2-Ingredient DIY Hand Sanitizer
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Homemade hand sanitizer is one of the simple recipes that I make for myself that stirs together quickly because I only need 2 ingredients. For this recipe the two ingredients needed are aloe vera gel and 91% Isopropryl Alcohol. If you have those two items, then you can make your own hand sanitizer!
How To Make Homemade Hand Sanitizer {Small Batch}
The important thing to remember when making your own hand sanitizer is that you need to use the higher percentage alcohol, and you need to use twice as much of that alcohol compared to the other ingredient. The formula is 2 parts alcohol to 1 part aloe vera gel. This gives you a strong enough percentage of alcohol to provide sanitizing power.
My favorite container for my homemade hand sanitizer is this small 3 oz travel bottle. I keep it in my car, the place I use hand sanitizer the most after having been out and about. So the recipe here is designed to be just a small batch that will fit nicely into one of these travel sized bottles.
I start by measuring 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel into a small bowl. Then I add 4 tablespoons of the 91% alcohol. Those two ingredients are then stirred together. The mixture will turn a little cloudier as they start to blend.
Then I transfer the mixture to my little squeeze bottle, and my small funnel makes this job so much easier! Once the mixture is in the bottle and the lid is back on, I give it a good shake to get the ingredients mixed together a bit more.
Yes, It’s Kind of a Thin Mixture
The one thing you’ll find with homemade hand sanitizer is that it’s a thinner consistency than the store bought versions. But honestly, that’s OK and after awhile you might find that you actually prefer this thinner, lighter version!
If you want an option for making a slightly thicker version, you can try my homemade hand sanitizer recipe that uses just a bit of coconut oil. However I’ve found that during our cold Michigan winters when I keep this in my car, the coconut oil can form small little lumps again.
Read more: Homemade Hand Sanitizer – A Bit Thicker
So even though this homemade mixture is a bit thinner, I still make it regularly because it’s such a simple and handy strategy that uses two ingredients I almost always have on hand.
I also use my 91% Isopropyl Alcohol to make a copycat Dawn Powerwash Refill and it works great!
Read more: Make Your Own Dawn Powerwash Refill
I keep aloe vera gel in the house for sunburned skin, and also use it to make a soothing after-sun homemade moisturizing spray.
Read More: Make Your Own After-Sun Moisturizing Spray
2-Ingredient Homemade Hand Sanitizer
Equipment:
- Small Mixing Bowl
- Tablespoon measuring spoon
- Funnel (not necessary but very helpful!)
- Small bottle of at least a 3 oz size
Materials:
- 2 Tbl Aloe Vera Gel
- 4 Tbl 91% Isopropyl Alcohol
Instructions:
- Measure the 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel into a small mixing bowl.
- Add the 4 tablespoons of alcohol.
- Gently stir to mix the two ingredients together. It's OK if there are still some clumps of gel at this point.
- Transfer the mixture to your small bottle. A small funnel is very helpful for this step. Put the lid back on the bottle and give it a good shake to help further mix the ingredients together. (The ingredients will continue to mix together more thoroughly as the mixture sits).
- To Use: Squirt a small dribble of the mixture into your hand and rub your hands together to work it in.
Notes:
I made this using the exact same ingredients (brand and concentrations) but mine was extremely thin and the aloe clumped into a white glob. Does this happen to yours or am I doing something wrong? I am hoping to do this with my class as a STEM activity.
When first mixing the aloe gel and the alcohol together for the hand sanitizer, the mixture will be kind of cloudy and it isn’t perfectly smooth at first. When I transfer the mixture to my squeeze bottle, sometimes I will have a few lumpy “blups” as I pour it. But I’ve never had it stay that way and those two ingredients continue to blend together in the bottle. The mixture loses it’s cloudiness too. It’s also a thinner mixture than store-bought versions.
Perhaps you could try stirring the aloe gel first to “loosen” it up a bit before adding the alcohol. And then maybe stir after the addition of each tablespoon of alcohol, and maybe that will help incorporate those ingredients a little better for you.
Hi, would this work in a spray bottle?
I think the recipe would be a little too thick as it is currently written, but if you used a little less aloe gel so the mixture was just a bit thinner, then I think it could work in a spray bottle.
Mixing some up today. Thanks for another helpful item to add to my to do list.
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Blessings to you 💜
Minnie
I think you will enjoy being able to make your own hand sanitizer. It is indeed a helpful homemade item to have around!