I’ve never been huge fan of hand sanitizer. When you kill bad bacteria, you kill good bacteria along with it.
It seems to me that when you kill all the bacteria around you, you never give your immune system a chance to build immunities.
At the risk of looking like a redneck, country bumpkin, this is why I let my kids run around barefoot and play in the dirt.
HOWEVER, I make a huge exception for specific instances. Like shopping cart handles. Who in the world knows what kind of germs are on those things?!
I guess you could say that I’m happy for my kids to be exposed to germs as long as they’re our germs.
I know that hand sanitizer gel is super popular, but the first time I used a spray, I was hooked.
With a witch hazel base for a spray, it’s perfect for those shopping cart handles, and it’s easier to make sure you’ve got your kid’s entire hand covered.
A little about the ingredients:
Witch hazel contains alcohol, which is a key ingredient in hand sanitizer, but since it doesn’t contain the 90% alcohol that is standard for complete sanitization, we add the essential oils to give it a boost. You can still use rubbing alcohol if witch hazel doesn’t convince you.
You can use any combination of essential oils that you prefer. My husband loves the smell of Thieves, so that is often my go-to, but some of my personal favorites (though I love Thieves too) are Tea Tree, Lavender, Clove, peppermint, and Rosemary.
DIY Hand Santizer with Essential Oils
- 3 oz. witch hazel or if you want to use less essential, oil rubbing alcohol
- 2 Tablespoons aloe vera gel
- 45-50 drops essential oil
Directions:
Combine all ingredients together in a bottle and shake until combined.
This mixture should keep for a few weeks at room temperature, or for quite a while longer in the refrigerator.
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Brandy says
Just a quick question…what do you mean “should last for a few weeks?” What does it look like when/if it starts to go bad?
Shari Weaver says
What can you use instead of aloe vera gel, all the stores are sold out of everything because of this stupid coronavirus
Lynne says
I use glycerin instead of Aloe. It’s moisturizes like aloe – but it makes a hand sanitizer spray instead of a “gel” like consistency. Actually, I like it better.
Wanda Corby says
What of we just have aloe Vera
Wanda Corby says
Not not gel
Lucy says
I used banana boat soothing aloe vera sun gel or any other sun gel brands to make my homemade sanitizer. I hope my information will help you.
Wanda Corby says
Not not gel
Wanda Corby says
It not aloe gel
Marslla says
I would love to do your natural oils
Melissa says
So use alcohol instead of witch hazel or both?
Amanda Rosas says
My question is does it matter what essential oils to use to boost the alcohol percentage since you are recommending witch hazel? Because I have witch hazel and alcohol has been hard to come by. So I’m trying to make sure if I make some will it be most effective?
Nomatshawe says
I like your recipes
Jeanne Standley-Kinata says
Please specify the importance of using 70% Isopropyl alcohol. 70% Isopropyl alcohol will kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus. 90% Isopropyl alcohol will just FREEZE DRY the virus and then allow it to be rehydrated when exposed to water. You can Google ” How to turn 90% Isopropyl alcohol to 70% Isopropyl alcohol ” and learn formula to add a specific water to make a 70% solution. This is essential to kill virus.
Also thymol has been shown to kill SARS-CoV-2 virus.