Today we are showing you how to make hand sanitizer and you will be surprised at how easy homemade hand sanitizer is to make with a couple of items you might already have at home. 

Make our homemade hand sanitizer recipe to make hand washing easier with simple ingredients!

Hand Sanitizer & Handwashing

The CDC recommends proper hand washing with soap and water whenever possible. But if hand soap and water isn’t available, making your own hand sanitizer with this DIY disinfectant recipe is an effective way to decrease the spread of germs.

Alcohol is one of the best ways to disinfect and kill germs, so it’s no surprise that isopropyl alcohol is one of the two hand sanitizer ingredients in this easy diy hand sanitizer recipe. Besides rubbing alcohol, the other ingredient needed to make your own hand sanitizer is aloe vera gel which is known for sweet cooling relief for sunburned skin.

An effective hand sanitizer must contain at least 60 percent alcohol, according to the CDC.

These are the same ingredients that many of the commercial hand sanitizers contain so you really can make homemade hand sanitizer that works as well as the store-bought kind.

This article contains affiliate links.

How To Make Homemade Hand Sanitizer

When you make natural homemade hand sanitizer, you know exactly what ingredients are included.

Adjust the ratio of alcohol to aloe vera gel to make up for different isopropyl alcohol concentrations. Hand sanitizers should have at least 60% isopropyl alcohol.

Supplies Needed to Make Homemade Hand Sanitizer

Add Essential Oil to DIY Hand Sanitizer Recipe for a Great Smell

I like to include a few drops of essential oil as a good way to customize the scent to get rid of the harsh alcohol smell.  

My favorite essential oils and essential oil blends to add to homemade sanitizer:

Make this easy homemade hand sanitizer gel recipe that follows the CDC recommendations.

Directions/Steps to Make Homemade Hand Sanitizer Recipe

You are going to be surprised how easy it is to make the final product!

Step 1

Add the aloe vera gel and alcohol to a bowl.

Step 2

Stir the two ingredients to combine until there is a smooth consistency. 

Step 3 (Optional)

Add a few drops of essential oil as an effective way to cover the alcohol smell.

Step 4

You are done with the mixing process!  Add the finished hand sanitizer recipe to the type of container that best suits your needs.

Tips for Using this Homemade Sanitizer Gel

• This recipe will have a more liquid consistency than the hand sanitizer you can buy in stores due to the higher alcohol content.
• Make sure to let the solution dry completely on your skin!
• This will feel like a gel hand sanitizer because of the gel-like nature of the aloe.
• If you want to add drops of essential oil to make it smell differently…try your favorites like orange oils for a citrus smell or lavender oil for calming.

Can I use 70% rubbing alcohol when making homemade hand sanitizer?

Don’t have 91% isopropyl alcohol at home?

It’s OK!

If you need to use 70% rubbing alcohol, you just need to change the ratio of the ingredients to adjust for the lower alcohol concentration.

This is because the CDC recommends at least 60% alcohol in hand sanitizer. When you are mixing that alcohol with aloe vera gel, it will become even more diluted, so we have to use a higher ratio.

Ratio of Alcohol to Aloe Vera to Make Sanitizer Solution

• With 91% isopropyl alcohol, you need 2 parts alcohol to 1 part aloe vera gel, or a 2:1 ratio.
• When using 70% isopropyl alcohol, you will need 9 parts alcohol to 1 part aloe vera gel, or a 9:1 ratio.

The goal is a homemade hand sanitizer gel with at least 60% alcohol can help you avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.

Is Homemade Hand Sanitizer Gel Safe for Kids?

Homemade hand sanitizer is a great alternative to store-bought disinfectant in a pinch to clean kid’s hands. However, it’s important to use caution when working with alcohol around small children.

Make sure to get the ratio correct and follow the recipe closely — too much alcohol can burn your skin. If you don’t put enough alcohol, your DIY solution won’t be effective at reducing germs.

Do not use homemade hand sanitizing gel on kids who have a tendency to put things into their mouth to taste them.  Even small amounts of isopropanol can be very dangerous because it is easily absorbed through the gums.

If you are worried that your child has consumed hand sanitizer, then contact help immediately and watch for signs like dizziness, headache, nausea and other unusual symptoms or behaviors.

Can I Use Essential Oils to Make Hand Sanitizer?

We love using essential oils in household cleaners, so we found a hand sanitizer substitute that uses some of our favorite natural products to make a natural hand sanitizer.

Supplies Needed for Essential Oil Hand Sanitizer

How to Make Hand Sanitizer with Vitamin E Oil

1. Mix the aloe vera gel, Thieves essential oil, and Vitamin E oil to reach a smooth consistency.
2. Add water to dilute the mixture and stir together. The solution should be thin and light to coat your hands.

How to Make Hand Sanitizer with Witch Hazel

Here is another essential oil hand sanitizer recipe that we love.  This DIY hand sanitizer recipe with essential oils uses witch hazel instead of aloe vera gel and Vitamin E oil.

Many studies show that hand sanitizers work well in clinical settings like hospitals, where hands come into contact with germs but generally are not heavily soiled or greasy.

How to Use Hand Sanitizer Effectively

The number one mistake people make when using hand sanitizer is not letting it dry completely. So many times — especially with kids — we squirt some in our hand and rub it around, then move on before it even has the chance to dry.

To ensure hand sanitizer is effective against germs:

1. Squirt some in the palm of one hand.
2. Rub the product all over the surfaces of your hands until your hands are dry.

Studies show that covering all areas with hand sanitizer and letting it dry completely has the same effectiveness as providing detailed steps for rubbing-in hand sanitizer.

When hand sanitizer doesn’t contain at least 60% alcohol, it may merely reduce the growth of germs rather than killing them outright.

Storing Your Own Hand Sanitizer Final Product

Store your DIY hand sanitizer in an air-tight container at room temperature. I used an empty mason jar that I already had at home for ours. 

Even More Homemade Cleaning Supplies & Ideas

Disinfect your home with these deep cleaning hacks that use common household ingredients.

Homemade Hand Sanitizer

Make your own homemade hand sanitizer to disinfect against germs.

Prep Time

5 minutes

Active Time

5 minutes

Total Time

10 minutes

Difficulty

easy

Materials

• 1/3 cup aloe vera gel
• 2/3 cup 91% isopropyl alcohol

Tools

• bowl
• spoon
• small jar or container

Instructions

1. Add the aloe vera gel to a bowl.
2. Stir in the isopropyl alcohol until the mixture is well-blended.

Notes

You can adjust the ratio of alcohol to aloe vera gel to account for different levels of alcohol content:

• For 91% isopropyl alcohol, you need 2 parts alcohol to 1 part aloe vera gel, or a 2:1 ratio.
• For 70% isopropyl alcohol, you will need 9 parts alcohol to 1 part aloe vera gel, or a 9:1 ratio.

Follow ratio guidelines closely to avoid injury or illness.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 91% Isopropyl Alcohol

• Aloe Vera Gel

Did you find our homemade hand sanitizer recipe helpful? Do you like it better than commercial hand sanitizers?