Back to school seems to bring out all the germs! Lots of kids in a confined area and lots of hugs and sharing items etc…germs are everywhere! You might have even bought a small hand sanitizer for your child to carry to school with him/her. We have sanitizers stashed everywhere…in the cars, in bags/purses, even a few around the house. If you also want to keep the germs at bay, here is a DIY hand sanitizer spray recipe for you!
A few years ago when I started to become more cautious and educate myself on what truly was going into our skincare products, I was shocked to see all of the harsh ingredients. There were lots of unpleasant chemicals, artificial colors and artificial scents (aka fragrance) lurking inside of what you would assume to be “clean” products! Rubbing artificial colors and scents onto your skin..especially onto your child’s skin is really not that great. Therefore, I opted for a more natural version of DIY hand sanitizer spray that I made with my essential oils.
The essential oils used in this homemade hand sanitizer spray recipe all have properties that are antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiviral. This just shows that you can make natural hand sanitizer without alcohol. To be clear, the CDC suggests using a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol to help you avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. I have included two diy hand sanitizer recipes here. One recipe without alcohol (much less effective but more mild on skin) and a second recipe if you prefer DIY hand sanitizer with alcohol.
Tutorial For DIY Sanitizer Spray With Essential Oils
Can You Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer Spray?
Yes, however, this hand sanitizer spray recipe is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. The CDC always recommends washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds over using hand sanitizer if that option is available. This is “because because handwashing reduces the amounts of all types of germs and chemicals on hands.”
Natural Ingredients / Supplies Needed for Natural DIY Hand Sanitizer:
- 4 oz bottle (glass or plastic)
- Pure Natural Aloe Vera Gel
- Vitamin E Oil
- Vegetable Glycerin
- Water
- Young Living Peppermint Essential Oil
- Young Living Clove Essential Oil
- Rosemary Essential Oil
- Young Living Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil
How To Make Hand Sanitizer Spray:
Start with your bottle top off and add 3 TBSP of your aloe gel. Next add 1/2 teaspoon of your vegetable glycerin and 1/2 teaspoon of your vitamin E oil. After those small amounts of the ingredients have been added, drop in your essential oils! Add 4 drops each of your peppermint, clove, rosemary and cinnamon bark essential oils. (We only use high quality essential oils and that’s why we use Young Living Essential Oils) Once your oils are added, top your bottle off with distilled water, screw the top back on and give your final product a quick shake! Your DIY hand sanitizer spray is ready to use.
Update: Please remember this essential oil hand sanitizer spray is not effective for disease control and will NOT protect you from COVID. See the recipe below with alcohol for that.
If your prefer to make hand sanitizer with alcohol:
Basic Ingredients:
- Small spray bottle
- Isopropyl Alcohol aka Rubbing Alcohol (can be purchased at your local grocery store or drug store)
- Distilled water
- Essential oil of choice (optional)
Add 3 oz of isoproply alcohol and 1 oz of water to your small spray bottle. Then, if you desire, add several drops of essential oil for fragrance. Shake before use.
Recipe Notes:
The key for sanitizer is you need to reach a composition with at least 60% isopropyl alcohol content to effectively kill germs. So, I like to use the ratio for alcohol to water of 3 : 1 which is 66 percent alcohol.
If you are wondering, “Can I substitute witch hazel for alcohol?” The answer is no. Not if you want it to be an effective disinfectant that you can rely on to prevent the spread of viruses or bacteria. Witch hazel is NOT strong enough for disease control.
If you are wondering, “Can I substitute ethyl alcohol for isopropyl alcohol?” The answer is yes. Ethyl alcohol is an effective way to disinfect.
If you are concerned about the use of alcohol and its safety, please read this information from the World Health Organization. Also, please note that sanitizer with isopropyl alcohol should be kept away from young children as it can be poisonous if they drink it.
How To Use Homemade Hand Sanitizer Spray
Your homemade Sanitizer Spray is easy to take with you in your purse or car and use anytime! Use one to two sprays at a time and gently rub into hands. It is safe to use on children’s hands as well (keep away from sensitive areas like the eyes).
Hand sanitizer spray has several benefits, which make it a popular choice for hand hygiene on the go:
- Convenience: Spray bottles are easy to use and can be quickly applied to hands without the need for rubbing, making it a convenient option when you’re on the go.
- Even Coverage: Sprays can provide more even coverage of the hands compared to gels or wipes, ensuring that all areas are properly sanitized.
- Quick Drying: Hand sanitizer sprays tend to dry faster than gels, reducing the sticky residue that can be left behind and allowing you to get back to your activities more quickly.
- Portability: Spray bottles are often compact and lightweight, making them easy to carry in a bag, pocket, or car for quick access.
- Less Mess: Unlike gels, which can sometimes spill or leak, sprays are less likely to create a mess, making them a cleaner option for hand hygiene.
Conclusion
I like the all natural version of this recipe for general use because it is gentle on skin. However during cold and flu season, you may want to switch to the version with alcohol. I hope you found this tutorial for how to make spray hand sanitizer useful. While hand washing is best, a hand sanitizer spray is sure to come in handy while you are out and about. Do you enjoy trying essential oil recipes? Do you think you give this diy spray hand sanitizer a try?
Related Recipes:
25 Free Essential Oil Recipes You Will Love
Melissa says
I love this! Thank you for a much better alternative than the store-bought sanitizer! I can’t wait to try this recipe and make my own sanitizer for cold season. With all the commercial hand sanitizers being recalled these days, I want to know what is in mine. That is the best thing about homemade products. Thanks so much for the hand sanitizer recipe.