What should I know about using vinegar and essential oils to disinfect surfaces?

[EmmaS]

I’ve been trying to make my own cleaning sprays with vinegar and essential oils, but I’m never sure if they’re actually disinfecting things properly or if I’m just moving germs around. It feels better than buying plastic bottles of harsh chemicals, but I worry it’s not enough for kitchen counters.

[AbigailLW]

I started with vinegar and water and a few drops of essential oil because it smells nice, but I learned it doesn’t reliably disinfect. It’s great for wiping away grime and fingerprints, but for kitchen counters I still use an EPA-registered disinfectant or 70% isopropyl on high touch surfaces, and I follow the label for how long it needs to sit. Also I never mix vinegar with bleach or ammonia—that stuff is scary.

[JosephNJ]

I’ve tried the spray and wipe routine and it feels cleaner, but I still worry about germs hiding in tiny crevices. The scent helps my mood, not the germs.

[ThomasRL]

I did a weekend where I left the spray to sit for a minute and then wipe, hoping it would do more than just smear grime. The visible difference was minor and I ended up frustrated and going back to the old bottles.

[Alexander91]

Do you think the real issue is dwell time or that the spray isn’t reaching all the spots, or maybe the problem isn’t disinfection at all but something else in the kitchen?