How to Make Natural Hand Sanitizer at Home: Ingredients, Benefits and Safety Tips

Natural hand sanitizer is a preferred sanitizer choice for individuals who prefer natural ingredients and have a need to have their hands sanitized when soap and water is not available. Creating a proper sanitizer is not as simple as combining a couple of household items, however.

The most important is the activity of the component and its end concentration. Alcohol-based sanitizers are effective at providing hand disinfection when at least 60% alcohol is present. Alcohol is not the only ingredient used to enhance the texture or fragrance; other ingredients like aloe vera, glycerin and essential oils are used to enhance the texture or fragrance.

This will help you understand how the ingredients in the various natural hand sanitizers work and why. It will also give you some important safety tips and alternatives to a homemade recipe.

What is Natural hand sanitizer?

Natural hand sanitizer is typically a product for cleaning your hands that has a short list of ingredients or plant derived ingredients. Aloe vera, glycerin and essential oils are often associated with natural sanitizer recipes. But with the term ‘natural’ does not necessarily imply ‘effective’. To reduce germs successfully a sanitizer needs to have an acceptable chemical active ingredient and an effective concentration.

Therefore, homemade mixes should be taken with a grain of salt. Excessive amounts of aloe vera, water, and/or ingredient may be added, resulting in an under effective level of alcohol.

Ingredients Used in Natural Hand Sanitizer

Ingredient	Purpose	Important Point
Ethanol	Primary germ-killing ingredient	The final concentration is important
Isopropyl alcohol	Alternative alcohol-based active ingredient	Must be used at an appropriate concentration
Aloe vera gel	Provides a smoother texture	Excessive amounts can dilute alcohol
Glycerin	Helps retain skin moisture	Should be used in controlled quantities
Distilled water	Used in some professional formulations	Too much can reduce alcohol strength
Essential oils	Adds fragrance	Should not replace alcohol
Hydrogen peroxide	Included in some professional formulations	Not the main germ-killing component

Why Alcohol Matters

Most effective hand sanitizers contain alcohol. Both ethanol and isopropyl alcohol are effective against many types of germs, at proper concentration. It is common to have a DIY recipe that starts with a certain alcohol concentration, but not always the final concentration. For instance, if a lot of aloe vera is added to the alcohol or water or any other ingredient, the final concentration of the alcohol will be decreased.

Some sanitizers don’t have enough alcohol to offer the protection they’re expecting. Hence, it is much more crucial to formulate properly than to just work with a few natural ingredients.

Is it safe to use Aloe Vera in Hand Sanitizer?

Aloe vera is often added to homemade sanitizer mixes as it makes them gel-like in consistency and as their application to the skin is more tolerable. Aloe vera is not, however, an active sanitizing ingredient, though. It’s used for a cosmetic purpose and for moisturising. An additional factor to take into consideration is quantity. Too much aloe vera gel can dilute the alcohol content of the mix, making it less effective.

If you want aloe vera, you might want to go for one that has a sanitizer base and contains aloe vera so that you won’t have to measure it out.

Is it possible to make a natural hand sanitizer using Essential Oils?

Commonly used essential oils in natural personal care products include lavender, tea tree, peppermint and eucalyptus. They can certainly be used as a fragrance however not as a primary disinfectant in a hand sanitizer. Some individuals also experience irritation to their skin with essential oils due to the oil’s concentration and repeated use on sensitive skin.

So, it is advisable to have fragrance as an option. Essential oils should not be the source of the effectiveness of a sanitizer; it should be from its effectively formulated active ingredient.

Which “Natural” ingredients do you need to stay away from?

There are a few household products that are touted as substitutes for alcohol, but these are not effective. 

• Lemon Juice: Lemon juice is made up of natural acids and is regularly connected with cleaning. It is not intended to be used as a substitute for an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, however.
• Vinegar: Vinegar can be used in a lot of ways around the house, but cannot be used as an alternative sanitizer to a properly formulated sanitizer on hands.
• Aloe Vera: Although aloe vera helps to improve texture and moisturize, it is not the key germ-killing component.
• Essential Oils: Essential oils are added to provide the hand sanitizer with a fragrance and may have antimicrobial properties in lab settings, but should not be used as the sole active ingredient in a hand sanitizer.
• Witch Hazel: Another popular component of the home remedies for personal care recipes is witch hazel. But many witch hazel products contain an insufficient amount of alcohol to be used as an alcohol based hand sanitizer.

Proper use of hand sanitizer

• Apply enough sanitizer – Put enough product on your hands to cover all surfaces.
• Cover all surfaces – Gently spread the sanitizer on all surfaces of the hands.
• Clean between fingers – Rub between your fingers and across the backs of your hands.
• Cover the way to make your fingertips – Attention to your fingertips, thumbs, and around your nails!
• Allow hands to dry – Rub hands until dry. Do not immediately remove sanitizer with a wipe.

Safety Tips for Alcohol-Based Sanitizer

• Not subject to flames, sparks or heat.
• Do not touch eyes, mouth and cuts or abrasions in skin.
• Do not ingest or intentionally breathe down sanitizer.
• Do not put sanitizer where children or pets can reach it.
• Use alcohol products that are specifically designed and approved for use on skin.
• Discontinue use if irritation, allergy is severe.
• Never use sanitizer in combination with bleach or cleaning chemicals or other household products.
• Keep bottle in a cool, dry location and close tightly.
• Wash hands with soap and water if hands are dirty or greasy.
• For better formulation and safety use commercially manufactured sanitizer wherever possible.

Limitations of Homemade Formulas

• Wrong Alcohol concentration: There are some mismeasurement risks in the product which can reduce its effectiveness.
• Inconsistent results: Homemade batches may not have the same strength or texture each time.
• Risk of contamination: Unwanted contaminants can be introduced due to poor preparation or storage.
• Inappropriate ingredients: Certain alcohol additives may be inappropriate to use on skin.
• Home made: Products will not be professionally tested for quality and effectiveness.

Safer Commercially Tested Options

• Select a commercial, quality sanitizer that includes well-defined ingredient information.
• Search for a product that’s alcohol based and at a minimum 60% alcohol.
• Choose products that have a very clear label of the manufacturer, instructions and safety information.
• If your skin is sensitive, look for the option that is unscented or moisturizing.
• Steer clear of anything with ‘mystifying’ ingredients and ‘suspicious’ packaging, or unknown alcohol sources.
• Retain original package in order to verify ingredients and directions when necessary.

How to Store Natural Hand Sanitizer 

• Always secure the cap after use, to reduce the chance of evaporation or contamination – Secure the bottle tightly after use.
• Keep out of direct sunlight and out of the way of excessive heat – Store in a cool place.
• Stay clear of flames – Alcohol-based sanitizer can be flammable, store away from Candles, Stoves, Cigarettes and other fire sources.
• Always store sanitizer in a clearly marked container – NEVER in a bottle that may be confused with a food or drink container.
• Away from children – Store it out of reach of children and where children cannot get at it or put it in their mouths.
• Don’t leave sanitizer in extreme temperatures – never leave sanitizer in very hot areas (e.g. in the car parked for extended periods of time).
• Before using, check the product – If the sanitizer has an unusual smell, appearance or texture, do not use.

Natural Sanitizer vs Commercial Sanitizer

Feature	Homemade Natural Sanitizer	Commercial Sanitizer
Ingredient control	Depends on the user	Listed on the packaging
Alcohol concentration	Can vary	Clearly specified
Manufacturing control	Limited	Professionally controlled
Convenience	Requires preparation	Ready to use
Consistency	May vary between batches	More consistent
Safety information	May be limited	Usually provided on the label

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Low alcohol concentration: Sanitizers may not be effective if they have a low alcohol content.
• Too much aloe vera: Avoid using too much aloe vera as this can dilute the alcohol and make it less effective.
• Verify it’s based on essential oils: Important: Do not assume that essential oils are the primary active ingredient.
• Suspicious ingredients: Don’t use ingredients that are not labeled or not intended for use on the skin.
• Failure to take precautions: Do not put alcohol-based sanitizer near fire, heat, children or accidentally ingested.

Conclusion

Although knowing how to create your own natural hand sanitizer may be helpful in understanding the different components, it is important to formulate the right ingredients and measure them correctly for effective home sanitizer. Aloe vera and glycerin can enhance the consistency of the alcohol-based product and essential oils can be added for a fragrance.

The ingredients however, are not a substitute for the appropriate active ingredient. The safest option for everyday use is to select a hand sanitizer that is properly made and is at least 60% alcohol. If soap and clean running water are available, adequate hand washing is the preferred method.

The objective shouldn’t only be to make the sanitizer using natural ingredients. The actual target is to use an effective and safe product which is formulated correctly for the regular use for hand hygiene.

FAQ’S