DIY Hand Sanitizer: A Step-by-Step Guide

Hand sanitizers are essential items, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, not everyone can purchase them, and they have become quite expensive in some places. Instead of worrying about where to buy hand sanitizer, you can learn how to make your own. It is easy, affordable, and you can use it wherever and whenever you want.

To start, you will need essential ingredients such as rubbing alcohol, aloe vera gel, and lemon. The mixture will help to kill off germs and bacteria, leaving your hands clean. Additionally, the aloe vera gel acts as a moisturizer to prevent your skin from drying off, as alcohol can be too harsh. Making your hand sanitizer is a simple process that takes a few minutes, and you don’t need any special expertise. It is a practical way to learn how to keep your hands sanitized while saving money.

Making Hand Sanitizer at Home: Tips and Tricks

1. Know the basics

Before you start, it is important to understand what hand sanitizer is. A good hand sanitizer should contain at least 60% alcohol, which helps kill germs and bacteria. Additionally, it should have some moisturizing agents such as glycerin or aloe vera to prevent drying out of the skin.

2. Gather your ingredients

The core ingredients you will need include alcohol (isopropyl or ethanol), distilled water, and an emollient (like aloe vera). You may also need some essential oils such as tea tree oil, lavender oil, or lemon oil for fragrance and added antiseptic properties.

3. Get the right supplies

You’ll need a glass or plastic mixing bowl, a whisk, and a funnel. You should also get some measuring cups, sterile spray bottles, and gloves.

4. Measure your ingredients

Using the measuring cups, measure out the alcohol, distilled water, and emollient as specified by your recipe.

5. Mix your ingredients

Pour the alcohol into the mixing bowl. Add the emollient and mix well with a whisk until the mixture is evenly blended. Slowly add the distilled water to get the desired consistency.

6. Add essential oils

If you want to add fragrance or antiseptic properties, add a few drops of essential oils into the mixture and mix well.

7. Label and store your sanitizer

Pour your mixture into the sterilized spray bottles and label them appropriately. Store the bottles in cool, dry places away from direct sunlight.

8. Use your sanitizer correctly

Apply a small amount of sanitizer to your hands and rub them together for at least 20 seconds. Make sure you cover all surfaces, including the tops and bottoms of your hands and fingers.

9. Take precautionary measures

Hand sanitizers are intended to supplement hand washing, not replace it. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom, coughing, or sneezing.

10. Don’t go overboard

While hand sanitizers are effective in killing germs, they are not meant to be used excessively. Overuse can cause skin irritation and dryness, which can lead to further complications.

Making your own hand sanitizer at home can be both fun and rewarding. Just be sure to follow the guidelines above to ensure that you’re making a safe and effective product.

Ingredients for Making Hand Sanitizer

When it comes to making hand sanitizer, using the right ingredients in the right amounts is key to ensure that you have a product that is effective in killing germs and viruses. Below are the top ingredients you will need to make your own hand sanitizer at home.

Isopropyl Alcohol (99%)

Isopropyl alcohol is the primary ingredient in hand sanitizer, and it is a powerful disinfectant that is effective at killing germs and viruses. When making hand sanitizer, you should use at least 99% isopropyl alcohol to ensure that it is strong enough to kill germs.

Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera gel is an important ingredient in hand sanitizer because it helps to moisturize the skin and prevent irritation. When using isopropyl alcohol, which can be drying and harsh on the skin, it is important to balance it out with a soothing and moisturizing ingredient like aloe vera gel.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic that is known for its antibacterial and antifungal properties. Adding tea tree oil to your hand sanitizer can help to further boost its effectiveness in killing germs and viruses.

Lavender Oil

Lavender oil is another essential oil that can be added to hand sanitizer for its antibacterial properties. Additionally, it can help to provide a pleasant scent that makes using hand sanitizer a more enjoyable experience.

Glycerin

Glycerin is a thick, syrupy liquid that is commonly used in skincare products. It is used in hand sanitizer to help preserve the consistency of the gel and prevent it from drying out too quickly.

Bowl and Spoon

When making hand sanitizer, it is important to use a clean bowl and spoon to mix the ingredients. Using a dirty bowl or spoon can introduce bacteria into the mixture and compromise the effectiveness of the sanitizer.

Funnel

Using a funnel can help to make it easier to pour the hand sanitizer into small bottles or containers. This is especially useful if you are making large batches of hand sanitizer to distribute to family and friends.

Measuring Cups and Spoons

Accurately measuring the ingredients when making hand sanitizer is essential to ensure that it is effective in killing germs and viruses. Using measuring cups and spoons can help you to achieve the right proportions of each ingredient.

Small Containers or Bottles

Once you have made your hand sanitizer, you will need small containers or bottles to store it in. These can be any type of container with a lid, such as small plastic bottles or travel-sized containers.

Labels

To avoid confusion and ensure that your hand sanitizer is used properly, it is important to label each container with the date it was made and the ingredients it contains. This can also be helpful if you are giving the hand sanitizer as a gift or distributing it to others.

How to Make Hand Sanitizer: Ingredients and Measurements

Creating your homemade hand sanitizer is a simple process that requires a few key ingredients. You might already have some of these items at home, so you won’t need to buy everything. Here are the necessary components to make the perfect hand sanitizer:

Isopropyl Alcohol (99%)

Isopropyl Alcohol is the main ingredient in sanitizers when it comes to killing germs and viruses. You can purchase it from local pharmacies. For your homemade hand sanitizer, you’ll need 99% isopropyl alcohol. The remaining 1% is water, which helps the alcohol evaporate more slowly which is not the same as rubbing alcohol.

Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera offers several benefits, from treating skin conditions, nourishing hair, and even helping in digestion. Aloe vera gel also helps in keeping your skin moisturized even when using hand sanitizers frequently. You can purchase aloe vera gel from your local pharmacy or even extract it straight from the plant.

Essential Oils

Essential oils not only make the sanitizer smell good, but they also offer various benefits to your skin. Some of the best essential oils to use are tea tree, peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus and rosemary oils.

Other Ingredients

Hydrogen peroxide, distilled water, and glycerol are some of the additional ingredients you need to make hand sanitizers. Hydrogen peroxide is used to destroy any bacteria, while glycerol is used to keep the skin moisturized. For a good blend, you need to mix a few drops of hydrogen peroxide, a few drops of glycerol, and distilled water.

Measurement Table

To make hand sanitizers, you need to mix the ingredients and measure them according to the right proportions. Below is an easy measurement table for you to follow:

In conclusion, creating homemade hand sanitizer is a simple process. However, following the right steps and using the correct measurements is crucial. Ensuring the use of the right quantity and quality of ingredients will ensure that you have a sanitizer that fights germs and keeps your hands moisturized.

Stay Safe and Keep Your Hands Clean

Now you know how to make hand sanitizer that is effective and affordable using simple ingredients. Remember to sanitize your hands regularly to keep yourself and others safe from germs. We hope this article has been helpful, and we appreciate you taking the time to read it. Don’t forget to visit us again later for more useful tips and tricks. Stay safe, and keep washing those hands!