Clammy door handles, grimy shopping carts, fingerprint-laden computer keyboards – we are more aware of germs than ever! If soap and water aren’t immediately available to you, you’ll need your trusty hand sanitizer to help fend off germs, especially in public. So why not give creating your own hand sanitizer a chance?
If you have older kids at home, this may be a fun science experiment that’s also useful!
Please note that per CDC recommendations, washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is always the best method to prevent the spread of germs. If no soap and water is available, you can use a hand sanitizer that’s at least 60% alcohol. That’s where your DIY hand sanitizer can come in!
Here’s what you need to make your own hand sanitizer via Insider.com:
- ⅓ cup aloe vera gel or glycerin
- ⅔ cup isopropyl alcohol (aka rubbing alcohol) that has a concentration of at least 91%
- Optional – Essential oils (lemon, lavender, or peppermint) or lemon juice
- A clean bowl for mixing ingredients
- A spoon or whisk for mixing
- Clean, airtight container for storage (you can use a pump or squeeze bottle, as long as it’s airtight)
This recipe yields one cup of hand sanitizer. If you want larger quantities, keep in mind it’s one part aloe vera gel to two parts isopropyl alcohol. These measurements are crucial to getting the right mixture or else you risk the sanitizer not being effective enough or harming the skin.
- Start off by using your spoon or whisk to mix the aloe vera gel with the rubbing alcohol in a clean container. Mix thoroughly so the alcohol is evenly distributed throughout the gel.
- If you’re using any essential oils or lemon juice, stir in five drops. This is only to improve the scent of the hand sanitizer.
- Store in an airtight container. The container will keep the hand sanitizer effective for longer as the alcohol evaporates over time.
Now you have your own homemade sanitizer! Have you made your own hand sanitizer before? What are your favorite scents to add to it?
