Homemade Disinfectant Spray Recipe - Culinary Solvent

by Scott Galbiati

Disinfectant spray recipe using food grade ethanol to kill coronavirus per CDC recommendations - Culinary Solvent

Source: source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov

Homemade Disinfectant Spray Recipe - How to make your own disinfectant spray using Culinary Solvent food grade ethanol.

Updated November 17, 2020. There has never been a better time to make your own disinfectant spray to disrupt surface transmission of germs, bacteria, and viruses that can make you sick.

Wherever possible, and to the best of our ability, I have presented the source link where the information being conveyed has been sourced. If you notice an error or seek additional clarification, contact me here. Thank you. -Scott (AKA Mr.Tincture)

CDC recommends alcohol solutions >70% for effective surface disinfection against COVID.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.gov) recommends alcohol solutions of at least 70% alcohol by volume (ABV) for effective surface disinfection against bacteria and viruses, including COVID-19. Read more about the CDC's complete recommendation here including their list of FDA approved disinfectant brands that do not require mixing or further dilution. Be aware that recommended disinfectant brands sometimes contain (many) additive chemicals, including surfactants, fragrances, or other "components" which may or may not contribute to the goal of disinfecting and killing COVID. By mixing your own disinfectant spray, you are in full control of what is, and what is not, contained in your spray. To be effective, disinfectant sprays only require 2 ingredients: Ethanol and Water.

Follow the recipe below to understand the right ratio of water to alcohol to create a powerful disinfectant spray with a minimum ABV of 80%.

Make a Lot: 64 fl oz Homemade Disinfectant Spray Recipe

Makes: 64 fl oz Disinfectant Spray

Final Alcohol Strength After Mixing: 80% ABV

Important Heads up! If you dilute with too much water you may not disinfect your surface. Always measure your ingredients when making this recipe to ensure proper alcohol strength. When in doubt, toss it out. Read more: How to tell the ABV of your starting alcohol.

Hardware:

Large liquid measuring cup. Glass or plastic, ok.
Clean spray bottle. Avoid reusing bottles that previous contained other cleaners like ammonia or bleach.

Ingredients:

51 fl oz, of 100% ABV (200 Proof) Food Grade Ethanol.

13 fl oz tap water.

Step 1 - In a clean spray bottle, first add the food grade ethanol.

Step 2 - Add the water to the bottle. Mix by shaking or swirling the bottle gently.

Congratulations!
Your natural nontoxic disinfectant spray is finished and ready to kill some germs and viruses. Good work!

Disinfectant spray recipe is complete - Culinary Solvent

Quarts ship for $5, Gallons ship for $10. Shop here for Culinary Solvent Food Grade Ethanol to make your own disinfectant spray at home.

Make a Little Bit: 10 fl oz Homemade Disinfectant Spray Recipe

Makes: 10 fl oz Disinfectant Spray

Final Alcohol Strength After Mixing: 80% Alcohol by Volume (What's ABV?)

Hardware:

Small liquid measuring cup. Glass or plastic, ok.
Clean spray bottle. See notes below for more tips on storage and dispensing homemade disinfectant spray.

Ingredients:

8 fl oz, of 100% ABV (200 Proof) Food Grade Ethanol.

2 fl oz tap water.

Step 1 - In a clean spray bottle, first add the food grade ethanol.

Step 2 - Add the water to the bottle. Mix by shaking or swirling the bottle gently.

Congratulations!
Your natural nontoxic disinfectant spray is finished and ready to kill some germs and viruses. Good work!

Disinfectant spray recipe is complete - Culinary Solvent

Quarts ship for $5, Gallons ship for $10. Shop here for Culinary Solvent Food Grade Ethanol to make your own disinfectant spray at home.

Tips for Storage of Homemade Disinfectant Spray

Store your homemade disinfectant in a new plastic spray bottle for convenient measured dispensing.
Avoid bottles that are chipped, cracked, leaky, old, rusty, or otherwise unfit for serving the purpose of holding important liquid.
Avoid reusing spray bottles that once contained common house hold cleaners like ammonia or bleach. Mixing ethanol with either of these cleaners may result in harmful fumes and therefore should be avoided. When in doubt, toss it out.
Never store a bottle on its side, always store bottles upright with the cap/spout at the top.
Avoid handing bottles using the spray handle, this can result in damaged equipment that may leak or spray erratically when directed.

Pro tip for dispensing disinfectant spray as a disinfectant wipe

If a clean spray bottle is not available, this cleaner can be stored in a clean glass mason jar with a tight fitting lit. To dispense disinfectant, apply to a clean cloth and wipe the surface clean. Yes, you just made your own homemade disinfectant wipe. Kudos.

Tips for Long Term Storage of Homemade Disinfectant Spray

For prolonged storage, return the disinfectant solution to a bottle with a tight fitting cap intended for storing alcohol solutions. The original bottle your alcohol was shipped in is best, remember not all plastics are created equal. Learn more about material compatibility when storing disinfectant sprays containing ethyl alcohol.
Store bottles long term away from children, sources of heat, spark, or direct sunlight.
Disinfectants that contain only ethanol and water do not expire so long as the ABV remains above 80%. Source.

Frequently Asked Questions for Homemade Disinfectant Spray

Q: Does ethyl alcohol (ethanol) kill germs, viruses, and bacteria on surfaces?

Answer: Yes, so long as the concentration and contact time minimum requirements are met. For a detailed answer with links to authoritative sources, visit Does Ethyl Alcohol Kill Germs, Viruses, and Bacteria? Remember, ethanol is an alcohol, but not all alcohols are ethanol.

Q: Where can I learn more about understanding ABV (alcohol by volume)?

Answer: Read our blog post explaining more about ABV, Alcohol by volume, and Proof as a method to represent the ethanol contained within any liquid.

Q: Can I add other ingredients to my spray?

Answer: Recipes that call for the addition of other ingredients may leave behind residue or film that must be rewiped off. Avoid extra work by sticking with just ethanol and water to create you disinfectant spray.

What is the minimum ABV 80% is best, but 70% will work too...

Customers seeking to maximize the disinfecting solution they can create may follow the links at the bottom of this recipe page to dilute their 200 proof ethanol down to exactly 70% ABV. Diluting below the recommended concentration of 70% ABV may result in a subpotent solution that is not effective at killing germs and viruses. Please take extra care to measure ingredients when diluting to exactly 70% alcohol.

The CDC recommends alcohol solutions of 70% or greater for effective surface disinfection. In this situation, it is ok to end your dilution with a higher ABV than 70%. Lower than 70% ABV is not recommended to kill COVID on surfaces, however hand sanitizer is recommended to be at 60% ABV.

The more alcohol in your disinfecting solution for surfaces, the better. It's the alcohol that does the germ and virus killing, higher concentrations have been proven to kill more germs quicker, essentially reducing the required wait time of 30 seconds for effective surface disinfection. Read more here >> Source.

Q: Can I make my disinfectant spray using different types of alcohol?

Yes, it is possible to make a disinfecting spray that kills COVID using a starting alcohol other than 100% ABV ethanol like Culinary Solvent. Browse the list recipe links below for making your own homemade disinfectant spray using the specific type of alcohol on hand.

Q: Can I use this disinfectant spray recipe on my hands or body as an effective hand sanitizer alternative?

Answer: Yes. Any recipe posted on CulinarySolvent.com titled 80% ABV disinfectant recipe can be used directly on the skin without adverse side effects or risk of common allergic reaction. Because its used directly on the skin, the WHO and CDC recommend hand sanitizer recipes to contain a minimum of 60% ABV for effective sanitization against transmission of COVID via the hands and fingers. While a higher ABV will effectively kill germs better than a lower ABV, many people find the extra 10% alcohol may dry out the skin.

Browse our list of recipe links below to make your own homemade hand sanitizer:

Image Source: World Heath Organization

Additional Homemade Hand Sanitizer Resources

More Recipes to make 70% ABV Disinfecting Spray for Surface Disinfection.

We recommend diluting your 100% ABV Culinary Solvent down to 80% ABV using the recipe posted on this page. Customers interested in maximizing the disinfection solution yeild from their starting volume of 100% ethanol may follow these recipes to dilute down to the lowest CDC recommended concentration of alcohol, 70% ABV:

Shop Here for Nondenatured Ethanol: Quarts | Gallons | Organic | 200 Proof | All Items

Ethanol disinfectant recommended by CDC to kill COVID on surfaces - Culinary Solvent

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