How To Make DIY Hand Sanitizer
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Homemade hand sanitizer is easy to make with just a few ingredients that you may already have in your medicine cabinet. Use rubbing alcohol, aloe vera gel to make a simple gel sanitizer that can help protect your family from getting sick and from germs.
Before we start, the number one thing you can do to help protect your family from germs is to wash your hands with warm soap and water. But if soap and water are not available the CDC recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol.
If you’re looking to stock up your house with some soap, I like this one when I have to wash my hands more often. It keeps my hands from getting too dry and smells great.
Feeling under the weather? Make my favorite ginger lemon tea to help both boost your immune system and make a cough feel better. You should also try a big bowl of this super fast and simple homemade chicken noodle soup.
Important Tips For Making Homemade Hand Sanitizer
Not all homemade hand sanitizers are created equal. Here are a few tips that can help you make the best hand sanitizer for your family.
- Use 90-99% rubbing alcohol– This is really important to make sure your hand sanitizer has a high enough concentration to kill most germs. Don’t use other types of alcohol (like methanol, butanol) as they can be toxic.
- Use Aloe Vera Gel– Using aloe vera gel helps protect your skin so it doesn’t dry out too much.
I have heard of some people using baby oil gel with aloe in place of aloe vera gel. I have not tried this method, but have heard from others it is successful.
Why Did My Hand Sanitizer Separate?
I’ve had a few people write in and say they had trouble with the hand sanitizer not mixing correctly.
The first thing to check is the expiration date on your aloe gel. Aloe does expire, and if yours is old it may cause issues. (That emergency bottle you use once a year for 8 years for sunburns? It may be expired)
While I’ve never had hand sanitizer separate for me when making this recipe, I’ve found from reading up on the topic that not all bottles of aloe use the same thickeners.
It seems that there is one thickener additive in some aloe gels that might cause this separating to happen to some homemade sanitizer. I haven’t been able to narrow down what thickener causes this. You can still shake the mixture up in a bottle and use it (I might even throw it in the blender if it was me), although I realize this is not ideal.
What About Adding Oils?
Oils can be added for scent, but it isn’t necessary to making hand sanitizer. Always dilute oils when you use them, never apply to skin straight!
Essential Oils do NOT replace using alcohol to kill germs and viruses. Essential oils can give your sanitizer an extra boost along with making them smell nicer.
Can I Add Tea Tree Oil?
Tea tree oil can be harsher on the skin so test carefully, but a drop or two can also help disinfect. This sampler pack lets you try tea tree oil and a few other types.
According to Medical News Today “The oil possesses antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antifungal properties.” which may help to give your hand sanitizer an extra boost. Tea tree oil should not be used as a replacement for alcohol but can be used to give it a boost.
Can I Add Cinnamon Oil?
Cinnamon oil is also being studied for antiviral properties according to the American Society for Microbiology as stated here. Cinnamon oil should not be used as a replacement for alcohol but can be used to give it a boost.
Can I Add Oils To Make Hand Sanitizer Smell Nice?
I use a few drops of lavender oil to calm my anxiety and soothe skin.
I like citrus oils like grapefruit, lemon or orange to lift my mood.
What Kind Of Container Should I Use For My Hand Sanitizer?
You can put hand sanitizer in a few travel size bottles with a flip or squeeze top. My favorite is silicone travel bottles because they don’t leak in my purse, but any tiny bottle with a flip-top works.
This great bottle set has a variety of pumps and squeeze bottles, so you can spread them out around your house, car and purse!
You can also repurpose ANY small bottle you already have with a squeeze top or pump.
Other Ideas To Make At Home: DIY Magic Sidewalk Chalk – How To Dye Easter Eggs With Rice
How To Use Hand Sanitizer Effectively
- Let the hand sanitizer dissolve on your hands for a few seconds to kill germs, If you dump or rub it right off (like kids sometimes do), it may not have a chance to work.
- Make sure to rub sanitizer on the tops and bottoms of hands, and in between fingers.
- If hands are greasy hands the sanitizer won’t be as effective.
- If hands are visibly dirty, you may not clean hands effectively.
How To Make Hand Sanitizer
Equipment
- Large bowl
- Whisk
- Measuring Cups
- Funnel
- Small container with lid
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup aloe vera gel
- 2/3 cup 99% rubbing alcohol
- Essential oils optional
Instructions
- In a measuring cup measure your aloe vera gel and rubbing alcohol.
- With a whisk or spoon, mix together the aloe vera and rubbing alcohol until combined.
- Add a 3-4 drops of essential oil and mix well. This is an optional step.
- Using the funnel, pour the hand sanitizer in your small container.
Notes
- Use alcohol that is either 90 or 99% to make an effective hand sanitizer.
- Essential oils can be added for scent if you’d like but isn’t needed.
Did You Make This?
I would love to see it! Share your thoughts with me in the comments below!
Did you make this recipe? Tell us about what you did in the comments!
Thanks for this homemade sanitizer gel recipe. It looks like just wanted. I love the aloe in it too!
You’re very welcome, hope the hand sanitizer recipe helps!
I have the same containers you have pictured. How many does 1 batch make?
What brand of aloe did you use? Where did you get it? Same for the rubbing alcohol.
Looking to make these with camp kids. Thanks so much!
Hi Cheryl,
One batch makes a cup, which is 8 ounces. So it depends on how many ounces your containers are. Most travel-sized toiletry containers are somewhere between 1.7 and 3 ounces but check the packaging. Finding rubbing alcohol is not always easy right now. My best luck has been finding it at local grocery stores, but I did also find rubbing alcohol here online: https://www.frendsbeauty.com/99-alcohol.html
For Aloe I like Fruit Of The Earth Aloe found here: https://amzn.to/3gkqc4V
Good luck, and hope the summer camp goes well!
I also had this problem the aloe vera turned into a glob of slim . I to followed the instructions. I just thought it was the reaction to mixing rubing Alcohol (91% isopropyl) and aloe vera.. I’m glad I’m not the only one.
Yeah aloe vera and rubbing alcohol aren’t the issues likely, it’s very likely a filler they added to your aloe vera gel. It’s frustrating for sure, I’ve only had a few people who it has happened to and I haven’t been able to narrow it down to a brand or ingredient. What kind of aloe did you use, do you happen to know? Thanks! -Kristy
I followed the recipe to the T and it looks awful! It’s not mixing with the Alcohol. It looks like wet tissue in the mixing bowl! 🙄
Hi Brenda,
I’ve made this recipe multiple times and not had problems, I’m sorry it didn’t work for you. But maybe we can figure out what’s not working together. What brand of Aloe Vera gel did you use?
Thanks, Kristy
I only have Aloe with Lidocaine. Will this work?
I would not suggest using aloe with lidocaine. Lidocaine is a medication used to help with itchiness and inflammation and is a local anesthetic. It’s not generally recommended for using over and over again when your skin is not inflamed or irritated. You can read more about lidocaine here, and the possible side effects from using lidocaine when you don’t have inflammation. https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-8532-9170/lidocaine-topical/lidocaine-topical/details
I found some aloe gel available on Overstock here: https://www.overstock.com/aloe-vera-gel,/k,/results.html?SearchType=Header
Only have 70% alcohol. Would peroxide help kill more?
Peroxide could help kill more germs, but it still won’t get everything by itself. It’s not recommended to use alcohol that is the lower alcohol content. I know that is frustrating, but your best bet is to use soap and water to protect yourself. I did find rubbing alcohol with a higher concentration available online here: https://www.frendsbeauty.com/99-alcohol.html
I have a bottle of 70% alcohol. Will this work?
Hi Kathy,
A bottle of 70% alcohol will not kill all germs as when you add the aloe (which you need to help protect your skin), your percentage of alcohol drops below 60%. You need a 90-99% rubbing alcohol solution so that when you mix it with the aloe, your hand sanitizer is strong enough.
If you’re having trouble locating rubbing alcohol that is strong enough, some distilleries are starting to create alcohol specifically for hand sanitizer use. You can contact a local distillery near you, but here is also a list of distilleries currently involved. https://parade.com/1011922/jerylbrunner/distilleries-making-hand-sanitizer/
Hope that helps! -Kristy
Hey, is there a replacement for alcohol?? Incase I don’t have it ?
The alcohol is what disinfects. I know it is not always easy for people to find rubbing alcohol right now. I have seen some hacks using high proof alcohol (120-140 proof) in place of rubbing alcohol, and some distilleries are starting to now make hand sanitizer from their alcohol. According to the CDC hand sanitizers with a lower alcohol content reduces the spread of germs but does not eliminate them.
Here is a list of distilleries that are now producing hand sanitizers in the US. Call to distilleries local to you, they may be able to help. Hope that info helps.
Aloe and vitamin E oil, will this work?
Vitamin E oil should work in place of or mixed with the aloe, which will help keep your hands from drying out. You do need the rubbing alcohol in the mix as the disinfectant, don’t leave that out. Let me know how it goes!
I ordered alavera gel via Amazon. I received liquid. How do I gel it.
Hi Sandy, You could probably just use it as is and make a spray hand sanitizer. I haven’t tried this myself, but it should work in the same if you use the same proportions, that would be the easiest thing to do.
I also searched online a little bit and I’ve seen several beauty experts suggest mixing in vegetarian gelatin with aloe straight from the plant (which is really liquidy) to make aloe vera gel as they did here. https://makeupandbeauty.com/make-aloe-vera-gel-home-two-ways-make-aloe-vera-gel-face/ The vitamin E oil she recommends is hydrating and good for the skin, but you wouldn’t have to include it. Hope that helps, let me know how it goes.