When cold and flu season come every year, people reach for chemicals. They reach for chemicals to disinfect and keep germs at bay or chemicals to make them feel better and lessen symptoms. However, there are many natural alternatives to synthetic chemicals that can be used to disinfect hands and surfaces and treat cold and flu symptoms.
Natural Surface Disinfectant
This recipe for a spray surface disinfectant is simple to make and can be mixed with different essential oils to create great scents as well. Skip the Lysol and try this:
- ¼ cup tea tree essential oil
- ¼ cup lavender or other scented essential oil
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- 2 cups distilled water
Pour the ingredients into a spray bottle and shake well to mix. Substitute the lavender essential oil with any other essential oil to make it smell nice.
Natural Hand Sanitizer
There are many different options for hand sanitizers. Some people prefer a simple water and essential oil concoction while others like to use a formula that is gel-based.
Water-Based Hand Sanitizer
- 1 cup distilled water
- 1 tablespoon thyme leaves
- 10 drops tea tree essential oil
In a pot, bring the water to a boil, remove from heat and add the leaves. Cover the pot and let it sit with the leaves for about thirty minutes. Strain the water mixture and make sure the liquid is cool. Pour the liquid into a spray bottle and add the essential oil. Shake to mix. This hand sanitizer will last about a week or slightly longer in a refrigerator.
This hand sanitizer will separate in the bottle. This is normal, just shake the bottle before each use.
Gel-Based Hand Sanitizer
- 1 cup aloe vera gel
- 1 teaspoon rubbing alcohol
- 2 teaspoons glycerin
- 8 drops of tea tree oil
Mix all of the ingredients in a metal mixing bowl without heat and pour into a squirt bottle. Squirt ketchup bottles are good for keeping large batches until they’re needed.
Herbal Decongestant
- 3-4 cups distilled water
- 4 drops peppermint or eucalyptus essential oil
- 1 teaspoon rosemary leaves
- 1 teaspoon thyme leaves
In a pan, bring water to a boil. Remove from heat and add the essential oil and leaves. Cover and let sit for five minutes. Put the pan on a table and protect the table from the heat. Drape a towel over your head and shoulders and lean over the pan with the face about 12 inches away from the pan. Inhale gently for a minute or so. Follow with a splash of lukewarm water.
Sources:
Our Plain and Simple Life: That Homemade Hand Sanitizer...
Ecosalon: DIY Hand Sanitizer and Disinfectant
Siegel-Maier, Karyn. The Naturally Clean Home: 150 Super-Easy Herbal Formulas for Green Cleaning. Storey, 2008.
Amy Schumaker - Amy is a young musician based out of Philadelphia. A native of northeast Ohio, she went to Capital University Conservatory of Music, where ...
