Use this tutorial on how to make hand sanitizer.
It is cold and flu season. We have already had two different viruses work their way through our family. We are sick of being sick and have turned into hand washing zealots.
Scrubbing your hands with soap for 20 seconds is always the most effective way to kill germs. But when I am away from home, I bring along homemade hand sanitizer to use when we aren't near a sink. I was introduced to the DIY hand sanitizer by a friend. I complained about how drying the store-bought stuff was and she offered me a bottle of her homemade version. The recipe uses aloe vera gel as the base, instead of glycerin so it isn't as rough on your skin.
I keep aloe vera gel on hand to use in case someone gets too much sun in the summer. Since we rarely get burned, I usually have a mostly full bottle sitting neglected in the medicine cabinet to use in this recipe. If you don't have aloe vera gel, you can pick some up at your local drug store, along with 99% rubbing alcohol to use in the DIY Hand Sanitizer tutorial below.
Tips for Making Hand Sanitizer
To be safe, hand sanitizer should have a minimum of 60% alcohol in the final product, 70% if you work in a medical setting. Use 99% isopropyl alcohol which is also known as rubbing alcohol instead of using one with a lower alcohol content.
Using aloe vera gel can help reduce how dry your hands get but realize that if your hands get cracks in the skin you are at greater risk for infection. So be sure to use lotion on your hands to keep them from drying out.
Tea tree oil may have some antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties, but more research is still needed. It does have a pleasant scent that helps mask the smell of the alcohol. If you want to use another type of essential oil, please research to ensure it is safe to use on your skin.
If you are working in a medical setting, the CDC recommends the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers with greater than 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol, so for healthcare settings, you should either buy a CDC approved hand sanitizer or use the ingredient amounts listed for the 72% isopropyl alcohol hand sanitizer.
However, a study has shown that a lower percentage of alcohol has killed Coronavirus, so for those of us who just want an easy way to sanitize our hands between hand washings, and can't find hand sanitizer as the store, the 66% alcohol hand sanitizer recipe should help. But remember, the study was done in a lab setting, so take precautions, don't touch your face, and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds as soon as you can.
Homemade Hand Sanitizer Recipe
There are 2 different sets of ingredients for you to use. Choose what percentage of isopropyl alcohol you want in your hand sanitizer and use that list of ingredients. The directions are the same for both.
Ingredients for 72% isopropyl alcohol hand sanitizer:
- 1/2 cup 99% rubbing alcohol
- 3 tablespoons aloe vera gel
- 3 drops tea tree oil (optional)
Ingredients for 66% isopropyl alcohol hand sanitizer:
- 2/3 cup 99% rubbing alcohol
- 1/3 cup aloe vera gel
- 4 drops tea tree oil (optional)
Items Needed:
Directions:
- Add the rubbing alcohol, aloe vera gel, and the tea tree oil to a small bowl.
- Mix well.
- Use a funnel to divide the hand sanitizer between the bottles.
I like to leave a little room in the bottle instead of filling it to the top. That way I can shake it up before using the hand sanitizer.
Here are 10 ways to teach kids about germs. If your kids do get a cold, use these tips for staying healthy when caring for sick kids. And here are some tips for naturally dealing with a sore throat.
More DIY Tips:
12 DIY Face Mask Tutorials (includes free face mask sewing patterns and no-sew mask tutorials)
8 Ways to Keep Your Mask from Fogging Up When Wearing a Face Mask
Printable Recipe for Hand Sanitizer
Homemade Hand Sanitizer Recipe
Equipment
- 4-6 two-0unce Squeeze bottles
Materials
- 2/3 cup 99% rubbing alcohol
- 1/3 cup aloe vera gel
- 4 drops tea tree oil optional
Instructions
- Add the rubbing alcohol, aloe vera gel, and the tea tree oil to a small bowl.
- Mix well.
- Use a funnel to divide the hand sanitizer between the bottles.
Notes
More Tips for Cold & Flu Season
10 Ways to Keep Your Family Healthy This Winter
How to Create a Sick Day Kit for Kids
Melissa says
Thanks for sharing this. We generally use hand-sanitizing wipes, but I would rather use something like this.
DavetteB says
Thank you for posting a sane recipe! (I’m totally serious and not being sarcastic 🙂
So many recipes out there, especially lately, have been either ineffective or downright dangerous.
I’ll be sharing this one!
Shazyou says
Thank you for sharing this piece of information.
Mariline says
I could only find 91% alcohol. Will it still work?
Alea Milham says
Yes, you will be just barely over the 60% mark. You should not go any lower than 91% alcohol.
Mary says
Where do you get aloe vera gel?
Alea Milham says
You can usually find it in drug stores, health food stores, and sometimes grocery stores. I recently found it at my local Sprout’s grocery store near the vitamin section. I have also bought it online.
Cindi says
Can I use real aloe Vera from a plant?! Cindi
S says
It is quite liquidy, unlike the stuff you purchase. May be a dumb question- but is it supposed to be liquid or should I add more gel? Seem more like a spray bottle kind of sanitizer.
Alea Milham says
First, make sure you used aloe vera gel and not aloe vera juice. Either way, you do not want to add more gel because it will lower the alcohol concentration and make it less effective.
Caroline says
Why is my aloe turning white and not
Mixing in??
Alea Milham says
I am not sure. I have not had that problem. Does your aloe vera gel have any additional ingredients?
caroline says
Not that I read. But I ordered a different brand. So we shall see
Roxy says
How do you figure how much the alcohol content there is?
Alea Milham says
It is 2/3 99% alcohol and 1/3 aloe vera gel, so the final product is 66% alcohol.
Aimee says
What is the alcohol percentage for this mixture? I’m not the best with numbers haha
Alea Milham says
It is 66% alcohol if you use 99% isopropyl alcohol.
Kate says
Is there a replacement for aloe Vera gel?