This DIY Hand sanitizer is a quick way to rid your hands of bacteria after doing things such as handling money, using a public restroom, shaking hands during cold season or pushing a grocery store cart. The ones you buy are filled with chemicals and alcohol. These simple recipes can be made with three ingredients (or two if you prefer). It’s powerful and it’s safe. We’ll explain why we use the ingredients we do and which ones you can take or leave. For a wonderful sanitizing spray for your home check out our Cleansing Room Spray Recipe. It also has printable instructions and labels!
DIY Hand Sanitizer Supplies
- 100% Aloe Vera Gel (We used this brand.)
- Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca oil) Plant Therapy Brand $7 10ml (use approx. 8 to 10 drops per 8 oz ) Doterra Brand 15ml $20 (use approx. 1-3 drops per 8 oz )
- Distilled Water
- Plastic container of choice
- Printable labels below & wide clear packing tape (optional)
NOTE ON ESSENTIAL OILS
I am not affiliated with any brand of oil and you will find Young Living, Doterra, Plant Therapy and others in my herb closet. And I’m FAR from an expert. I know there are brands that are much less effective due to how they are made. You can use whatever brand you like. Just because an oil is expensive does not make it more effective. The opposite is also true. I use specific Doterra oils for serious things I’m trying to heal only because there are some medical studies on several of them. Such as OnGuard kills the MRSA virus. Which is pretty amazing as Western Medicine can’t do that. You can read more about that on my post Cure MRSA Staph Infection Naturally where my son would have lost his finger from MRSA were it not for using Doterra OnGuard among other things. I strongly suggest researching what makes a good oil.
I’ve read that Plant Therapy is a very good brand that is cheaper because it’s not part of an MLM company. Which makes sense.
For lower quality brands it does take more to be effective but again, it depends on the quality of the brand. I have a close friend who is a trained herbalist and creates her own salves etc.
“One to two drops of a Doterra in 8 oz. [or other high quality oil] is plenty for use as an anti-bacterial. You need five to ten for a cheaper brand. For example, for a healing product you would have to use 60 -70 drops per gallon with other brands. With Doterra you would only use 12-15 drops.”
Ingredient Option Details
Aloe Vera Gel: The Aloe Vera plant is wonderful for using in hand sanitizer because of its powerful antioxidant and antibacterial benefits. Plus it’s great for the skin and is also widely used or healing burns. This will make your sanitizer thick but it’s optional.
Tea Tree Oil: Also known as melaleuca oil, this is one of the most powerful and safe antibacterials available. (Natural or otherwise.) There are other oils that have the same property but I always use tea tree. Why? Because it will heal MRSA and did so for my son saving him the loss of his finger.
Distilled Water: You can use tap water for mixing your sanitizer but if the mixture is not used up within a few weeks it can start to putrefy. Tap water is filled with microbes and possible contaminants. Distilled water has been stripped of everything so there is nothing to “go bad”. Hence why it’s used in all herbal creations.
Containers: You can purchase various types of small empty containers at most stores including dollar stores. Or just use an empty container from something else. Because this mixture is not exact and is very forgiving you can make a larger batch easily by adjusting the amounts. It doesn’t matter if you use 10 or 15 drops of tea tree oil. It will work great!
As is a good idea for anything you’ve not used before, test these items separately on a small patch of skin.
Printable Download
Directions & Labels (pdf)
Instructions
There are three variations and consistencies you can make depending on your preference. 1. Gel (works in squeeze tubes) 2. Liquid (works in spray bottles) 3. Lotion (works on regular or pump bottles) We used 4 to 6 oz. sizes for easy carrying in the car or purse.
Gel Hand Sanitizer
A non-sticky gel (using the aloe brand we used) which can be squeezed out of a bottle. Does not need water.
Ingredients: 100% Aloe Vera Gel, Tea Tree Oil
Instructions: Fill almost full with 100% Aloe gel. Add tea tree oil. For 4 to 6 oz size use 1 to 2 drops of higher quality oil or 6 to 8 a of lower quality oil. (You do not have to be exact.) Mix well. Adjust as needed for size.
Use: Squeeze a dime sized amount of gel into your hands and rub in. Use whenever needed.
Liquid Hand Sanitizer
Perfect for a spray bottle. This one does not use the aloe gel in order to keep it thin. Tea Tree oil is powerful enough on it’s own to banish germs.
Ingredients: Distilled Water, Tea Tree Oil
Instructions: Fill your spray bottle with distilled water. For 4 to 6 oz size use 1 to 2 drops of higher quality oil or 6 to 8 of lower quality oil. (You do not have to be exact.) Mix well. Adjust as needed for size.
Use: Spray lightly on hands and rub all over. Let them air dry. Use whenever desired.
Lotion Hand Sanitizer
A lotion type consistency to your liking depending on how much aloe gel you add.
Ingredients: Distilled Water, 100 % Aloe Vera Gel, Tea Tree Oil
Instructions: Fill your bottle at least ½ full of distilled water. Add in Aloa Vera gel until it’s the consistency you like. Add more water if desired. For 4 to 6 oz size use 1 to 2 drops of higher quality oil or 6 to 8 of lower quality oil. (You do not have to be exact.) Mix well. Adjust as needed for size.
Use: Pour/squeeze out of a soft plastic bottle. Use about a dime size and rub into hands. Use when needed.
Visual Instructions
The two or three ingredients needed.
We used 4-6 oz. travel sized containers.
For the gel version fill a squeezable tube almost full with aloe gel.
Add tea tree oil.
Squeeze the container to mix the oil into the aloe.
For the liquid spray, fill your bottle almost full with distilled water.
Add tea tree oil and mix.
For a lotion like consistency, fill your bottle about 1/2 full with distilled water. 
Add aloe gel until its the consistency you prefer.
Add tea tree oil and mix. 
Cut out labels of choice. 
Use clear packing tape to make the label waterproof and affix it to the bottle. 
Trim the tape leaving enough around the edges to stick the label to the bottle. 
I’m just wondering what I could be doing wrong! I am using 190 proof everclear and 99.9 % pure aloe Vera. I am getting a rubber glob in the bottom. Like the aloe is gettin “eaten”.
Alydia the ingredients call for aloe Vera, distilled water and tea tree oil. You are using 190 proof alcohol most other recipes require rubbing alcohol not drinking alcohol. That may be why the aloe Vera looks like it’s being eaten at the bottom.
I saw that mixing it in a blender might help it homogenize. It will likely be runny but effective.
Hi! I love everything here. I’m just curious, will lavender essential oil be a substitute of tea tree? Thanks!
The tea tree oil is the sanitizer.
You can add a couple of drops of another oil but not instead of the tea tree.
Hi Janice!
This is true. Tea tree oil has very specific properties. I’d suggest using that if you want the disinfectant and healing properties.
Good luck!
Nancy
Freshly boiled and cooled water is Good if you don’t have distilled
Thanks for this..I like using tea tree oil for my skin when I get rushes,and fresh aloe Vera for eczema,and it works effectively…today I added more knowledge..in combination I can get a good sanitizer..Thanks again
Your so welcome!
Hi, I have read different things that say tea tree oil is toxic to pets. Can you help clarify that for me please. I’ve two fur babies and don’t want to hurt them. Thank you.
Hi Aleta,
From what I’ve read that can be true. I’m not a professional and some say it can be used diluted but I’d be very careful and maybe ask a vet. Here is an article on it: http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/what-you-should-know-about-tea-tree-oil-toxicity-in-dogs-and-cats Make sure anything you read comes from a reliable source, vets preferably, rather than someone just trying to sell you stuff. Ü Many oils can be used on pets and have wonderful effects but you do need to be careful.
Take care of those fur babies. We have 6 in our home!
Nancy Ü
Where can we buy the aloe Vera online? Our local stores are all out..
You might need to ask your local pharmacy to get something high in aloe vera content.
Otherwise, check out anyone you know who might have an aloe vera plant. You could possibly offer to make them a batch of sanitising goodies in return for the cutting of one of their leaves.
If you can’t find anyone who has a plant, check out some gardening suppliers (or nurseries) online and see if you can buy your own plant.
There should be a link to it under supplies on the post. Its an amazon link.
Very Good. 100 per cent brands in Holland and Barrett
Dr organic bioactive skin care ebay
Dr organic Holland and Barrett on line has stock but post is taking a while
Good luck stay safe and don’t forget washing hands for 20seconds is still the best remedy
In Phoenix, AZ we have lower cost food stores that sell individual large aloe leaves for $.79/lb. Try Food City, El Super, and Ranch Markets, I’ve seen them in all these stores. These stores cater to Hispanic and ethnic groups, so look for these stores in your are for individual aloe leaves.
Everything I have been told for protection from the coronavirus indicated it needs to be 60% alcohol to be effective.
From what has been shared publicly so far, you are correct. Your hand sanitiser needs to contain 60% alcohol to be effective. You need a hand sanitiser with contains alcohol.
Most of the brands sold in Australia became alcohol-free after it was discovered that young children were licking their hands and getting drunk from it! Thus, those thinking they are covering themselves in a clear coat of immunity by using regular hand sanitiser, are mistaken.
To make your own alcohol inclusive DIY product, use RUBBING ALCOHOL as the base- as along as it’s a minimum of 60% alcohol. Then add around 2tbs of aloe vera gel, plus a few drops of tea tree oil.
You can use HYDROGEN PEROXIDE instead but it starts to degrade quickly once it’s out of its dark brown container. If that’s the case, try to only make up enough solution for that day and keep it in a dark container.
You can also use WITCH HAZEL TONER as the base, as long as it contains alcohol (and beware that many toners also do not contain alcohol these days so you’ll need to check the labels). Witch hazel has not been tested against the CV19 as far as I know but if it’s alcohol content is high enough it’s probably a good substitute.
If all else fails- break open that bottle of VODKA you’ve got stashed away! Surely it’s alcohol content is high enough??!
Thank’s for the added info Louise. This post is older so does not address the corona virus specifically. I’ve read that it needs to be 70% according to the CDC. Most of the other things you mention are correct except possibly the Vodka. We have some here and its 80 proof which means 40% alcohol. But you can possibly get it higher. Not sure how that works as I’m not a drinker but some of the family is so that’s why we have it. Ü
CDC Link with alcohol info: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fprepare%2Fprevention.html
Vodka only 40% if you are lucky to have a Russian one
You need medical grade alcohol which I don’t believe you can buy
You could take with soap and water in a suitable container
Hi Nancy!
The CDC says its needs to be 70%. Here is the link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fprepare%2Fprevention.html
Awesome explanation
And visuals very helpful
Thank you for sharing in a simplyfied, truthful and friendly way.
It’s so needed in this days!
Neither of these Aloe’s are 100% pure Aloe. The Fruit of the Earth Aloe Ingredients: Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, triethanolamine, tocopheryl acetate, carbomer, tetrasodium EDTA, DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea.
Aloe Vera Gel from Freshly Cut Organic Pure Aloe Plant by Kate Blanc Ingredients: Aloe Vera Juice, Xanthan, Potassium Sorbate, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid.
I just felt you should know.
Enchanted water aloe Vera gel from USA
Shipping might be a nightmare at the moment
U can look up XXXX test results. Each bottles has a number on the bottom. In everyone of my emails at the end is a link to look the tests up. Most of the time people won’t understand them anyways. But I was looking over how you made these and unfortunately so many people on Pinterest don’t use solubilizers when making things like this. Water and oil will never mix. It is unsafe to tell people to just shake it up. No matter how many times u shake it, it will never combine.
(XXXX’s WE WERE REQUIRED TO DELETE THE NAME OF THE OIL BRAND LISTED TO KEEP THE POST LIVE. YOU CAN CALL THE # ON THE POST FOR THAT INFO. SORRY!)
I love using essential oils and I am also not affiliated with any particular brand, but please research them better. The price is NOT what differentiates a pure oil from a not so pure oil. For instance, do NOT use more of the oil from Plant Therapy because it is only 1/3 of the cost. Companies who publish their purity testing show their transparency and validate to the customer the quality of their oils. XXXXX does not publish their test results to their customers and their seal is not backed by any governing agency that makes it a valid claim. Plant Therapy a long with other reputable companies, are 1/3 of the cost because they are not MLM companies. Please, with all due respect, your statement on the cost of some oils vs others is not true and I would encourage you to use an open mind to research those companies for whom you are supporting. Thank you!
(XXXX’s MEAN WE WERE REQUIRED TO DELETE THE NAME OF THE OIL BRAND LISTED TO KEEP THE POST LIVE. YOU CAN CALL THE # ON THE POST FOR THAT INFO. SORRY!)
Very good point Teresa. I was actually just looking at details a few days ago on what makes a good oil since some are just out of reach cost wise for so many. I did read on one article that Plant Therapy was a good cheaper alternative. I use specific XXXX for serious illnesses only because there has been specific medical testing on some of it proving its efficacy in healing things like MRSA. Not that others can’t do that… just not found what I feel “good” with for the tough stuff. But I’m certainly not an expert. And in all honesty I’ve NEVER liked the MLM companies. As in I REALLY don’t like that business model. I will look over this post and update it to reflect that info. Thanks so much for visiting and taking the time to write!
(XXXX’s WE WERE REQUIRED TO DELETE THE NAME OF THE OIL BRAND LISTED TO KEEP THE POST LIVE. YOU CAN CALL THE # ON THE POST FOR THAT INFO. SORRY!)
I just wanted to take a moment and let others know that I back up Teresa’s comment here. I am not affiliated with a company either and when I was researching for my own personal use I started using a brand that is 100% pure and shows there test results and is not a MLM company so the price is a lot less then those that are MLM companies.
My daughter has eczema and the alchohil based hand sanitizers are extremly painful for Her. I have seen other receipes that use witch hazel instead of water, do you think this is needed? Thanks
As far as my own opinion, no I don’t think it’s necessary. The oils will do the trick!
Thanks for this recipe, I enjoyed making this a couple weeks ago and my kids used it all up at their bday party already. It was at a park so it worked out well!
You’re very welcome Toni! I love hearing things like that. I’m so glad you found it useful. Ü
Hi! Thanks for sharing. If I make the spray sanitizer, do I not need a carrier for the tea tree oil?
I’m not quite sure what you mean Helen… the tea tree oil is mixed in. Just need to shake it before you use it. Ü
Helen, I don’t think it’s necessary for a carrier oil because you are only using very small amounts of essential oil. It should not break down the plastic
with 2+3 drops. It seems it’s more for scent feature since others have used other E.O. and fragrance oils. Because the gel is also so think it seems to hold and contain well. I’m no expert but I tried this recipe and it does the job.
… what she said.
lol… thanks Toni. Great explanation!
Great Tutorial for sure! you break it down nicely ! love your blog !
Thank you so much Sara. I love hearing that. Ü
Thanks for sharing over at the DIY Crush Craft Party. Great tutorial and I always love a downloadable PDF too! We’ve added this to our Pinterest board. Don’t forget to stop by next Thursday to add your tutorials to our next DIY Crush Craft Party!
You’re very welcome Domenica. Thanks for stopping by!
So the oils are in place of the alcohol? I have thieves on hand. Is also effective as the sanitizer with alcohol?
I’m not sure on that I’m afraid. I use XXXXX to protect against it but am not sure if it kills the virus. They could not claim so without studies anyway. There are quite a lot of studies on this product as its one of the only things that will kill the MRSA virus. Just not sure about this new virus. Here is info on the oil and MRSA though if you want to see a personal case study. https://craftyourhappiness.com/2013/07/14/a-healing-hand/
(XXXX’s WE WERE REQUIRED TO DELETE THE NAME OF THE OIL BRAND LISTED TO KEEP THE POST LIVE. YOU CAN CALL THE # ON THE POST FOR THAT INFO. SORRY!)