This article was medically reviewed by Erik Kramer, DO, MPH. Dr. Erik Kramer is a Board-Certified Primary Care Physician at the University of Colorado. With over 15 years of experience, his clinical interests include obesity and weight management, diabetes care, and preventive care, as well as embracing a holistic approach to primary care. He received his Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) from the Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency at Central Maine Medical Center. Dr. Kramer is a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine.
There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Washing your hands with soap is better, but if you have no soap and water, hand sanitizer is the second best thing. Commercial hand sanitizer can get expensive, and with the shortage of hand sanitizer due to COVID-19, you may have to resort to making your own.[1] X Research source Go to source Making your own hand sanitizer is a simple process that results in a formula you can customize to suit your personal tastes.
Steps
Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer
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1Gather your ingredients. This sanitizer closely emulates the commercial kind, without all the chemicals and without the bad smell. Hand sanitizer should not replace hand washing; just use it when you really need it. Here's what you'll need:[2] X Research source Go to source
- 2/3 cup 99% rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) or 190-proof grain alcohol (Do not substitute other concentrations of alcohol.)
- 1/3 cup pure aloe vera gel (preferably without additives)
- 8 to 10 drops essential oil, such as lavender, clove, cinnamon, or peppermint
- Mixing bowl
- Spoon
- Funnel
- Plastic container
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Mix the alcohol and aloe vera gel in the bowl. Pour the ingredients into the bowl and use the spoon to mix them together well. The mixture should be completely smooth.[3] X Research source Go to source
- If you want the solution to be thicker, add another spoonful of aloe vera.
- Or thin it out by adding another spoonful of alcohol.
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Add the essential oil. Add it one drop at a time, stirring as you go. After about 8 drops, smell the mixture to see whether you like the scent. If it seems strong enough, stop there. If you like a stronger scent, add a few more drops.[4] X Research source Go to source
- Use whatever scent you enjoy. Lavender, clove, cinnamon, peppermint, cinnamon, lemon, grapefruit and passion fruit all work well.
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Funnel the mixture into the container. Place the funnel over the mouth of the container and pour the hand sanitizer in. Fill it up, then screw on the lid until you're ready to use it.[5] X Research source Go to source
- A small squirt bottle works well if you want to carry the sanitizer with you throughout the day.
- If you make too much for the bottle, save the leftover sanitizer in a jar with a tightly-fitted lid.
Witch Hazel-Based Hand Cleaning Solution
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1Gather your ingredients. Some people prefer not to use alcohol-based hand sanitizer, since alcohol has a strong smell and can have a severe drying effect on skin. However, witch-hazel based solutions are not effective against viruses and bacteria.[6] X Research source Go to source If your goal is to protect yourself from the coronavirus then don't rely on this type of hand sanitizer. Here's what you'll need to make a witch hazel-based hand cleaning solution :
- 1 cup pure aloe vera gel (preferably without additives)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons witch hazel
- 30 drops tea tree oil
- 5 drops essential oil, such as lavender or peppermint
- Mixing bowl
- Spoon
- Funnel
- Plastic container
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Stir together the aloe vera gel, tea tree oil and witch hazel. If the mixture seems too thin, add another spoonful of aloe vera to thicken it. If it's too thick, add another spoonful of witch hazel.
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3Stir in the essential oil. Since the smell of the tea tree oil is already strong, go easy on the added essential oils. Five or so drops should be enough, but if you want to add more, stir it in one drop at a time.[7] X Research source Go to source
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Funnel the mixture into the container. Place the funnel over the mouth of the container and pour the hand cleaning solution in. Fill it up, then screw on the lid until you're ready to use it.[8] X Research source Go to source
- A small squirt bottle works well if you want to carry the solution with you throughout the day.
- If you make too much for the bottle, save the leftover solution in a jar with a tightly-fitted lid.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionCan I use 70% isopropyl alcohol instead? If yes, how much should be used for method 1?Unfortunately, no. For the sanitzer to be effective, it needs to be at least 60% alcohol. Using a 70% isopropyl alcohol will produce a sanitizer that has an alcohol content that's too low. You could use a 91% isopropyl alcohol, as a 2 parts alcohol-1 part aloe vera mixture will produce a sanitizer that's 60.6% alcohol.
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QuestionCan I use 91% alcohol instead of 99%? Will it still be effective?Yes, you can use 91% alcohol if you're careful with your measurements. A hand sanitizer that's 2 parts 91% isopropyl alcohol and 1 part aloe vera will be 60.6% alcohol. The sanitzer needs to be 60% alcohol to be effective, so this is okay. However, if you accidentally get your measurements wrong, your sanitizer may be minimally effective.
Video
Warnings
- Do not put in the eye! If it does get in the EYE, wash out immediately, or seek medical help as quickly as possible.
References
- ↑ https://www.azfamily.com/news/stores-out-of-hand-sanitizers-here-s-how-to-make/article_6257b43a-5a57-11ea-86e2-f357df7d78bd.html
- ↑ https://relief.unboundmedicine.com/relief/view/CoRespond-Emerging-Topics/2425041/all/Homemade_hand_sanitizer_recipes
- ↑ https://cleanmyspace.com/make-your-own-hand-sanitizer/
- ↑ https://cleanmyspace.com/make-your-own-hand-sanitizer/
- ↑ https://cleanmyspace.com/make-your-own-hand-sanitizer/
- ↑ https://www.nationalacademies.org/based-on-science/covid-witch-hazel
- ↑ https://helloglow.co/hand-sanitizer-with-essential-oils/
- ↑ http://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/make-your-own-hand-sanitizer-ze0z1404zcov.aspx#axzz3KCgl8IlX
About This Article
If you’re out of hand sanitizer, you can easily make your own at home using a few ingredients. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, any hand sanitizer you use should have an alcohol concentration of at least 60% or it may not be effective. Either rubbing alcohol or ethanol will work for homemade hand sanitizer. First, pour ⅔ cup (160 mL) of 99% rubbing alcohol or ethanol into a large bowl. Then, add ⅓ cup (80 mL) of pure aloe vera gel. You can use vegetable glycerine instead of aloe vera gel if you’d like. Next, add 8-10 drops of essential oil if you’d like your hand sanitizer to have a nice smell. Consider using essential oils that have antibacterial properties, like thyme, cinnamon, rosemary, and clove. Stir all of the ingredients together, then funnel your hand sanitizer into a clean plastic bottle with a pump or spray lid. Remember that washing your hands with soap and water is more effective than using hand sanitizer. Only use your hand sanitizer when you don’t have access to soap and water, like when you’re on the go. To learn how to store your hand sanitizer, read on!
Reader Success Stories
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"In my opinion, making my own hand sanitizer is better because I have control over all the ingredients and so am not exposing my skin to chemical concoctions. It's less expensive than store-bought, and it appears very easy to make. This way I'll never run out."
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"I read your recipe a while ago and I'm checking back to be sure I remembered the recipe right. I travel by car a lot during a year to check on my mom in another state. I use your hand sanitizer when I'm having to stop at rest areas. Thanks!"
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"I was desperately looking at the store for a sanitizer. There was nothing so I searched online. You can find an answer for everything on wikiHow, so that is how this article has helped me."
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"I have tried this hand sanitiser hack and even showed it to many of my friends. They had thought it was cool and even brought theyre own bottles in!"
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"It works in such times as these when you cannot find commercial products on the shelves. Making your own from natural plant is safer."
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"No stores have any of this stuff anywhere. Luckily I have it on hand anyway now thanks to your recipe. Thanks!"
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"I used this and I made 10 bottles of it. And it is very helpful for a poor family like mine. Thanks."
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"Easy to do, and I have made several scents. Less expensive than attempting to buy it from any store!"
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"All the expensive store hand sanitizer was sold out. Thank you so much, this really helped!"
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"I wanted confirmation of both alcohol and witch hazel... you provided both, so thank you!"
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"I can make home DIY hand sanitizer from source article wikiHow, easy. Thank you."
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"it is great for COVID-19. I tried it it was awesome, such good advice."
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"Very interesting! I am going to try the first one."
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"Very helpful article for us, many thanks!"