Published By: Ishani Karmakar

How To Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer At Home And Tips To Use It

The most effective method for preventing the transmission of infectious illnesses is the time-honoured ritual of washing one's hands thoroughly and at regular intervals. However, what can you do if you don’t have access to a restroom?

If you don't have access to water and soap, the CDC recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol as an alternative. Don’t you worry! It's easy to produce your hand sanitizer at home using only three simple ingredients. Keep reading to find out what they are.

Advised Caution

This hand sanitizer recipe is meant to be used by trained professionals with access to the equipment and knowledge required to safely make and use the product. It would be best if you didn't use homemade hand sanitizers unless you're in a dire emergency and there's no way to wash your hands. You shouldn't apply homemade hand sanitizers to kids' skin since they're more likely to use it incorrectly, increasing the risk of skin damage.

What You Need

Homemade hand sanitizer may be made with relative ease and involves only a few common items:

Alcohol, such as isopropyl or rubbing (99% alcohol volume)

Aloe Vera Gel

Use either lemon juice or essential oil like tea tree oil or lavender oil

The 2:1 alcohol-to-aloe vera ratio is the secret to a germ-free hand sanitizer. The alcohol concentration is maintained at roughly 60%, the threshold at which most bacteria are killed.

DIY Hand Sanitizer: How to Make It?

To create a hand sanitizer, combine:

Ethanol (91-99% alcohol) or isopropyl alcohol (90-94%) in a 2 portion

Aloe vera gel, 1 portion

A couple of squirts of your favourite essential oil, like clove, eucalyptus, peppermint, etc.

Please follow these guidelines while creating your homemade hand sanitizer:

The hand sanitizer should be made in a sanitary environment. First, wipe clean the counters with a mild bleach solution.

Before creating the hand sanitizer, make sure your hands are clean.

When stirring, use a brand new spoon and whisk. Be sure to give these a good scrub before using them.

For best results, use pure alcohol in your hand sanitizer and avoid watering it down.

Completely combine all of the ingredients by stirring them together.

Please keep your hands away from the mixture until it is time to use it.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Trusted Source provides the following ingredients for a large-batch hand sanitizer formula:

Liquors containing either isopropyl or ethyl alcohol

hydrogen peroxide

glycerol

Ice-cold water that has been distilled or boiled to kill bacteria