Homemade hand sanitizer is surprisingly easy to make, and it’s a great way to fight germs when you can’t get to a sink to wash your hands.
Hand sanitizer is one of the first things to disappear during an outbreak, second only to face masks. Just days after the first community transmission of COVID-19, shelves emptied as people suddenly rushed out to buy hand sanitizer.
I’ll admit it, I was one of those people that bought a bottle once the virus reached the US.
Hand sanitizer isn’t generally a part of our lives, and under normal circumstances, I’d rather just wash my hands regularly and rely on my strong immune system.
This flu season though, as I watch people sneeze their way down the aisles of the supermarket, I find myself wishing I had a little bottle in my pocket.
I found a bottle easy enough, but just days later the store shelves were empty and most people weren’t as lucky.
In truth, substitutes for commercial hand sanitizers are actually really easy to make. The active ingredient is just rubbing alcohol, and so long as your homemade hand sanitizer is at least 60% alcohol, it’s effective when used properly according to the CDC.
Simply putting rubbing alcohol in a small spritz bottle will do the trick, so long as you thoroughly wet your hands, rubbing to get between your fingers and such.
That said, if you’re looking for a more elegant solution, I’ve found a few options for homemade purell substitutes.
What’s In Purell?
So for starters, what’s actually in purell anyway?
The ingredients list is pretty long, but once you decode it, it’s actually just three basic things:
- Water ~ Still not sure why this is the first ingredient when it’s more than 60% alcohol?
- Isopropyl Alcohol ~ The active ingredient that’s doing all the hard work.
- Caprylyl Glycol ~ Skin conditioner
- Glycerin ~ Antimicrobial properties, and natural skin conditioner
- Isopropyl Myristate ~ Emmoliant that promotes skin absorption (for skin conditioners)
- Tocopheryl Acetate ~ Vitamin e for skincare
- Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer ~ “is a synthetic ingredient used as a thickening agent, texture enhancer, film-forming agent, and emulsifier in cosmetics and personal care products.” (Source)
- Aminomethyl Propanol ~ Buffer to adjust pH
- Fragrance ~ With all that rubbing alcohol, this really helps sell it…
So in a nutshell, gel hand sanitizers are denatured alcohol, skin conditioners and some kind of gelling agent. That’s it.
The skin conditioners are handy if you’re using it multiple times a day, and can help prevent dry hands. In truth they’re optional, and using a separate lotion works just as well to prevent dry skin.
Gelling agents are there to help the sanitizer sit neatly in your hand and prevent dripping, which in turn results in more people using it. If it drips on your lap or makes a mess, you’re less likely to use it. That said, they’re not actually sanitizing your hands…so also optional.
So the only thing sanitizing your hands is alcohol (and maybe the glycerine if you want to get technical). The simplest option for an effective homemade hand sanitizer is simply rubbing alcohol (at least 60%) in a squirt or spray bottle.
That said, if you’d like to actually try to re-create a gel hand sanitizer with skin conditioners and a gel texture, read on….
How to Make Hand Sanitizer Gel
There’s a recipe circulating on the internet for a really simple homemade gel hand sanitizer that simply uses 2 parts 90+% rubbing alcohol and 1 part aloe vera gel.
My first thought was that with 2 parts alcohol it’d never be a “gel,” but I put it to the test…
The alcohol is doing the sanitizing work, and the aloe vera gel adds both skin conditioners and a gel-like texture, at least in theory.
Aloe vera gel, however, is actually mostly alcohol. Or at least most of the bright green “after sun gel” bottles commonly available. Their ingredients list stats exactly the same way as purell…water, denatured alcohol, glycerine, followed by a long list of stabilizers and gelling agents, with just a teeny tiny bit of aloe juice.
I doubt aloe gel is anywhere near the required 60% alcohol, but it is full of chemical gelling agents that work in the presence of alcohol (plus a few skin conditioners for good measure).
(It’s actually hard to make a gel from alcohol. Things like agar, gelatin, and arrowroot won’t work in a high alcohol solution. I tried, for science, to come up with a more natural version, but polymers are what works…)
One part aloe gel and two parts alcohol went into a bottle…
Two parts alcohol (91%) with 1 part aloe gel in a bottle, not yet mixed.
It took a lot of shaking to get them to combine, and initially, the mixture was pretty thin. I was unconvinced.
About a half an hour later when I picked up the bottle, it had actually thickened considerably. Give it a shake and it’d actually hold air bubbles within the gel in the bottle.
Look closely, you can see them in there, held in a totally passable homemade hand sanitizer gel.
Hand sanitizer with aloe gel forms a loose gel that actually holds bubbles and is a good bit thicker than alcohol alone.
There is one more crucial part missing…fragrance. While it is technically optional, this stuff smells horrible. Or, more accurately, it smells like very strong rubbing alcohol, which is a little nasty.
I asked my husband to put it on his hands just so I could take a picture for the article and he straight up refused. Too stinky.
If you’re going to convince anyone to use this, consider adding a few drops of some kind of fragrance. Something like lavender or tea tree essential oil, which also have anti-microbial properties.
Homemade Hand Sanitizer Spray
If you’re not thrilled about the pile of chemical gelling agents, then simply don’t make hand sanitizer gel. Try a simple spray instead.
In fact, the “natural” brands of hand sanitizer are all sprays instead of gels for that reason.
Dr. Bronners Hand Sanitizer Spray is just 4 ingredients: Alcohol, water, glycerine and a few drops of essential oil for fragrance.
You could make more or less the same thing at home, starting with a bottle filled at least 2/3rds of the way with rubbing alcohol that’s at least 90% alcohol. Add in a bit of glycerine as a skin conditioner (and for bonus antimicrobial properties), top off the bottle with water and a drop or two of fragrance.
That’s it, you’ve just made the same hand sanitizer that’s currently selling for $20 an ounce from internet profiteers.
Things That Don’t Work
While something as simple as rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle works, there are plenty of ideas that don’t.
Vodka is a neutral alcohol, but most don’t have a high enough alcohol percentage to qualify as hand sanitizer. Sixty percent alcohol would mean at least 120 proof, and most vodka is 80 proof. (High proof grain alcohol is an exception, and would work.)
Save it for drinking (or make a batch of echinacea tincture, which helps in other ways).
Witch hazel, likewise, may not contain enough alcohol to be effective. The Thayer’s Witch Hazel I have on my shelf is only 10% alcohol, and the rest is mostly glycerine. It may well be anti-bacterial, but it’s not potent enough to be called hand sanitizer.
There are a number of hand sanitizers that don’t use alcohol. It seems like most of them use Thymol, which is extracted from thyme leaves. Examples include clean well hand sanitizer and Seventh Generation Disinfecting Surface Wipes, which claim the same 99.99 percent effectiveness as other alcohol-based brands.
I’ve seen people claiming that a few drops of thyme essential oil in water is equivalent to homemade hand sanitizer, but I wouldn’t bet on it. While there are plenty of antimicrobial herbs and plants, reaching for hand sanitizer means you have a good reason to believe you’ve touched something nasty, and I wouldn’t trust a few drops of essential oil to get the job done.
As always, hand washing is the very best option for preventing the spread of surface microbes, but in a pinch, homemade alcohol hand sanitizer will get you by until you can find a sink.
A timely informative post! I learn something every time I read one of your posts. Thank you!
60% alcohol will not kill COVID-19.
You need at least 70%.
Interesting. Do you have a source where you read that?
My sanitizer is to runny. I want to make it a gel consistency. Do you know where I can buy the thickener? Thank you
from: https://www.tga.gov.au/hand-sanitisers-information-consumers
Australian English spelling can (and do) vary from US American spellings.
Not all hand sanitisers are the same. The effectiveness of an alcohol-based hand sanitiser depends on the amount of alcohol (e.g. ethanol or isopropyl alcohol) in the formulation. Look for a formulation of at least 60% alcohol in these products.
If you are buying a product that states it is using the World Health Organization (WHO) formula, it should have 80% ethanol or 75% isopropyl alcohol.
Numerous other sources (easy to find) eschew 60% alcohol and opt for between 70% and 85%. Apparently over 85% and the effectiveness is reduced. Some water is needed. Have not found out why
The CDC and WHO disagree.
cdc.gov/coronavirus states 60% for hand sanitizer, so do your research before you start posting BS
This is a time for sharing resources and living in gratitude! If you disagree with a human trying to provide useful information in a positive format, please agree to disagree in a positive manner. The best immune system booster is living in positivity. On the physical, we all have built in defenses for viruses. Our immune systems are effective at protecting us, but they require energy to work properly. They don’t work well when we are stressed. When we are stressed, our energy goes into the ‘fight or flight” systems, robbing energy from the immune system. Stress hormones are effective at suppressing the immune system, they have been given to transplant patients so they won’t reject their new organs. The solution is be kind, share what we know, and certainly share you opposing thoughts and information positively! solution: stay calm. meditate more. Gratitude! Making your Coltsfoot Wine now!
That was beautiful said! Thank you for your kindness.
That was awesome!!
♥️🙏♥️
You were much kinder than my first thought to this persons comment. Thank you for having a wonderful way with words.
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeee
if you make your own sanitizer, you have to start with 70% or higher becuz once you mix everything together it takes the alcohol down to at least 60%. Right now with Trump in office, I wouldn’t trust the CDC and WHO as they are spewing what Trump is telling them to spew which may not be accurate.
No amount of sanitizer will cure your TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME. It will end in January 2025 after President Trump finishes his second term. Now is the time for us patriotic citizens to join with you leftists who hate America to conquer the WUHAN FLU and put our political differences aside.
Thank you Ralph. Well said.
Yes, because it’s the absolute best time to bring up politics. 🙄
😂😂😂😬
Brava Heather. How hard it is to be kind?
That comment is hilariously false…he defended the WHO for lying to us and covering up for China.
Sorry Bella but, you’re statement about the CDC & the WHO spewing what Trump tells them to is quite untrue. While the CDC may be inclined to do so, which I don’t believe, the WHO is the “World Health Organization” which is in Geneva. The WHO is not under direct orders from the POTUS.
Most Excellent! Thank you! After reading a ton of posts from idiots who do not understand that you can’t make a 60% (or 70%, for the sake of argument) solution with a 40% (or less) alcohol solution as its base, I am so happy to read your article. My Chemistry classes were about 20 years ago so I remember the basics & that is about it. Thank you for breaking out the ingredients in Purell. After sepending 7.5 MONTHs in an ICU ward with my father before he passed away, I cannot stand the smells of most hand sanitizers. I want to make one with Thymol crystals, since they are also antiviral, and essential oils to help mitigate the smell. I also want something that would also ease the damage of 99% isopropyl to my skin. Dried out & broken skin worsens the danger to yourself & the patient when caring for anyone who is ill or if you are in a medical setting, hence the needs for something to decrease the damage to skin. Soooo… off I go into the wonderful world of chemicals to try & make a 70% alcohol based hand sanitizer using your “recipe”. Thank you again!!
Vikki R
Do you have a recipe to share using thymol crystals? Is there one here in the resources that I messed?
Gratitude
Shelley
Where does one find glycerine to thicken the alcohol based sanitizer?
Or aloe gel? But the article wasn’t too hip on using aloe Vera gel.
Just FYI, an article in the Journal of Hospital Infection from February 2013 studied the impact of adding glycerol or glycerin to alcohol-based hand sanitizers and determined that, “Glycerol inhibits the bactericidal efficacy of alsohol-based surgical hand rubs, especially sustained efficacy.”
Further, “the 1.45% glycerol content (recommended) within both WHO (world health organization) formulations has been shown to significantly reduce the antimicrobial efficacy of the alcohols in laboratory-based microbiological investigations.”
Researchers theorize that the reason that the glycerin makes the alcohol less effective is that it’s sticky properties (what also makes it reduce the damage to skin from pouring straight alcohol on it) cause it to bind up to germs and keep them hanging around.
We are investigating other possible recipes — but you might want to let readers know that not all DIY hand sanitizers are as effective as one might hope. And while it is true that for some applications, very high concentrations of glycerin can have antibacterial effects — it does not seem that the hand sanitizer area is one of them and in fact — adding glycerin may reduce the effectiveness of the alcohol’s sanitizing properties.
Might be missing it, but where is the actual recipe?
Two parts alcohol (90% of higher) and one part aloe gel. That’s it.
I made some with 91% and did 2/3 alcohol and 1/3 after sun aloe I bought. It was very runny so I added alot more aloe. Do I need to add more alcohol to fix it and deal with it being runny?
If you added more than 1/3rd aloe then it’s dropped below the effective threshold and you shouldn’t use it (unless you add more alcohol to bring the level up above 60%). The thickness really depends on the brand of aloe you use, and the natural stuff, as much as I love it just doesn’t work as well. You need something with chemical thickeners in it to help it stand up to all the added alcohol.
Also, the homemade recipe I used was 3 oz high proof alcohol (everclear type @ 180 proof or 90%), 1 oz glycerin, 30 drops Tea Tree essential oil, 10 drops Lavender essential oil (I added 20 more as I dislike the scent of Tea Tree oil) and that is it. I found that my glycerin from MRH tended to clump up. I will make more and this time, perhaps add in some thyme essential oil for an extra boost and maybe leave out the glycerin. Tea Tree and lavender are said to be very antimicrobal, and as mentioned here, so is thyme oil.
I have to say I appreciate the post… but for the love…. you go on and on and on and on and I just want the
recipe. I don’t need the history of hand sanitizers. Thank you just the same.
Hey, great article!
In the ingredients list of Purell, you mentioned this:
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer ~ “is a synthetic ingredient used as a thickening agent, texture enhancer, film-forming agent, and emulsifier in cosmetics and personal care products.”
I’m using 200-proof food-grade ethanol (can be purchased online…I bought 5 gallons for about $60 per gallon including federal tax).
For the thickener, I have carbomer 940, which is a polyvinyl carboxy polymer. I also bought some TEA (polyvinyl carboxy polymer) which makes the carbomer solution more alkaline and causes it to thicken more. I also have some PEG-40.
I’m finding that the carbomer tends to make your hands feel sticky just before the sanitizer is completely dried. But once it dries, the hands feel smooth and dry.
Did you experiment with other thickeners besides aloe?
I did experiment with what I had in my pantry, including agar, arrowroot, and gelatin. Mostly trying to find options for people working out of at home ingredients, so I didn’t test any polymers. Anyhow, none worked at all, simply didn’t gel in alcohol.
I have since learned that a local distillery here in VT is producing hand sanitizer using their own alcohol along with xantham gum, so it seems like that works as a thickener? I haven’t tried their blend, and I don’t have xantham gum in the house to try it out myself. If you do try that one, let me know how it goes.
Hi, I have made my own using this same basic recipe. The first aloe gel I bought from Amazon had xanthan gum and just became a clumpy mess when mixed with the alcohol. I finally got some that did not contain the xanthan gum, and it mixed well with my 91% alcohol. I don’t have any fragrance in it, and it does smell like alcohol. The problem is getting alcohol and aloe these days. The only issue I have is that it is very watery, and I was wondering what to do about that.
Hello, thanks for the article. I have noticed on several sites that they specify that it should be a two to one ratio. Then, within the very same article, they give you the menu, and it is not the correct ratio. as an example< this is from an article that specifies 2:1….
(((Per Romanowski, the final formula should be at least 60 percent alcohol to be effective. So, if you’re looking to fill a standard eight ounce bottle of Purell with a homemade formula, 4.8 ounces of the overall eight ounces would need to be alcohol with the remaining 3.2 ounces being aloe vera gel.)))
I don't get it. Have you found this as well?
Anyway, my actual reason for posting here. I made a batch up and overall, I was quite happy with the results. It felt pretty good on the hands, not too unlike store bought. I would have liked it to be a little thicker, but not bad. I did not care for the cloudiness, so I added a couple drops of food coloring to make it more appealing, I have not seen this mentioned anywhere, so I have to ask, is that a problem?
Thanks
I don’t think the food coloring is likely to cause a problem with effectiveness, but since it’s not tested you really can’t be sure. I’d think it’d dye your hands though?
lol. That’s ba really good point. Although I have not noticed anything on my hands. I just put some on a paper towel and there does seem to be a slight tint.
Goes to show what kind of cool I am…
Better safe than sorry. I will destroy the batch and try again without the food colouring.
Thanks for your response, it likely saved me some embarrassment.
Perhaps the person writing the formulation got confused and meant that the alcohol itself has to be 60% isopropyl alcohol in it’s original state,and then when you use that alcohol in the recipe, it is mixed 2:1 with aloe vera gel.
ie: 2 PARTS Isopropyl alcohol 60% or better to 1 PART Aloe Vera gel. Does that make sense? I could be confused??
To be effective, the final product must contain a minimum of 66-70% alcohol, which is why they say 1 part aloe gel for every 2 parts alcohol. That can be misconstrued though.
The alcohol itself that you use is important- if you use 95% alcohol, the other 5% is water (or say 68% alcohol has 32% water). With any, you must add more than just 2 parts worth to have 66-70% in the final product since the final product ratio is based on a 100% scale.
I didn’t see in the previous comments, I was going to use aloe Vera, the only ones I have either have lidocaine or lidocaine with menthol. I would think the menthol one would not be good, but is it ok to use the one with just lidocaine?
Honestly, I have no idea?
Having either lidocaine or menthol is okay to use. Both of these products are safe to use on skin. They’re common ingredients in back rub creams.
If it is in the article and I missed it, I’m sorry. But because this has Ella vera, does it need to be refrigerated?
With 60% alcohol, nothing should be growing in there (and that’s more or less the point). Most aloe gel that you get in the store is shelf-stable anyway, given that there’s very little actual aloe in there. If you’re using fresh aloe from plants at home, it may not combine as well since it doesn’t contain the artificial thickeners/polymers that the store-bought stuff does.
Either way though, nothing should be growing in your hand sanitizer if you made it right.
Thank you for the information! 🙏🏻
I used 91% alcohol and I made mine with two parts alcohol and one part aloe gel. I didn’t have glycerin for a skin conditioner, so I added a bunch of lavender essential oil. At first there’s a really strong scent of alcohol, but that goes away quickly and then I smell the lavender. My hands feel really soft . Even when this is over, I’m thinking that I’ll probably just make it from now on.
What are the exact measurements of the 2 parts alchohol and 1 part aloe vera (like oz, teaspoon, tablespoon etc.)? I have 2 3oz travel (89ml) sized bottles, could you please break down the recipe?
So if you have 3 ounces, that makes it pretty easy. Two parts alcohol would be 2 ounces, then one part aloe would be 1 ounce. Just be sure that you’re using alcohol that’s at least 90% so that the finished product is at least 60% alcohol (and I’d go a bit heavy-handed on the alcohol and skimp on the aloe just to be sure).
Can the Equate brand Sunburn Relief gel with aloe and lidocaine be used? I can’t find just aloe gel.
I’m definitely not an expert on this, and I have no idea what’s in those. I used a generic sunburn relief gel because you’re mostly just using the polymers in the gel to help the alcohol gel into a thicker consistency. The aloe is a nice touch for skin health, but not the part that’s making the sanitizer work.
I have an aloe plant, but no bottled gel. Wondering if anything can be done with whole aloe?
You can do it with fresh aloe, but it won’t gel like store-bought hand sanitizer. It’s the additives in the aloe stuff that make it gel, not the aloe itself. The fresh aloe will be a nice addition anyway though, since it’ll help condition your hands when you’re using lots of sanitizer. What you’ll end up with is more liquid/spray consistency though.
I make mine with fresh aloe and grain everclear and it came out perfect! It’s a spray though rather than gel. But I prefer it that way. Thank you, Ashley! I enjoy reading your posts!!
Is it possible to make a sanitizing spray or gel that has the effectiveness of using the 91% alcohol using 70% alcohol? How would ratios differ? Or is it not even worth using it for a sanitizing spray?
Just use the 70% alcohol as is, and use it as a spray. Diluting it too much makes it ineffective, and you cant add too much to that without going too low.
I made this using 92% alcohol and plain aloe Vera gel. I didn’t have a problem getting it to mix together but it never did thicken. It was like water.
It probably depends on the thickeners in the aloe gel. It’s “natural” aloe gel without all manner of chemical thickeners than it likely won’t do anything to thicken the hand sanitizer. It’s all the additives that are doing it, but even then, I imagine it depends on what additives are in that particular brand of aloe.
What’s the shelf life for homemade hand sanitizer?
Good question…If left sealed so the alcohol can’t evaporate, I’d imagine it’s quite long, many years, if not indefinitely. Similar to the out dates for the ingredients going in. But that’s just my best guess, I’m definitely not a chemist.
One question: can the liquid aloe vera(used for ingestion) be appropriate to make the hand sanitizer, as long as the correct measurement of ingredients are used? Reason is that the gel aloe vera gel is difficult to obtain now!
Feel this would answer others with same concern. Plus it could be poured in any type container.
Looking forward to your reply.
Thank you in advance,
That’s a good question, and honestly, I have no idea. I don’t know much about the drink liquid form of aloe vera. The chemical thickening agents in after sun cream are what is creating the “thick” texture in this hand sanitizer recipe and “natural” aloe without chemical polymers added to thicken it won’t actually thicken the sanitizer much. It’ll still come out pretty watery. I believe the drink is actually really liquid, or I assume, since you’re drinking it. I don’t think it’d give you the desired results and I have no idea how the fresh stuff would interact with the alcohol.
WHO recommends your final product should be at 60% ethanol or 70% isopropyl. Stay safe everyone!
Csn I make hand sanitizer with fresh aloe straight from the plant? I have a huge aloe plant in my kitchen but I don’t know the correct ratio to try & don’t want to waste to figure it out if you know if it can be done. Thx!
Fresh aloe will condition your hands, but it won’t help the sanitizer gel. (The chemicals in the synthetic stuff are what’s doing it, so natural aloe doesn’t cause it to gel). The finished product will be like water, which is fine, but maybe not what you’re going for.
Disclaimer: I am a cosmetic chemist.
I thought this article was informative and balanced, except for one thing, which I see has already caused an unpleasant exchange of opinion between two commenters who are talking about two different things without realising.
Sanitisers can be formulated from either isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol but the required minimum alcohol percentagw is different. The WHO recommends a minimum of 70% ethyl alcohol for healthcare facilities, and 63% for casual domestic use,
The industry has been having a problem producing quality sanitiser, because the best thickener to use is now almost impossible to obtain. So, if your sanitiser isn’t crystal clear or leaves a sticky afterfeel, now you know why.
Thanks Am very grateful for your help and enlightement I I was told to produce the SANITIZER get to be used in soap dispenser please how can I do that and I need the thick texture
Thanks
It should be a thick texture when you combine the ingredients.
Alot of guessing going on so I hope one realizes it’s very difficult to obtain that gel texture everyone desires. Glycerin or Aloe gel vary tremendously and if your not a specialized chemist with access to specific thickeners and a recipe well measured you can experiment for days and not be satisfied with that Purell texture that still stinks. Masking odor is also not how the pros do it but that’s another world. Sorry I can’t tell you how to obtain great thickeners. High purity aloe and glycerin are easy to buy but will you be happy with shaking the aloe gel Everytime to obtain an also ran texture. Some of you are playing with mixtures that are close to ineffective so focus on that first or don’t try some eyeballing it method. Good luck!
It’s worth noting that the water content of the sanitizers is an active component. It’s not just there to make up the volume. It hydrates the outer membrane of pathogens thereby allowing the alcohol to penetrate easier and do it’s work.
Unless you want it in industrial quantities from China there does not appear to be any source of small quantities of Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer – unless you know different.
As an old timee chemistry guy, I have a sufficient supply of ethyl alcohol (Ethanol) that is Medical Grade from France. Bought on Amazon and is NOT Denatured with a poison. I believe it should work handily when mixed with the Aloe Vera Gel as a Sanitizer. I will have to dilute the 97% Alcohol first, but it should work well. Any comment out there?
it was a great post thanks for sharing this information.
You’re welcome. So glad you enjoyed the article.