Easy Homemade Hand Sanitizer Using Rubbing Alcohol and Aloe

Let me start by saying that hand sanitizer isn’t something I use frequently. I think given the option, washing your hands with warm water and soap (thoroughly) is a much better option. I also want you to know that I am not a medical professional and am simply sharing what I am doing for me and my family based on the research I’ve done. Do your own research, talk to your doctor.

I am writing this blog post as we are at the beginning of what could be an epidemic outbreak of COVID-19 or corona virus. It occurred to me the other day when I was getting back into the car from grocery shopping, that now may not be a bad time to use hand sanitizer when washing with soap and warm water isn’t available. While I wash my hands the moment I get back home (and again after I’m done putting away the groceries), I figured it couldn’t hurt to use some hand sanitizer to bridge the time from getting in the car to making it home, or in between visiting store, or a hundred other times when hand washing isn’t an option.

The problem for many of us is that we can’t buy hand sanitizer right now. Almost every single store in my town is currently sold out. The good news is that it’s easy to make your own and the ingredients to make it are still available – at least in my area.

Here’s the recipe I’m using, based on several recipes I’ve seen online and the guidelines by the CDC and WHO that hand sanitizer have an alcohol content of 60% or higher.

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Please note that this mixture is runnier than most of your store-bought hand sanitizers. You may choose to use a small spray bottle to keep it in and use it. I have found small spray bottles at my local dollar store. Of course you can also use any empty hand sanitizer bottles and carefully pour it into your hands to use.

Keep the hand sanitizer out of reach of young children. Rubbing alcohol can be dangerous if ingested. Contact your local poison control center or health care professional if your child ingests any type of hand sanitizer.

Further Reading:

Here are a couple of interesting articles I’ve come across when I looked into hand sanitizers and their use as we face this epidemic.

Mayo Clinic – Does Handsanitzer Kill Cold and Flu Germs? 

CDC – How and When To Use Hand Sanitizer

Very Well Health – How To Use Hand Sanitizer