How to Make a Quick and Simple Hand Sanitizer
Updated: Feb. 25, 2022Create a germ-killing solution out of just a handful of common household ingredients.
Running out of hand sanitizer during cold and flu season is a potential nightmare for anyone anxious to keep their hands 99.99 percent free of germs. The good news is that you don’t need to dash to the store the next time you run low. With a few simple ingredients and a few containers to mix them in, you can cobble together your own hand sanitizer from the comfort of your home. No chemistry degree required.
What You Need to Make Hand Sanitizer:
- 91 Percent Isopropyl Alcohol
- Aloe Vera
- Liquid Measuring Cup
- Mixing Bowl
- Essential Oil (optional)
- Funnel (optional)
How To Make Hand Sanitizer:
- Measure 3/4-cup of rubbing alcohol into the liquid measuring cup and pour it into the mixing bowl.
- Measure 1/4-cup of aloe vera and pour it into the mixing bowl.
- This step is optional, but if you prefer your hand sanitizer scented, splash 5-to-7 drops of the essential oil of your choice into the mixture.
- Stir the ingredients together and then let the mixture sit for a bit.
- Pour or funnel the freshly-made mix into an empty soap dispenser or, if you’ve got one laying around, an old used-up bottle of hand sanitizer.
That’s all it takes to make your own hand sanitizer. As long as the mixture is at least 60 percent alcohol, it will act as an effective germ killer. It might dry out your hands a little more than the regular stuff, so consider following up your hand-sanitizing sessions with some lotion.
While you might not be inclined to waste your personal supply, hand sanitizers are also a fairly effective way of removing permanent marker stains from wood.
