Making homemade hand sanitizer is SUPER easy! If you are wanting to save money or you are on the hunt for hand sanitizer and have gotten to the store and realized they are all out then you are going to love this EASY DIY Hand Sanitizer.
Homemade Hand Sanitizer
While hand washing is the most important and best way to keep germs away it is not always possible. If you are out and about on the go and touching public places like bathrooms, door handles and grocery carts having hand sanitizer is an alternative to washing your hands. However always remember the best way to keep germs at bay is to wash your hands.
According to Wikipedia, “Alcohol has been used as an antiseptic at least as early as 1363”, which is the main ingredient in this DIY hand sanitizer.
The CDC says that alcohol in hand sanitizer needs to be greater than 60% to be affective. The CDC also says, “Many studies have found that sanitizers with an alcohol concentration between 60–95% are more effective at killing germs than those with a lower alcohol concentration or non-alcohol-based hand sanitizer”. To make sure our homemade hand sanitizer is going to get the job done, we will be using 91% rubbing alcohol.
How to Use Hand Sanitizer
Pump two pumps into the palms of your hands and rub all over hands, back and front until hands are dry.
What type of Alcohol to use
When you are making hand sanitizer the most important ingredient is the rubbing alcohol. This is what is going to keep the bacteria away and clean your hands of bacteria. You need to use 91% rubbing alcohol or greater when you are making DIY hand sanitizer.
It is also important that you ONLY use rubbing alcohol when making hand sanitizer. Any other type of alcohol is dangerous and toxic.
Best Essential Oils for Homemade Hand Sanitizer
When you are making DIY Hand Sanitizer you can add scents to it with essential oils. It is not a must do when you are making it but if you want scented hand sanitizer then you can add essential oils. There are also some essential oils that are better then others to add to it to give an extra germ fighting boost. Thieves by Young Living, Germ Fighter by Plant Therapy and Oregano essential oil are great options for added germ fighting. If you are using essential oils just to have it smell better use any essential oil you love.
Supplies Needed for Making Sanitizer
- Bowl
- whisk
- hand pump bottle
- funnel
Homemade Hand Sanitizer Ingredients
- Rubbing Alcohol 91% or higher (isopropyl alcohol)
- Aloe Vera Gel
- Essential Oils (optional)
*If you need an alternative for the Aloe Vera gel you can use glycerin.
How to Make Homemade Hand Sanitizer
In a large bowl add the Aloe Vera Gel.
Next add the Rubbing Alcohol and using a whisk mix until they are both well combined.
Add in a few drops of essential oils if you want to.
Using a funnel, pour the homemade hand sanitizer into a pump bottle.
Enjoy making your own products at home? Check these out!
- How to Make Homemade Disinfecting Wipes
- Vanilla Coconut Shaving Cream
- DIY Lavender Lotion
- Homemade Vanilla Extract
- Homemade Playdough
How to Make Homemade Hand Sanitizer
Supplies Needed
- 2/3 Cup Rubbing Alcohol 91% or higher
- 1/3 cup Aleo Vera Gel
- 8-10 drop Essential Oils optional
Instructions
- In a large bowl add the Aleo Vera Gel.
- Next add the Rubbing Alcohol and using a whisk mix until they are both well combined.
- Add in a few drops of essential oils if you want to.
- Using a funnel, pour the homemade hand sanitizer into a pump bottle.
There are lots of things you can make at home instead of buying in the store, many of them will save you a ton of money and as far as I am concerned the homemade versions are much better then the store bought. Check out some of my favorite things to make at home!
- How to Make Homemade Pie Crust
- How to make Homemade Foaming Handsoap
- homemade Stain Remover
- Coconut Lime Salt Scrub
- Homemade Coffee Scrub
- Homemade Pedialyte
- Pedialyte Popsicles
Comments & Reviews
Din says
This would be great…if we could find rubbing alcohol right now! I’ll stick to soap and water until then.
Nancy says
This is incorrect. Anything higher than 70% rubbing alcohol needs to have distilled water. This won’t kill anything except your skin. The distilled water activates the higher levels of alcohol. Check WHO and the CDC for the correct information. Misinformation will get people sick.
MadreHarrison says
My solution is pretty runny. Will it gel up more as it sits?
Stephanie says
its not as thick as normal stuff
Jessica says
I think the longer it sits it thickens up. At least in my experience of making it.
CJB says
When you dilute 91% alcohol by 33% using the 1/3 cup of aloe , you end up with 60.66% alcohol, then further dilute it with adding essential oils, your final alcohol percentage may be less than 60%.
It’s safer to use 3/4 cup alcohol and 1/4 aloe so your alcohol percentage remains around 75% minus the essential oil further dilution. CDC recommends greater than 70% when using Isopropanol and greater than 60% when using ethanol. Do the math to make certain your recipe meets CDC recommendations.
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T
Goose says
I used 99%. Os it usually as runny as water?
Yvonne E Siber says
According to the CDC website, 70% to 95% isopropyl alcohol is okay to use in DIY hand sanitizers.