How to Make Hand Sanitizer Complete Guide
Learn how to make DIY hand sanitizer that is natural and simple. This homemade hand sanitizer works and smells great, saves money, and helps fight cold and flu!
How to Make Hand Sanitizers
As a former public school employee, hand sanitizer was a mainstay on my desk. (And in any other strategic location that might encourage students to use it when needed). However, I had a love-hate relationship with this germ-fighting, often offensively-scented gel.
I typically didn’t have time for the necessary 30-second hand wash while working with kids, but knew I had touched something icky, gooey, and most definitely packed with tons of bacteria.
Commercial hand sanitizers smell so strongly of chemicals that I can not have it on my hands all day. More importantly, I worried about the safety of these commercial formulas for myself and the kids.
The good news? There really is no need for your nose and eyes to burn every time you apply hand sanitizer, and this DIY formula won’t dry your hands out! Learn how to make DIY hand sanitizer that is non-chemical, and naturally scented.
Our version of hand sanitizer can be made right at home with powerful essential oils and a few other ingredients. The essential oils I chose to use boast the following beneficial properties: antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal.
Homemade Hand Sanitizer: A Natural DIY Recipe
Yield 4 ounces
Arm yourself with this softly-scented natural homemade hand sanitizer.
Ingredients
- 5-10 drops lavender essential oil (where to buy 100% pure lavender EO)
- 30 drops tea tree essential oil (find 100% pure tea tree EO here)
- 3 ounces ethyl alcohol, 90%+ (180+ proof) or 91%+ isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
- 1 ounce pure aloe vera gel (where to buy 100% pure aloe vera gel)
- ¼ teaspoon Vitamin E oil (helps soften hands!)
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Instructions
- Add essential oils and Vitamin E oil to a small glass bowl or container and swirl to mix.
- Add alcohol to the oils and swirl again.
- Combine this mixture with the aloe vera gel and mix well.
- Shake gently before each use. (Sanitizer should last several months with the addition of Vitamin E and alcohol to help preserve.)
Transfer hand sanitizer to small, clean squirt bottles. Also, use colored bottles like this so the essential oils in the recipe are not exposed to light. Finally, this recipe is perfect for throwing into a purse or a backpack!
Notes
To make a hand sanitizer spray, simply use witch hazel instead of aloe vera gel in this recipe.
Tips and warnings
The lavender is used in the recipe to round out the strong scent of the tea tree oil. If you’re not a fan of lavender, choose another antibacterial oil such as rosemary, sage, sandalwood, or peppermint. (where to buy 100% pure essential oils)
Always take care when handling essential oils. They are very concentrated, powerful plant extracts. If you are new to using essential oils you may want to test for an allergic reaction before slathering on this homemade hand sanitizer.
As with any natural plant, family members could be allergic. For a simple patch test mix one drop of essential oil with about 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Rub a bit on the inside of your elbow, cover with a bandage, and wait 24 hours to see if there is any negative reaction.
Note: If you’ve been reading recent reports about how unhealthy the use of hand sanitizers can be, keep in mind that the danger exists in the chemicals used in commercial sanitizers.
This homemade hand sanitizer recipe uses NONE of those harmful chemicals and relies on pure essential oils to kill germs. One of the unique qualities of essential oils is that they do not cause bacterial resistance like antibacterial chemicals, and are actually effective in killing strains of bacteria that have become resistant to our man-made medicines and chemicals. (source)
Sometimes it’s good to allow our bodies to encounter germs and strengthen our immune systems, but sometimes it’s nice to have a hand sanitizer available for emergencies. (Think dirty porta-potty or child next to you having a sneeze-fest.) In these cases, this gentle homemade hand sanitizer is one of the best alternatives to commercial brands.
