Desperate times call for desperate measures and that means keeping your hands as clean as possible with a homemade hand sanitizer.
Hand sanitizer is not by any means a replacement for washing your hands thoroughly, however, it can be a big help when you don’t have access to soap and water.
If you seem to find yourself in a scarcity of commercial hand sanitizers, don’t worry! Making hand sanitizer is much easier than you think and only takes minutes to do.
Here is a guide provided by the World Health Organization to produce hand sanitizer in bulk.
When creating your own hand sanitizer it is recommended to use rubbing alcohol with a minimum of 91% alcohol so you can make sure that it has the germ-fighting power you need.
- When using hand sanitizer, rub you hands together until it feels dry and do not wipe or rinse your hands as it will reduce its effectiveness.
- Supervise kids when they use hand sanitizer to ensure they do not swallow it.
To find out more, check out these 22 effective and informative homemade hand sanitizer recipes.
1. Hand Sanitizer Spray
Learn how to make an easy-to-apply hand sanitizer spray and fill up your cute spray bottle! Great to carry in your bag and use it on the go.
You never know when you’ll be in a crowded place and you’ll feel the need to want to freshen up and clean your hands.
2. Hand Sanitizer with Vodka
This tutorial gives you two options for your hand sanitizer – in liquid spray form or in gel form.
The recipe uses vodka, aloe vera gel, and aromatic essential oils. These hand sanitizers are easy-to-make and effective for keeping your hands clean.
3. Alcohol Hand Sanitizer
This DIY will talk you through the difference between isopropyl and ethyl alcohol so you can understand what makes each of them unique.
This article also discusses the benefits of different essential oils and how to use them.
4. Two Ingredient Hand Sanitizer
This DIY only needs two simple ingredients and just like that, you’ll be cleansing your hands after a long metro trip or after using the dirty shopping carts at the mall!
Rubbing alcohol and aloe vera gel will do the trick when needing a little freshen up. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be washing your hands though…
5. Simple Hand Sanitizer
Who doesn’t love the sweet smell of lavender? Not anyone that I know. Combine that with frankincense and just a couple more ingredients and voila!
Take a look at how combining essential oils can create new aromas and can also have great health benefits.
6. Essential Oil Hand Sanitizer
A beautiful combination of lemon, tea tree and lavender essential oils mixed together with witch hazel and aloe vera gel.
You are going to fall in love with the smell of this fresh hand sanitizer, and so will your friends!
7. Lavender Lemon
An excellent combo of citrus and floral – mix your lemon and lavender essential oils together to create a lovely mist.
This project takes only moments to make and will last you for a long time.
8. Citrus Mint Hand Sanitizer
A great gift for your friends, family or for yourself. A great way to pass the time indoors and do something productive as well.
This tutorial has a bonus of a pretty label that you can print off and add to the bottle.
9. Thieves Hand Sanitizer
I am a huge fan of thieves oil – it has so many great benefits and it smells lovely!
This sanitizing spray is great to spray in a smelly gym bag, to give your house a refreshing smell or to spray on your hands.
10. Easy Hand Sanitizer
As simple as combining all the ingredients directly into your spray bottle and using it as you wish.
You can also combine all the ingredients into a bowl and fill various bottles and give the extras as gifts.
11. Back-Up Hand Sanitizer
Of course, washing your hands is a more effective way to protect yourself against sickness, however, sometimes you’re not able to.
Having a hand sanitizer “on-hand” is a great back-up plan. Lather it on after being in public places to kill off some of the germs.
12. Little Tykes Hand Sanitizer
This article actually lays out more than one recipe for hand sanitizer. It walks you through effective essential oil mixes according to age.
Little Tykes is a hand sanitizer recipe for little ones aged 2 – 6. It mixes lavender and tea tree oils.
13. 5 Minute Citrus Hand Sanitizer
In just 5 minutes you will have your own portable hand sanitizer that you can apply with ease as frequently as you desire!
A sweet combination of citrusy lemon and orange essential oils and a few drops of tea tree oil.
14. Peppermint Rosemary Hand Sanitizer
A cool combination of peppermint, rosemary, cinnamon, and clove essential oils to bring you a deliciously scented hand sanitizer.
Portable and easy to toss into your bag and take with you wherever. Apply liberally!
15. Vitamin E Oil Hand Sanitizer
First of all, I just have to mention that I absolutely adore this spray bottle that this tutorial is using for their portable hand sanitizer! So pretty!
Vitamin E oil is a great ingredient when making your own homemade hand sanitizer because it will increase the shelf life and keep your hands moisturized at the same time.
16. Natural Hand Sanitizer
Keep things au-natural by creating your own handmade hand sanitizer.
That way, you know exactly what is going into the mix and can cut out any toxic chemicals that may be doing more harm than good.
17. Foaming Hand Sanitizer
A homemade hand sanitizer that foams at application. A great alternative when soap is not available!
The kids will have fun using it too and watching it foam in their hands.
18. Hand Sanitizer Gel
Do you prefer a gel over a liquid spray? Well, here is a recipe for you!
Use aloe vera gel as a base and then add in your germ-fighting rubbing alcohol and essential oils.
19. Homemade Hand Sanitizer Spray
Here we have the same recipe as the handmade hand sanitizer above but in spray form.
Whether you want to spray it on or rub it in the option is yours – maybe try making one of each and see which you prefer!
20. Add a Label
You don’t have to worry if hand sanitizer is out of stock. You really only need two ingredients to make your own – aloe vera gel and rubbing alcohol.
I especially love the printable label that you can add to your travel size bottle!
21. Mason Jar Hand Sanitizer
Another way to store your hand sanitizer is in a cute little mason jar. Personally, I choose to use a mason jar any chance I get.
Have fun picking out your favorite aromatic essential oils and adding to your gel for extra bacteria-fighting power!
22. Lavender Tea Tree
A sweet-smelling and germ-fighting homemade hand sanitizer that takes only minutes to make and will last you weeks.
Make extras to give to your friends and family members!
So there you have it! As you can see, making your own hand sanitizer is easy-to-do and cheap too. Most of the recipes have between 2-6 ingredients and only take around 5 minutes to make. The only challenge would be selecting your favorite.
If you are making hand sanitizer for your own purse, make some extra bottles and give them out to friends and family who may also be in need of germ-fighting back-up.
Continue to wash your hands thoroughly and often and combine that with hand sanitizer in those specific moments that you need to give your hands a bit of a freshen up!
