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There are few issues that stir up a group of “crunchy” (naturally-minded, real-foodie, homemade) ladies as much as hand sanitizer.
Okay, maybe vaccines. But, we’re not going there. Let’s stick with dirty hands and the clear liquid found in millions of purses and classrooms across America.
Before kids I had a “thing” (me and my “things”) against dirt, but oh my, how things changed once my first baby entered the picture. Suddenly messes and dirt (and other unmentionables) stuck to my hair, clothes, skin, and house like cheese on a good grass-fed burger. The need to embrace dirt (not being dirty, just a few extra clingy good germs) became apparent.
Here’s the funny thing about dirt: the more I embraced it, the less we got sick. I’m sure a good diet also helped, along with natural preventives such as: probiotic kombucha, elderberry syrup, and homemade chicken broth.
Now, please hear me out. I’m not talking about smothering our bodies in buckets of dirt and rubbing our hands on every public grocery cart in the store. Please don’t do that! Instead, let’s avoid the constant urge to sanitize our living conditions with millions of toxins in a state of paranoia. Cleaning is good, very good! But a little bit of healthy dirt (allowing our kids to run around outside, garden, and get dirty every now and then) is wonderful for the immune system. In fact, our guts need good bacteria to fight off the bad guys–this is an important aspect to having a healthy and thriving immune system.
Before we throw away our soap and hand sanitizer, I would like to tell you that I believe in cleanliness. I believe a good liquid hand soap is important to stock in the kitchen and bathroom, laundry soap is a necessity (obviously), and body wash is a smart choice. I also believe hand sanitizer has a time and place: after handling money or touching the never-washed grocery store carts.
For those times when good ol’ soap and water just aren’t available, and hands needs to be washed, I keep a homemade hand sanitizer in my purse, made with a few simple ingredients.
Let’s embrace good hygiene, naturally. I promise it can be done.
More Natural Ways to Protect Against Unwanted Germs
- Homemade Hand Sanitizer Spray: A simple spray for when you need to wash your hands and don’t have soap and water. If you want a spray instead of a gel, this recipe is for you.
- Homemade Disinfecting Spray: A spray for counters and surfaces made with tea tree essential oil, vinegar, and water.
- Natural Ways to Boost the Immune System: My tried-and-true ways to naturally maintain a healthy and happy immune system.
- Homemade Elderberry Syrup: A homemade remedy that’s delicious and beneficial.
Hand Sanitizer
Ingredients
- 3 TB 190 proof alcohol or at least 120 proof alcohol or 70% or higher isopropyl rubbing alcohol (the original recipe called for witch hazel, however, alcohol is considered the best and what's currently recommended in light of recent issues). Don't use other types of alcohol (methanol, butanol) since they're toxic.
- 1 TB aloe vera (this is to prevent hands from drying out from the alcohol)
- 1/2 tsp vegetable glycerin or vitamin E oil (optional, again adds moisturizing properties to the hand sanitizer to benefit your hands)
- essential oil (optional, like a few drops of tea tree or lavender essential oil) see note below
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a bowl.
- To use the hand sanitizer store in a small jar or a squeeze tube (like this). This recipe will make 2 fluid ounces (one tube.) If you prefer to make a spray, use this recipe.
Notes
More Natural Remedies
The aloe vera gel and the alcohol don’t mix together at all, The gel stays separated and begins to harden in the alcohol. What am I doing wrong?
Hi Ben,
I’ve never had that issue, you do need to shake before each use. You can email a picture to help us understand and we can try helping!
[email protected]
LS Team.
Hi. I made this recipe and was surprised that the solution turned purple. Any idea what might have happened? I had rinsed the container with boiling water before I bottled it up.
Hi Yvette,
Unfortunately I have no idea why it could have turned purple.
LS Team.
Is the aloe used in this recipe the same as fresh aloe?
Hi Nadira,
This specific brand has no preservatives, so technically yes.
LS Team.
So, I could substitute for fresh?
YES! 🙂
LS Team.
Not to be a Debbie Downer, but your recipe needs to be stronger! Minimum 60% isopropyl alcohol, that is, 60% of the *finished volume*. (CDC COVID-19 guidelines)
If you are using 60%- or 70% strength alcohol, measuring 2/3 finished volume, the total strength is cut by the AloeVera. The alcohol should be 100% strength, so when it’s diluted by the aloe, the total strength will be 60%.
There’s no 100% isopropyl alcohol at target or CVS, but they do sell 91%, and i think 99%. But good luck finding it bc everybody and his brother are buying it!
Best to use wet ones (baby wipes) tho it has no alcohol, is second best if you can’t get to a proper sink to wash with soap n hot water.? (for 20 seconds!!)
Hi Chuey,
Thank you for your comment. This is a very old post and Kristin has updated to reflect what is needed to kill the coronavirus.
LS Team.
Just made this for my granddaughter as everything has been sold off the shelf with this corona virus. The idea of vitamin E is great for softening the hands I think that any of the essential oils that are nit viral would be great for this. Thank you
Thanks Chrissie!
LS Team.
I bought “After sun gel with Aloe” it’s green and gel-like. Will this work to make the sanitizer or do I have to purchase another brand/kind.
Hi Leslie, unfortunately that is not real aloe. If you look at the ingredient list, aloe is one of the last ingredients one it. Please let me know if you have other questions.
LS Team.
Hi Kristin, do you believe that your formula is more effective than shop brought hand sanitizer? I am just curious because I am eager to try it, however I am not sure if it causes any irritation to the skin.
Hi Selina,
I wouldn’t say its more effective. But it is natural.
LS Team.
Glad I found your recipe in as commercial hand sanitizers are sold out everywhere due to Coronavirus. The mixture was a little too thick for my liking, so revised the recipe to 2 Tablespoons of 70% isopropyl alcohol, which worked great for me. I used a syringe to fill my plastic squeeze bottles as the mixture was still too thick to pour. I will no longer purchase hand sanitizers!
Thats great! Glad you were able to tweak it to your liking.
LS Team.
Hi! Thank you so much for sharing the recipe! Quick question though, I tried making it but then it turned out to be quite sticky. Do you have any idea to make it not sticky? Thanks!
Hey Ana, It will be kind of sticky–due to the aloe. You could reduce the aloe amount.
Thank you for sharing this info, Kristin. I’ve been using Everyone hand saniztizer gel, but it’s pricey. I decided to search for a DIY recipe and chose your post in the list of hit results from Startpage. I’m thinking about experimenting with different essential oils for scent; rosemary will be one of them.
Thats great, Kurt! Thanks for rating and commenting, means a lot to Live Simply.
LS Team.
What is the shelf life of this item?
As long as the aloe has a preservative in the formula, it will last a couple of months.
Thanks for sharing this with us. Is that alcohol mandatory?
Hey Gloria, Yes, it is.
Gloria, when you posted this we had not yet been hit with the Corona Virus. Now that we have, the CDC is very specific that the concoction must be minimum 60% alcohol.
This means you need a stronger alcohol than a 60/70% strength. They sell a 91% one, but not sure the math to make that into final strength of 60% minimum recommended. If you used maybe 1T aloe vera, to 4T 91% alcohol, you would be closer but it would be a little watery. Maybe a different kind of bottle, i like the little pump one my purell came in, a 2 oz container. I bet you can find those on Amazon.
Hi Chuey,
Thank you for your comment. This is a very old post and Kristin has updated to reflect what is needed to kill the coronavirus.
LS Team.
The tubes you recommend say not to put alcohol in them. Did you have a problem with that?
Hey Chris, Good catch! I never noticed this recommendation. I haven’t had an issue with Witch hazel in the tubes. You could use something else for storage. Not sure what else would be good.
Hello Kristin,
Odd question: I like to keep hand sanitizer in my car. Is this any less effective if left in the car?
Thanks!
Hey Shannon, It should. be. Just keep it out of sunlight.
Hi Kristin! So looking forward to try on your recipe. Btw, for the aloe vera gel, could I use those from Korea “Nature Republic Aloe Vera Soothing Gel”?
Hey Judy, I’m not familiar with that aloe.
Hi! For some reason I feel like the tea tree oil is making my skin very dry. By how much should o reduce it by? Or should I increas the aloe or vitamin e? Thanks
Hi Judy, yes, tea tree oil can dry out your skin. I would recommend increasing either the aloe of vitamin E.
LS Team.
Hello! Can I only use..alchohol. aloe vera gel and any oil?
Quick question: do the essential oils you suggest have sanitizing properties or are they merely for scent? I ask because I love this stuff, but my husband cannot stand the scent of tea tree oil…bad childhood memories ?
Hey Mary, They do provide beneficial sanitizing properties–the active ingredients. You could try this hand sanitizer instead: https://livesimply.me/2016/12/04/homemade-hand-sanitizer-spray-kid-friendly/ Although it also has tea tree in it.
Hi Kristen, just stumbled upon your recipe and have a question. A friend and I made hand sanitizer last week with a recipe using only aloe vera gel, tea tree oil and an essential oil.
Ours didn’t turn out as “squeezable” as a shop bought version, while yours in the pic in the bowl above looks more squeezable/runny than ours.
I was wondering if it was the witch hazel that makes it more squeezable?
Hey Kiki, It could be the aloe vera gel used. Some gels are more watery than others.
Oh I am so happy to find your site. I have been searching for ways to make homemade cleaners for a while! Your recipes are the kinds I would like to try!
we have an aloe allergy in our family, so I was wondering if there is a sub for the aloe in the recipe? Thanks.
Hey Ang, I might just use a bit of water. I can’t really think of anything else that may be substituted.
I would suggest using your favored search engine for aloe vera gel substitutes or alternatives.