DIY: Make your Own Hand Sanitizer

I got this from a reader just yesterday – and honestly, I have everything I need to make it. I feel like being experimental this week – not today .. because I’m feeling rather sick, but maybe mid-week.

Here’s an idea for a safe and natural homemade hand sanitizer.   There’s a 99 cents Purell deal at Target, but you can make your own cheaper that doesn’t have all the chemical goop. 

The active ingredient (alcohol) needs to be at least 60% of the liquid volume to be a disinfectant (but alcohol still won’t kill all germs).  The ratio here makes it 60%.

• 1/3 c 100% Aloe Vera Gel (in skin care/sunblock aisle)
• 2/3 c 91% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol
• essential oil (optional)

Mix Aloe Vera & Rubbing Alcohol and rubbing alcohol, and put in pump bottle or squeeze bottle.

Spray hand sanitizer version (alcohol free, but lavender is still antibacterial)

• 1/4 c distilled witch hazel (mostly alcohol free, at drugstores in aisle with skin cleansers, it’s consider a "toner" product)
• 5 drops lavender essential oil (antibacterial)
• 1/4 to 1/2 tsp carrier oil (almond oil) or vegetable glycerin

Shake it up each time you spray.

Great idea – to jazz it up, you could put it in your own bottles & tie a ribbon around the top……decorate the bottle with some cute buttons … felt, foam, and more ….  there so many ideas on Pinterest.

Thanks to MJ for the idea!