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    Home » Techniques and Tips

    How to Make Hand Sanitizer

    Published: Mar 15, 2020 · Modified: Jul 3, 2020 by Laura Reigel · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump To Recipe Comments
    Homemade hand sanitizer recipe.

    If the current situation has got you wishing that you bought a metric ton of hand sanitizer before last week, no fear, you can make homemade hand sanitizer spray at home with a few simple and easier to get ingredients.

    homemade hand sanitizer recipe in a spray bottle.

    Making Hand Sanitizer Spray without Aloe vera

    When I realized that hand sanitizer, like Purell, was nowhere to be found in our area, I thought fine I'll order some Aloe Vera Gel. I already had some alcohol in the garage.

    If you don't have rubbing alcohol. Vodka or grain alcohol can be substituted.

    Once I started looking for 100 percent aloe vera gel online, I couldn't find it anywhere. Everything is sold out, and a lot of the varieties that were available have additives that do not mix with alcohol. If you try to use these aloe vera varieties you will end up with a stringy clumpy mess.

    The best option I found was to make a spray with witch hazel.

    In normal circumstances, I'm not big on hand sanitizer.

    Soap and water is always the best way to sanitize your hands. However, right now, I am extra cautious. So hand sanitizer is a must.

    With the traditional Purell selling for way over market value and a lot of ingredients in short supply, I thought it was best to use my good old fashioned science knowledge to make my own.

    The recipe for a DIY hand sanitizer gel that I found online was:

    • 5-10 drops of lavender oil
    • 30 drops of tea tree oil
    • 3 ounces of 70 percent alcohol
    • 1 ounce of 100 percent aloe vera gel
    • ¼ teaspoon of 100 percent vitamin E oil

    I didn't have all of these ingredients, so I made a few substitutions.

    • 5-10 essential oil, I used lily scent from my P&B floral collection of essential oil
    • 3 ounces of 70 percent alcohol
    • 1 ounce of Thayer's Witch Hazel
    • ¼ teaspoon of coconut oil

    This mixture was lovely. It smelled great and even felt moisturizing.

    I didn't have tea tree oil. I suppose that you could use more essential oil OR more coconut oil. But I found that it was fine without it.

    I stored the mixture in a tiny spray bottle.

    It turned out to be the perfect viscosity for a spray-on hand sanitizer.

    Either of these recipes for hand sanitizer should be a cheaper option that the premade variety.

    The first recipe makes a thicker gel.

    So, you will need to have a squeeze bottle.

    I found a set of travel containers at Target that had two squeeze bottles and a small spray bottle.

    The second recipe makes a spray.

    For this recipe, I used a small spray bottle to store the mixture.

    Other recipes for coping with the pandemic situation

    While my husband and daughter mixed up this recipe, I made a batch of chocolate chips cookies.

    making diy hand sanitizer

    Actually I made two batches of cookies.

    Everyone's favorite: Fleur De Sel Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies
    These salted chocolate chip cookies are the perfect sweet & salty cookie. They're based on the Famous Jaques Torres chocolate chip cookies. I've put my spin on these babies, and I think they are even better than the original.
    SEE THE RECIPE PIN FOR LATER
    salted chocolate chip cookies on a baking rack

    Gluten-Free Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Low Carb Chocolate Chip Cookies
    These low-carb chocolate chip cookies are completely grain-free. This cookie is somewhere in between a keto chocolate chip cookie and a chocolate chip fat bomb. Made with hazelnut flour these cookies have a satisfying nutty texture. Plus, I'll even show you how to make them entirely keto if you don't want any sugar at all.
    SEE THE RECIPE PIN FOR LATER
    a stack of low carb, grain free cookies

    Did you make the hand sanitizer? I would love to hear about it. Please leave me a comment 👇and let me know what you thought about the recipe.

    Or if you made the cookies. I would love to hear about them too!

    Stay safe. Wash your hands and most of all! Keep a positive outlook.

    ➽ Did you make this recipe? I love to see what's going on in your kitchen. Please show me what you're cooking. 🍳 Tag me @foodologygeek on your favorite social channel! Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest. If you loved ❤︎ this recipe, please leave a five ★ review and a comment!

    homemade hand sanitizer recipe in a spray bottle.
    Favorite Saved!

    Hand Sanitizer Spray Recipe

    Laura Reigel
    Homemade hand sanitizer recipe. Make this recipe as a hand sanitizer gel with aloe vera OR as a hand sanitizer spray with witch hazel.
    PRINT PIN SAVE SAVED
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Total Time 10 mins
    Servings 4 ounces

    Equipment

    • small spray bottle

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 ounces 70 percent alcohol
    • 1 ounce Thayer's witch hazel
    • 10 drops essential oil any scent you like
    • ¼ teaspoon coconut oil
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Mix all of the ingredients together and put them in a spray bottle.
    • Spray a few pumps onto your hands and rub together.

    Laura's Tips + Notes

    For Hand Sanitizer Gel:
    Use 1 ounce of pure aloe vera gel in place of the witch hazel. 
    No Alcohol
    If you don't have rubbing alcohol. Vodka or grain alcohol can be substituted. 

    YOUR OWN NOTES

    Click here to add your own private notes.
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Snap a 📸 and share it. Tag me @foodologygeek and don't forget to hashtag #foodologygeek!

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    About Laura Reigel

    Laura is the owner and CEO of Foodology Geek. She holds a degree in Physiology and Neuroscience as well as a Certification as a Nutrition Coach. Laura uses her love of cooking and science to create healthy real food recipes that you'll love eating.

    As a certified recipe hoarder, and meal prep maven Laura is passionate about sharing her love for cooking easy from-scratch recipes. She also shares the occasional family recipe and all of the technical details.

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    Hi, I'm Laura! Welcome to Foodology Geek restaurant-inspired recipes & culinary science.

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