Here's a Quick Way to Make the Best Disinfectant Wipes

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Inside: I show you how to make the best disinfectant wipes with common household items you probably have sitting around right now!

Learning how to make my own disinfecting wipes started as an easy way to save money, but now it’s saving me from the stress and hassle of finding them in stores or online.

Today I’m sharing the quick tutorial that I’ve used for years.

The best part is, you can make these wipes using items you probably have sitting on your shelves already!

Here’s What You’ll Need

Paper towels. I prefer the rolls that have the choose your own size sheets, but any type will do.
All-Purpose Cleaner. I choose to use one without bleach, but you may want to use a stronger cleaner from time to time.
Measuring cup. This glass one makes it easy to mix up the solution.
Container. Make sure it’s tall enough and has a lid.

Homemade disinfectant wipes sit on a counter next to Lysol cleaner.

How To Make DIY Disinfecting Wipes

Cut your paper towel roll in half right in the middle (I use a bread knife for the job).
Squish the half roll into the container.
Fill up the measuring cup with 1.5 cups hot water (you can use less if you want the solution to be more concentrated).
Add the cleaner until you get 2 cups of liquid total. Mix well.
Pour the cleaning solution over the paper towel half in the container.
Cover the container with its lid and let it sit for 2 minutes.
Remove the container’s lid, pull out the brown paper towel center, and pull up the center wipe for use.

**The great thing about this tutorial is that you can use any cleaner you’d like. If you’re looking for specific cleaners that will kill Covid-19, please refer to the CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting.

And that’s all there is to it! Check out my video tutorial below if you’re a more visual learner like myself and want to see the steps in real-time.

FAQs

My paper towels are disintegrating! What happened?

One of two things could have happened:

1. You used cheap paper towels. You’ll need the heavy-duty, two-ply paper towels for these wipes to work correctly.

2. You put too much liquid on the paper towels. I’ve found that 2 cups of liquid is the perfect amount to saturate the paper towels without causing them to break down.

How can I stop the wipes from ripping when I pull them out?

Paper towels aren’t as durable as regular Clorox or Lysol wipes because they’re not made of a woven cloth. You’ll need to be gentle when you pull them out.

If they’re ripping when you pull them out, get a few out of the container so you have room to grab them further down so they don’t rip.

Do DIY disinfecting wipes really work?

Yes! As long as you’re using a disinfecting cleaner.

If you’re using dish soap or vinegar, these wipes will be great for cleaning, but they won’t disinfect any surfaces.

Want More?

Woman cleans door knob with DIY cleaning wipes.

If you liked this tutorial, be sure to check out my home cleaning checklist post (with free printable!)

You can also get access to all of my cleaning printables as a bonus for joining my newsletter. Download my Spring Cleaning checklist, stain removal guide, and more when you sign up down below.

Your Turn

Have you made these DIY disinfectant wipes before or do you plan to now? Let me know in the comments!