115461 
Would you like to have these great bargains delivered right to your inbox? Join over 100,000 fellow deal seekers and subscribe to Deal Seeking Mom. Also become a fan of Deal Seeking Mom on Facebook for more conversation, additional deals and a peek at the freebies I receive in the mail. Thanks for visiting!
I fell in love with Clorox Anywhere a couple of years ago when I was part of a year-long test panel for it. I received free product coupons every month so that I could test it out and review it. It's since become an indispensable part of my cleaning process, yet I just can't bring myself to shell out $3.29 a bottle for something that is 99.9905% water!!!
I just used up the last bottle from my stockpile the other day, and I've really been missing it for all the little things I use it for. It occurred to me that I should just try to make my own, so after a little fancy math to convert the percentages of water and bleach to useful quantities, I came up with this simple recipe.
1 1/2 teaspoons of bleach
22 oz. water
How easy is that? I saved my pretty little Clorox Anywhere bottle to mix it in, but you could pick up any inexpensive spray bottle that holds just over 22 ounces to put it in.
My favorite use for it is to spray down the kitchen table and high chair after dinner. I let it sit to sanitize it while I clean up and load the dishwasher, and then I wipe it down with a dishrag. Letting it sit also helps "unstick" any sticky messes and makes for an easy cleanup all around!
For more Works for Me Wednesday tips, visit Rocks in My Dryer!
Tara Kuczykowski is a married mom of three boys and two girls, ages 4 to 10 years, living in Columbus, OH.
{ 100 comments… read them below or add one }
← Previous Comments
Ooh, FAB idea, Kendra!!! Off to find my Sharpie...
Ooh, FAB idea, Kendra!!! Off to find my Sharpie...
i was totally ready to make this spray, but found this quote on the net
"how long will diluted bleach continue to be effective? The minimum standards for daycare in the state of Texas require the use of a sanitation solution on a daily basis. If you use diluted bleach, you have to mix a fresh bottle of it every day because it breaks down in just 24 hours to salts which will no longer kill germs."
so do i have to make a fresh one every time i use? mmmmm
i wonder how clorox's 'anywhere spray' holds its effectiveness after 24hrs? i want to know their secret! :D
i was totally ready to make this spray, but found this quote on the net"how long will diluted bleach continue to be effective? The minimum standards for daycare in the state of Texas require the use of a sanitation solution on a daily basis. If you use diluted bleach, you have to mix a fresh bottle of it every day because it breaks down in just 24 hours to salts which will no longer kill germs."so do i have to make a fresh one every time i use? mmmmmi wonder how clorox's 'anywhere spray' holds its effectiveness after 24hrs? i want to know their secret! :D
That's an interesting quote. I go through mine pretty quickly but definitely not in one day. It always still has the faint scent of bleach right up to the last of it. I'll have to do some more digging and see what I come up with. Thanks for sharing!
That's an interesting quote. I go through mine pretty quickly but definitely not in one day. It always still has the faint scent of bleach right up to the last of it. I'll have to do some more digging and see what I come up with. Thanks for sharing!
THANKS for posting this! I did a google search for "make your own clorox anywhere" and found your post. Just what I was looking for.
THANKS for posting this! I did a google search for "make your own clorox anywhere" and found your post. Just what I was looking for.
First, the bad news: The recipe is too concentrated.* A former chemistry professor in college myself, when my wife asked me to buy it, I balked. As it happens you need 1.0 mL standard (6.0% sodium hypochlorite) laundry bleach solution per 650 mL (22 oz) bottle. This is of course assuming that you are not measuring by mass (which is not stated on the bottle but is likely the case as sodium hypochlorite is a solid). FYI there are approx. 5 mL per teaspoon.
Now for the good news: more bleach is more effective at killing germs.
*: the fancy math, for a 650mL (22 oz) bottle of anywhere
(650mL Anywhere)(0.0095mL NaClo/100mL Anywhere)(100mL bleach/6.0mL NaClO) = 1.0mL bleach
First, the bad news: The recipe is too concentrated.* A former chemistry professor in college myself, when my wife asked me to buy it, I balked. As it happens you need 1.0 mL standard (6.0% sodium hypochlorite) laundry bleach solution per 650 mL (22 oz) bottle. This is of course assuming that you are not measuring by mass (which is not stated on the bottle but is likely the case as sodium hypochlorite is a solid). FYI there are approx. 5 mL per teaspoon.
Now for the good news: more bleach is more effective at killing germs.
*: the fancy math, for a 650mL (22 oz) bottle of anywhere
(650mL Anywhere)(0.0095mL NaClo/100mL Anywhere)(100mL bleach/6.0mL NaClO) = 1.0mL bleach
Thanks for stopping by! I think I understand where I went wrong. I converted it by using percentages of water and bleach, but I didn't consider the concentration of NaClO in the bleach. I appreciate the help, and you're right, more effective is good news in my book. I haven't had any issues with discoloration or anything, so I'll stick with the recipe I've been using.
If you should happen to see my reply, do you have any information on comment #27 about how long it will retain its effectiveness?
Thanks for stopping by! I think I understand where I went wrong. I converted it by using percentages of water and bleach, but I didn't consider the concentration of NaClO in the bleach. I appreciate the help, and you're right, more effective is good news in my book. I haven't had any issues with discoloration or anything, so I'll stick with the recipe I've been using.
If you should happen to see my reply, do you have any information on comment #27 about how long it will retain its effectiveness?
Deal Seeking Mom: The way that NaClO in solution works is that it spontaneously liberates chlorine as a gas when it is dissolved in solution. As it turns out, the not all of chlorine bubbles out of solution. Some stays dissolved for a long time. When you apply the bleach solution to a surface the whole mess evaporates; the water and the chlorine eventually go their separate ways but, in the meantime, the chlorine (a potent oxidizer and nasty poison) does a number on the bacteria. The remaining solid would be a salt in the chemical sense (but not table salt, NaCl as you might expect) but sodium hydroxide.
For the really nerdy among you, here is the dissociation reaction:
NaCl + NaClO + H2O → 2NaOH + Cl2
Ordinary laundry bleach is constantly releasing chlorine gas from solution by the way. If you have a bottle of bleach that is 5 years old, it is not going to be a strong as one you have that is one year old. The same goes for the Clorox Anywhere; it may get somewhat weaker over time. Though, this very well could be the equilibrium quantity of NaClO that is destined to remain in solution at room temperature and pressure. The Clorox guys have likely thought about this. Do you need to make it every day? No.
Deal Seeking Mom: The way that NaClO in solution works is that it spontaneously liberates chlorine as a gas when it is dissolved in solution. As it turns out, the not all of chlorine bubbles out of solution. Some stays dissolved for a long time. When you apply the bleach solution to a surface the whole mess evaporates; the water and the chlorine eventually go their separate ways but, in the meantime, the chlorine (a potent oxidizer and nasty poison) does a number on the bacteria. The remaining solid would be a salt in the chemical sense (but not table salt, NaCl as you might expect) but sodium hydroxide.
For the really nerdy among you, here is the dissociation reaction:
NaCl + NaClO + H2O → 2NaOH + Cl2
Ordinary laundry bleach is constantly releasing chlorine gas from solution by the way. If you have a bottle of bleach that is 5 years old, it is not going to be a strong as one you have that is one year old. The same goes for the Clorox Anywhere; it may get somewhat weaker over time. Though, this very well could be the equilibrium quantity of NaClO that is destined to remain in solution at room temperature and pressure. The Clorox guys have likely thought about this. Do you need to make it every day? No.
Oh...thinking about response 27 for a second: there is a big difference equilibrium-wise between an open container of bleach water and a well-sealed one. The chlorine will remain in solution in a closed container much, much longer. (Think about the carbon dioxide in solution in bottle of soda pop if this is hard to imagine and it should become intuitively obvious.)
Oh...thinking about response 27 for a second: there is a big difference equilibrium-wise between an open container of bleach water and a well-sealed one. The chlorine will remain in solution in a closed container much, much longer. (Think about the carbon dioxide in solution in bottle of soda pop if this is hard to imagine and it should become intuitively obvious.)
The special thing about Anywhere is that scientists figured out how to stablize such a small amount of bleach in water and keeping it from breaking down to salt. If you mix your own solution it will work if you use it immediately, but it won't continue to disenfect for much longer. If I were you I would go ahead and spend the $3 to buy the product. Also, did you know Clorox just came out with a new Anywhere Anti-Allergen spray? It's one of my favorites!
The special thing about Anywhere is that scientists figured out how to stablize such a small amount of bleach in water and keeping it from breaking down to salt. If you mix your own solution it will work if you use it immediately, but it won't continue to disenfect for much longer. If I were you I would go ahead and spend the $3 to buy the product. Also, did you know Clorox just came out with a new Anywhere Anti-Allergen spray? It's one of my favorites!
Thanks for your perspective, Anon; however, I think I'll stick with Former Chemistry Professor's take on it. Of course for any readers that may be concerned, even if you make a new batch every day, the amount of solution that you can make from a single bottle of bleach would be far more cost effective than purchasing the ready-made solution.
Thanks for your perspective, Anon; however, I think I'll stick with Former Chemistry Professor's take on it. Of course for any readers that may be concerned, even if you make a new batch every day, the amount of solution that you can make from a single bottle of bleach would be far more cost effective than purchasing the ready-made solution.
Does it have to be "Clorox" brand or can it be any generic bleach?
Does it have to be "Clorox" brand or can it be any generic bleach?
NCJill, I'm no expert of course, but I'd say bleach is bleach and a generic could easily be substituted for even more savings.
NCJill, I'm no expert of course, but I'd say bleach is bleach and a generic could easily be substituted for even more savings.
After working in food service for about 3 yrs., when it came to wiping down and sanitizing counters and other surfaces as required by the regulations of our state health department, we kept small containers of a diluted bleach solution to clean our areas. I started using this method at home as well. But realistically, who keeps a bucket of bleach water just hanging out in your kitchen? So transferring it into a spray bottle was the next logical solution. Then the Clorox Anywhere came out. But you're right, who wants to spend that amount of money for the same thing you can make at home? Thanks for spreading the word!
SavvySavingMom´s last blog post..Money Saving Laundry Tip
After working in food service for about 3 yrs., when it came to wiping down and sanitizing counters and other surfaces as required by the regulations of our state health department, we kept small containers of a diluted bleach solution to clean our areas. I started using this method at home as well. But realistically, who keeps a bucket of bleach water just hanging out in your kitchen? So transferring it into a spray bottle was the next logical solution. Then the Clorox Anywhere came out. But you're right, who wants to spend that amount of money for the same thing you can make at home? Thanks for spreading the word!
SavvySavingMom´s last blog post..Money Saving Laundry Tip
Love this! Thanks for sharing.
Domestic Diva´s last blog post..Finally a DVD Review for the Guys: James Bond 007 in Quantum of Solace
Love this! Thanks for sharing.
Domestic Diva´s last blog post..Finally a DVD Review for the Guys: James Bond 007 in Quantum of Solace
My question is if it won't damage your clothes because the Clorox Anywhere guarantees that it won't. I just don't want to take the risk.
My question is if it won't damage your clothes because the Clorox Anywhere guarantees that it won't. I just don't want to take the risk.
here's an idea for anyone afraid of ruining clothes with bleach solution. wear white clothes or old clothes that you don't care about ruining the first few times you use it. i've never had problems every using bleach for anything. i'm just careful not to splash it all around or wipe my hands on my clothes or get my sleeves in it, etc. it really isn't that big a deal.
here's an idea for anyone afraid of ruining clothes with bleach solution. wear white clothes or old clothes that you don't care about ruining the first few times you use it. i've never had problems every using bleach for anything. i'm just careful not to splash it all around or wipe my hands on my clothes or get my sleeves in it, etc. it really isn't that big a deal.
I used to work for Clorox. The Anywhere Spray is not just water with a small amount of bleach in it. If you really want to have something that is safe and sanitizes, stick with the real stuff.
I used to work for Clorox. The Anywhere Spray is not just water with a small amount of bleach in it. If you really want to have something that is safe and sanitizes, stick with the real stuff.
I would have to agree with the naysayers. The recipe you created while it can be an effective sanitizer is the not same as the Clorox product by one critical criteria - shelf stability. Bleach when mixed with water will rapidly begin to degrade and lose efficacy, even quicker in the presence of heat and light. The solution recipe would need to be mixed on a daily basis to ensure efficacy. The clorox product is stable for 1 year through careful manipulation of the pH of the solution.
I would have to agree with the naysayers. The recipe you created while it can be an effective sanitizer is the not same as the Clorox product by one critical criteria - shelf stability. Bleach when mixed with water will rapidly begin to degrade and lose efficacy, even quicker in the presence of heat and light. The solution recipe would need to be mixed on a daily basis to ensure efficacy. The clorox product is stable for 1 year through careful manipulation of the pH of the solution.
If you look at the clorox website, it gives you the recipe for a watered down version for sanitizing baby bottles and sippy cups. About the same thing except it says to soak the item 2-5 mins. I'm just going to make 8 ozs and add 5/8 clorox or a little more in a bottle, for wiping of counters and high chairs and such.
If you look at the clorox website, it gives you the recipe for a watered down version for sanitizing baby bottles and sippy cups. About the same thing except it says to soak the item 2-5 mins. I'm just going to make 8 ozs and add 5/8 clorox or a little more in a bottle, for wiping of counters and high chairs and such.
I just went to Walmart where I usually buy "Anywhere Spray" for $2.79, and they didn't have any. So now I'm in search of making it myself just like you all. After reading all the comments I'm going to try the professor's version in a small 4 oz bottle just to clean the kitchen counters for now. But if I was in charge of product development at Clorox, I'd simply sell a (96oz) bottle which is equal to about Qty. 4 (22oz) bottles that I buy currently for $2.79 and I'd sell the large bottle for $6.00. This would be like paying half price for the 22oz bottle. Clorox still makes a huge profit, consumers still buy it instead of making their own, and the environment has less plastic bottles in landfills. Seems like a good "Go Green" campaign for them, and they'd probably increase sales of the product by building awareness....Geez!
Making a small batch when you are ready to clean is not a big deal - I keep a light proof glass bottle (4 OZ) with a rubber eyedropper of bleach next to the sink. Just a squirt in a spray bottle and I am good to go - net time to make a spray bottle full - about 1 minute.
BTW this stuff doesn't remove soil - use a cleaners for that - this is a spray and leave on final step. Clean your toilet first and then disinfect. Spraying this stuff on soiled surfaces and then wiping is useless.
I am doing some mold abatement. Does anyone know how to thicken bleach, or make it into a gel?
Thank you!
how to mack home made clorax please tell me
Sadly, I'm disapointed in this post. As someone who uses only 100% natural cleaners in my home, I was under the impression that this was going to be a substitute recipe for bleach.
The title of this post is "Make Your Own Clorox Anywhere Recipe," not "Make Your Own Clorox Anywhere Alternative Recipe." I'm not sure how you would misinterpret that.
I didn't notice anyone mentioning that distilled water, not sink water, should be used when making a Clorox mix
If I recall correctly, the base of Clorox Anywhere is benzalkonium chloride. If it is, note that it is sold as a pool disinfectant at very high concentrations. It may be economical to dilute, but perhaps impractical. The MSDS for it looks about the same for household bleach, but I would caution against bathtub chemistry as a solution. Silver dihydrogen citrate, however, looks promising and is very potent despite its innocuous MSDS profile. You could drink it.
Wouldn't vinegar and water w/ baking soda and lemon juice work just a well and be safer around food and kids?
Tamara, Did you mean baking powder? I never heard baking soda can kill the bacteria.
well, being a daycare provider for 10+ years I can say there is no substitute for bleach for certain needs, ie, cooking/prep surfaces and eating surfaces, as well as toys that have been in mouths. When multiple families or children are exposed to shared environments, and yes our states requires us to make fresh bleach water as well because of breakdowns, and uncertainty. however, i love clorox naturals for all of my other cleaning, and i do use white vinegar alot as well. i mop with vinegar and clean anything with mineral build up ( shower heads, coffee pot, faucets, etc) because it works miracles. but when i want the house to smell good i use lysol for mopping. I love clorox anywhere spray for fridge and food areas, but it is not strong enough for bathroom/changing table areas. Proven to not efficiently kill fecal or urinary bateria well enough for multiple children/families. Therefore not usable in daycares, but for a regular one or two family home, i love it! Thanks foryour posts deal seeking mom!!! Love it!!!!
I found this on the Clorox website... it explains why it has a shelf life of about 1 year, unlike a regular bleach and water mix you do yourself.
http://www.clorox.com/products/clorox-anywhere-hard-surface-daily-sanitizing-spray/faq/#faq0
Q: "What is in Clorox Anywhere Hard Surface daily sanitizing spray?"
A: "Clorox Anywhere Hard Surface daily sanitizing spray starts with very pure water and refined bleach. The product is then pH balanced so that it remains both gentle and effective for a full year. The concentration of sodium hypochlorite (bleach) in Clorox Anywhere Hard Surface daily sanitizing spray is 0.0095%. The result is a product that is gentle as water, but strong enough to kill 99.9% of common household bacteria on hard, nonporous surfaces. This means it is gentle enough to use on surfaces around kids, pets and food"
← Previous Comments