Hand sanitizer is flying off the shelves. The good news is that if you have isopropyl alcohol sitting around the house you can make your own homemade hand sanitizer quick and easy. The key to making an effective hand sanitizer is to keep the ratio at a minimum of 60% alcohol. This can be done best with 91% alcohol but 70% can be made into a spray sanitizer fairly easily.
Either of these recipes can have up to 10 drops of essential oil of your choice to add a lighter fragrance. Using your favorite germ-killing oil is a great way for essential oil users to give their homemade hand sanitizer a boost.
To make your home hand sanitizer with 91% alcohol you will need:
⅔ cup 91% Rubbing alcohol
⅓ cup Aloe vera gel
Up to 10 drops essential oils (Optional)
To turn 70% alcohol into hand sanitizer you will need:
⅔ cup plus 12 teaspoons 70% rubbing alcohol
6 teaspoons aloe vera gel
Up to 10 drops essential oils (Optional)
Mix the two ingredients together in your choice of container and mix well. This like other sanitizers will dry out your hands if you use too often. The best line of defense is still washing your hands the old fashioned way. This is not always a possibility so keeping hand sanitizer on hand can give you an advantage when you need to kill germs out and about.
If using essential oils be mindful of who you touch before they have had time to evaporate from your skin. If caring for infants opt to leave out optional essential oils to avoid reactions when touching your child.
While this sanitizer will have a long shelf like it will only last as long as the aloe gel found within the recipe. Store in an airtight container out of the reach of children that may try to ingest hand sanitizer.