visiting!
Fabulous idea, Laura! I’m sharing this on FB today and know my readers will love this great idea. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for sharing!! 🙂
I have a kid-o that’s potty training so I’m doing a TON of extra cleaning these days. I’ll be making these for sure. Thanks so much.
Very cool! Who knew these could be so simple to make? What a great alternative to the expensive store-bought ones. And I love being able to add my own oils for custom scents and additional germ-killing power.
This is a great idea. I spend lots of money on wipes, so I need to try it!
I love how they’re so much cheaper to make than buy! Thanks for visiting.
Thanks for this post! Can’t wait to try it out!
I would have loved a whole bunch of these when I fell victim to the flu last month. I love chemical free cleaning options. Sharing on FB!
I am SO incredibly thankful you shared this again! Thank you SO much!
Pinning and never buying again! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and pinning! They are awesome, I haven’t bought any since I discovered how to make them myself.
This is great! I have never thought about making my own. This look like something I can do. I have a review coming up for some oils I am getting lemon in the mail. I have to try this out. I really do get tired of buying those cans!
ooo and forgot to tell you Found you via Titus 2sDay link up! So happy I did! Now following your lovely blog.
I use vinegar in a spray bottle, and just spray surfaces as needed, then wipe with dry paper towels. Is there a specific reason to have paper towels pre- soak in the solution before using? I haven’t tried adding essential oil. I would like to try that.
Yes, essential oil really adds a nice germ-killing boost. Using the solution in a spray bottle would definitely work too – I just like having the convenience of grabbing a wipe ready-made. Thanks for stopping by!
Great method. I use almost the same recipe. If I am planning to clean something very dirty I add some alcohol in the mixture. It is a great disinfectant. Best regards!