How To Make Disinfectant Wipes

Mar 23, 2025

30 minutes

Beginner

$5–10

Ubiquitous since the pandemic, disposable disinfecting wipes kill germs on surfaces but create tons of waste. Plastic tubs end up in landfills and our oceans, and the wipes themselves are often disposed of improperly. Never flush any kind of wipe, even if the manufacturer claims they're flushable.

The good news is, you don't have to contribute to the ever-growing disposable wipes industry. It's easy to make your own. All you need is isopropyl (aka rubbing) alcohol, a reusable container and paper towels or strong napkins. Reduce your footprint further by using 100% recycled paper products.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says 60% to 90% alcohol dilution works for disinfection, so there's no need to go higher even if you see it in the store. And while bleach is a great disinfectant, the efficacy of diluted bleach drops after 24 hours. So unless you plan to use all of your bleach wipes in one day, alcohol works best.

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