How to Make Hand Sanitizer

When you're on the go and can't find a place to wash your hands, hand sanitizer can be a lifesaver. Commercial hand sanitizer can get expensive, plus it has a chemical scent that many find unpleasant. Making your own hand sanitizer is a simple process that results in a formula you can customize to suit your personal tastes. Choose either alcohol or witch hazel-based sanitizer.

Steps

Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer

1. Gather 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:
   
   • 2/3 cup 99% rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) or vodka
   • 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
2. 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.
   
   • If you want the solution to be thicker, add another spoonful of aloe vera.
   • Or thin it out by adding another spoonful of alcohol.
3. 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.
   
   • Lavender, clove, cinnamon and peppermint essential oils have the added benefit of providing additional antiseptic properties to the mixture.
   • If you don't like these scents, it's fine to use whatever scent you enjoy. Lemon, grapefruit and passion fruit all work well.
4. 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.
   
   • 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 Sanitizer

1. Gather your ingredients. Some people prefer not to use alcohol in their hand sanitizer, since alcohol has a strong smell and can have a severe drying effect on skin. Using a witch-hazel based sanitizer is a great alternative.^[1] Tea tree oil provides additional antiseptic benefits. Here's what you'll need:
   
   • 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
2. 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.
   
3. Stir 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.
   
4. 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.^[2]
   
   • 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.

Video

Warnings

• Do not put in the eye!

Related wikiHows

• How to Avoid Germs at the Office
• How to Make a Tomato Deodorant Cream
• How to Make Shimmering Body Lotion
• How to Make Your Own Lotion in a Blender
• How to Make Avocado and Honey Facial Skin Softeners

Sources and Citations

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