Make your own natural hand sanitizer using ingredients you can find in your grocery store or pharmacy. This post includes easy instructions for a hand sanitizer spray recipe with essential oils.
UPDATED with an additional recipe!
No hand sani in local stores? Make your own hand sanitizer with simple ingredients!
Have you found that you can't find hand sanitizer anywhere? With shortages of hand sanitizer, keeping ourselves free from germs is essential.
What's the best thing we can do to keep ourselves safe? The experts advise that effective hand-washing is Number One on the list. And that doesn't mean a quick swish under the tap. Check out this 6-step hand-washing procedure that explains how we should be washing to kill germs.
While washing our hands properly is the best way, sometimes we're not near running water and soap. Hand sanitizer may help to keep us germ free until we can get to a sink to scrub up.
The best hand sanitizer is one that contains at least 60% alcohol. This homemade recipe contains witch hazel and tea tree oil which have anti-viral properties, but it is NOT as effective as those containing alcohol.
Here's a simple recipe that I made in 3 minutes. I mixed up enough to have a spray bottle in each of our vehicles and one for my purse.
DISCLAIMER: This home remedy for hand sanitizer contains ingredients generally recognized as being antiviral. However, it has not been lab-tested to determine its effectiveness. It also does not include the 60% alcohol content recommended by the Center for Disease Control. It's always best to check with your health care professional before using a home remedy.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need. My local grocery store had everything I needed, all in one spot. Natural health stores or pharmacies will also stock these supplies.
Witch Hazel: has bacteria-fighting properties. I chose one with Aloe Vera, which also has germ-fighting properties while adding moisture to my skin.
Vegetable Glycerine: keeps moisture in your skin by reducing water loss. It also helps to thicken the hand sanitizer slightly.
Tea Tree Oil: also helps to destroy bacteria and has anti-viral and anti-fungal properties.
Other Essential Oil: (optional) Choose another antiviral essential oil like Thieves Oil, Cinnamon, Clove, Oregano, Frankincense or Eucalyptus.
a 2-ounce spray bottle: for storing your homemade natural hand sanitizer
Combine and store
Note: I'm not endorsing these products and this is not a sponsored post. These are simply the products I chose to use.
Simply combine the ingredients in the amounts as listed and pour into a 2-ounce spray bottle. (Amazon Affiliate links)
1/4 cup Witch Hazel: If you are using the Original Witch Hazel (without aloe vera) you may want to add 1/4 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
20 - 30 drops Tea Tree Oil
1/2 teaspoon vegetable glycerine
6 drops of other Essential Oil. (optional) I like Thieves Oil, but you can use other antiviral essential oils such as Cinnamon, Clove, Oregano, Frankincense or Eucalyptus.
UPDATE !
Here's an alternative recipe for hand sanitizer that uses rubbing alcohol instead of witch hazel.
You'll need :
Rubbing Alcohol with 70% alcohol or higher
Aloe vera gel
Tea Tree oil
A pleasant smelling essential oil (like lavender)
A small 2-oz squeezable bottle
Fill the bottle about 2/3 full with rubbing alchohol.
And 10 - 15 drops of both lavender essential oil and tea tree oil.
Fill the remainder of the bottle with aloe vera gel.
Shake and use as needed.
When using hand sanitizer, apply a small amount to the palm of one hand and rub it all over the surfaces of your hands, including in between your fingers, until your hands are dry.
Stay safe! We're advised that the best way to do so is to wash our hands frequently, avoid touching our face, avoid leaving our homes unless essential, and self-isolate if we're feeling ill.
Disclaimer regarding essential oils: The essential oils used in this hand sanitizer recipe are generally considered safe. However, there is always a risk that you (or even your pets) may have a reaction to one of them. Essential oils should always be used diluted and should only be taken internally when advised by a health professional. It's up to you to educate yourself about the possible side effects of essential oils before using.
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