Updated: April 21, 2020
With the recent outbreak of COVID-19, many cleaning products such as bleach, disinfectant wipes, and hand sanitizer are hard to find in the grocery store. When I searched common online shopping sites such as Amazon, Walmart, or eBay, the products are either unavailable, or sellers are price gouging! One bottle of hand sanitizer could run for $50 USD or more right now online! So unless you were previously a stockpiler of hand sanitizer, you are likely running low on the supply you currently have.
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But there’s good news! You only need three ingredients to make your own hand sanitizer at home. In this article I will share some practical measures that should be taken first as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “CDC”, and then I will share a simple 3 ingredient recipe to make your own at home!
Back to Basics
No matter how convenient hand sanitizer may be, nothing beats washing your hands! Washing your hands in hot, warm, or cool water does not matter either. In order for you to kill germs at the correct temperature level, you would have to use scorching hot water that could cause burns.
According to the CDC, you should make it a practice to wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds. The 20 seconds does not include running your hands under the water before and after. The 20 seconds should be investing time to lather the soap on your hands. To illustrate, notice the photograph below from Kristen Bell. This blacklight comparison illustrates the importance of lathering your hands with soap for 20 seconds or longer:
Therefore, washing your hands with soap and water is the best way to remove germs from your hands. You should only use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Prep Your Tools
If you choose to make your own hand sanitizer at home, it is first important to ensure your tools are properly sanitized, or you could risk contaminating your mixture. If you want to make sure your hand sanitizer solution is clean and ready for use, the World Health Organization “WHO” recommends allowing your mixture to rest for 72 hours to ensure all bacteria is killed.
Here’s What You Will Need:
- isopropyl or rubbing alcohol (90% or higher)
- aloe vera gel
- an essential oil of your choice for added scent
What to Keep In Mind
- Use the strongest alcohol you can find (I recommend 90% or higher). According to the CDC, your homemade sanitizer mixture needs to contain at least 60% alcohol in order to be effective. For example, if you use an alcohol that reads 70% on the bottle, once you add the aloe vera gel, your sanitizer mixture will drop down to 47% alcohol, which is not strong enough to kill germs according to the CDC.
- Do not try to substitute isopropyl or rubbing alcohol with vodka, whiskey, or any other consumable liquor. Most vodkas only contain around 40% alcohol, so they cannot be effective.
- Properly sanitize your mixing tools and storage bottle as mentioned above.
How to Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer at Home:
Easy DIY Hand Sanitizer
Equipment
- Blender
- A Funnel
- Spray Bottle, Empty Pump Bottle, or Toiletry Container
Materials
- 2/3 cup isopropyl or rubbing alcohol (90% or higher)
- 1/3 cup aloe vera gel
- 8 drops essential oil topical essential oil only
Instructions
- Take your blender tool (I used a nutribullet), and add your isopropyl/ rubbing alcohol, aloe vera gel, and essential oil drops. Blend until mixture is properly combined.
- Pour your homemade mixture into a labeled container of your choice.
Video Instructions:
I have to make this! It’s still so hard to find hand sanitizer, and I use it a lot.
I love aloe vera. They are really a wonder of nature. I’m definitely going to used Aloe Vera sanitizer.
Thanks that was a great tip to prepare hand sanitizer at home. I have at home now but as soon as lockdown is over, need to move out. Hand sanitizers will be must and my stock will reduce. I will use your formula to prepare surely.
Thanks for the recipe and I know now a lot of people are making homemade hand sanitizer ~ many of the ingredients are not available! – Knycx Journeying
I think this is a very great product! You can customize your very own sanitizer to your own preference. I love this!
It seems I have all the ingredients with me and this very easy to prepare recipe is happening with me this evening only. Anyhow there is shortage of sanitisers in market, all thanks to being quarantined.
This looks quite interesting to try. I need to make our diy hand sanitizer too. Thanks for sharing this one.
I like the photo which explains the soap is necessary to clean. This is must needed post, I want to make hand sanitizer before complete the store bought.
Aloevera is always good and DIY sanitizer is really great. It is safe too. I will try making it at home.
It is simple to make a hand sanitizer. If you don’t have 90% alcohol, you can use 70% but you have to use a lot more alcohol. The resulting sanitizer is a lot funnier (speaking from experience). LOL
thank you!!! i had no idea aloe vera was part of hand sanitizer.
i want to try your Easy & Simple DIY Hand Sanitizer. Since there is a shortage for sanitizers, this is very timely!