DIY Hand Sanitizer

In lieu of the current pandemic and security measures put in place, here is an article that focuses on how to DIY your hand sanitizer while in the comforts of your own home. If you have kids, this is something that you can do to keep them occupied as well.

If you’ve ever wanted to make all-natural homemade disinfectants and hand sanitizers, there's no better time like the present! These small spray bottles come in handy each time you need to wash your hands and don't have soap and water.

Making your hand sanitizer, either gel or spray is so easy. What makes it even better is that you can choose your ingredients for safe, cost-efficient, and all-natural hand sanitizer.

How Do Hand Sanitizers Work?

The active ingredient in hand sanitizer recipes is the alcohol. For it to be an effective disinfectant though, the alcohol content needs to comprise at least 60% of the product. It is recommended to use 99% isopropyl alcohol or ethanol or if you are using a product with a lower percentage of alcohol, then you need to increase the amount of alcohol, otherwise, it won't be as effective. Do not use other types of alcohol like butanol and methanol as they are toxic. Aside from alcohol, depending on your preference, there's also an ingredient if you want to make it gel or spray. You can also add a few more extras to add some moisture and scent.

Best DIY hand sanitizer recipes

Homemade Hand Sanitizer by Lia Griffith

Ingredients:
● 2/3 cup of isopropyl alcohol (91% or higher)
● 1/3 cup of aloe vera gel
● 10 drops of your favorite essential oil (optional)
● 5–10 drops of Vitamin E oil (optional)

Instructions:
Mix alcohol and aloe vera gel into a cup with a spout and carefully pour the mixture into your bottle. Add Vitamin E oil and your preferred essential oil. Shake well before each use.

Lavender Hand Sanitizer Spray by Well Gal

Ingredients:
● 2 ounces (60 ml.) 120-proof vodka
● 6 – 36 drops of lavender essential oil
● 15 – 20 drops of vegetable glycerin (optional)

Instructions:
1. You need some containers to put your hand sanitizer in. Before using them, wash them with warm soapy water and then sterilize them.
2. Pour the vodka into your hand sanitizer bottle first. This will allow the essential oils to incorporate more easily.
3. Add in the essential oil drops. If making the hand sanitizer for children, the elderly, or pregnant women, use 6 drops to 12 drops of essential oil. Otherwise, use 36 drops, which is a 3% dilution.
4. Add in vegetable glycerin if desired. You can play around with the proportions depending on how dry your hands are. If you find that your hand sanitizer leaves a sticky feeling on your skin, then you may want to lessen the amount of glycerin. Make sure to test before adding more drops to get it to your liking.
5. Close tightly and shake well.

Easy DIY Hand Sanitizer by Live Simply

Ingredients:
● 3 TB 190 proof alcohol or at least 120 proof alcohol or 70% or higher isopropyl rubbing alcohol
● 1 TB aloe vera to prevent hands from drying out from the alcohol
● 1/2 tsp vegetable glycerin or vitamin E oil (optional)
● Essential oil like lavender, peppermint, or jasmine (optional)

Instructions:
1. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. To use the hand sanitizer, store the mixture in a small jar or a squeeze tube. Give it a good shake before using it.

Important Notes

For those with sensitive skin, try to keep the amount of alcohol in hand sanitizer around 60-70% because a recipe with higher concentration may cause some irritation.

Also, remember that hand sanitizers SHOULD NOT be a replacement for handwashing and only effective if you spray your hands thoroughly, allowing it to dry completely.