Homemade hand sanitizers are all over the internet right now, but are they a good idea? I took a deep dive into the issue to separate the facts from the hype. I’ll also share a recipe for diy sanitizer if you decide you want to give it a try.
How’s the whole hand sanitizer thing going for you? Not so good over here. We were scheduled to fly out of town Monday and I spent the better part of Sunday trying to track down some (any!) hand sanitizer. No luck, there wasn’t a drop to be had. No disinfecting wipes either. So, like I often do in situations like this, I did a little research and found out that lots of people are making their own from a simple combination of alcohol and aloe vera gel. I dug into the pros and cons, and tried my best to come up with some clarity on this complicated issue.
Heads up!
The CDC recommends washing your hands with soap and water as the best way to stay healthy. Homemade hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can be effective at killing microorganisms on your hands, but should be saved for those times when you can’t wash your hands or find commercially produced alcohol based sanitizer.
Experts are telling us to wash our hands often
Washing your hands with soap and water often is the number one precaution you can take against getting sick from any virus. Problem is you can’t always wash your hands when you’re out and about, in your car, strapped into your seat on a plane, etc. That’s where hand sanitizers come into play. Ok great…but what do you do when the shelves have been stripped bare of commercial products?
Here’s the bottom line
- Washing hands is your first line of defense
- Commercially produced alcohol based hand sanitizers can fill in when you can’t wash.
- Even though sanitizer is gone from store shelves right now in many areas, you can still buy it online, check Amazon.
- Homemade sanitizer can be made with 2 common ingredients but it must be made and used correctly, and should only be used as a last resort.
The problems with making your own sanitizer
- Hand sanitizer must be 60% alcohol to work effectively, so anything created at home has to be measured precisely.
- Utensils and bottles must be scrupulously clean, or they can contaminate your sanitizer.
- Alcohol needs to be mixed with aloe vera gel to prevent the raw alcohol from drying and damaging your skin. The two must be mixed efficiently so that when you squeeze the sanitizer into your hand you get the proper ratio of ingredients.
- Homemade sanitizer should only be used as a last resort in the event that you can’t wash your hands, or purchase commercially produced sanitizer.
Ingredients for homemade hand sanitizer
You must use isopropyl alcohol for this sanitizer, don’t raid the liquor cabinet, vodka will not work.
- rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) at 99% proof is recommended. This is important for effectively killing germs, so check the labels at your drug store, or purchase it online.
- aloe vera gel, which helps protect your hands from the harsh alcohol. Find this in regular drug stores.
- Some recipes call for essential oil, but this is just for fragrance, and I don’t suggest using it because some oils can be harmful to the skin.
You’ll also need
- a small bottle or bottles to decant your sanitizer into. If you’re planning to use it flying, make sure it’s no larger than 3.4 oz or 100 ml. I cleaned and recycled hotel shampoo bottles with a squeeze spout.
How to make homemade hand sanitizer
For hand sanitizer to be effective, it must have at least 60% alcohol content, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So plan accordingly and MEASURE out your ingredients, don’t eyeball it.
- Put 2/3 cup 99% alcohol in a clean bowl.
- Stir in 1/3 cup aloe vera gel. Mix well.
- Pour into small, clean bottles.
- Keep your extra sanitizer in a clean sealed jar at room temperature and refill your smaller bottles as needed.
How to use hand sanitizer
Technique is more important than technology here, and whether you’re washing your hands or using sanitizer, you’ve got to do it right!
- Shake your bottle vigorously to make sure the ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
- Use a dime sized amount, and don’t skimp.
- Rub into your hands for 30 seconds, allowing the product to coat all areas, including between fingers and fingertips.
- Don’t wipe your hands, let the product air dry on your hands.
- Note: if your hands are soiled or greasy the sanitizer won’t be as effective, wash them first.
This is such great info, especially right now.
Great information. I know a lot of people are feeling the pressure of finding Hand Sanitizer right now.
This recipe is awesome, thank you!!
I had 70% alchahol and 99% aloe gel on hand.
My salutation came out runny, is this normal ?
Thank you
Tammy
I found that is is somewhat runny, but thickens as you blend it. Remember that 70% alcohol is not the same as 99%, so you could need more alcohol in your batch to make up for that, and then that would be runnier than normal.
Just read a news article about a NJ woman, a store owner who made homemade hand sanitizer and selling it being arrested because the mixture she used burned the hands of four young children. Not sure I’d want to mess with non medically approved homemade hand sanitizers at this tying time as I could never be sure the mixtures used would be 100% safe. I’d have to be a chemical scientist to know those facts.
Not that I’m suggesting your mixture is not completely safe at all as I doubt you’d ever post it otherwise but for me it would be the uncertainty of making it and possibly causing someone I loved harm by telling them it’s okay to use it, as I could never live with myself if I ever did.
There are stories of unethical behavior going on during this crisis, but this sanitizer is safe, you can rest assured.
Sue, getting rubbing alcohol – even on Amazon – isn’t an option at the moment. Do you have other suggestions? I’m finding tea tree oil and aloe vera gel just fine.
I’m hoping that all the out of stock supplies are going to be coming back soon, I couldn’t find toilet paper :/ I don’t think there is another easy substitute for the alcohol, I’m afraid.
I’ve been washing my hands like a madwoman for a couple weeks now. I feel like many of us need a way to make homemade sanitizer as the commercially available ones are not to be found at this point. Thanks for the review of this, even though it’s not meant to be a first choice, it’s perfect when there’s no soap and water available.
Sorry for incorrect spelling (autocorrect) I meant aloe gel is impossible to find in stores as well, it as the actual aloe plant is in abundance in AZ could one use the gel, as it’s pure and au natural?
I can’t say officially because I don’t know, but I would think that the real deal from the plant should work.
The aloe gel s important si le to find in stores, but Aloe plants are in abundance in AZ , could one use the all natural plant and its gel?
Great post, Sue. I looked for Purell hand sanitizer locally and online. None of my local stores had any in stock. What was upsetting was the price gouging on Amazon! They were selling small containers for $20, $30, and higher!
So I ordered the alcohol and aloe vera gel and made my own at home. The recipe I used had the same proportions as yours. But your usage instructions are really helpful!
Where can I mark the post with 5 stars? I looked but couldn;t find a way to do that.
Thanks Sandy, glad this was a help. The price gouging is insane!