Make DIY Hand Sanitizer With Aloe Vera And Ditch That Rubbing Alcohol Scent

If there’s one thing living in a coronavirus pandemic world has taught us, it’s never to take hand sanitizer for granted. OK, it’s taught us much more than that. But if we were to make a gratitude list, that magic germ-banishing gel would definitely be on it. For the better part of the last year, hand sanitizer has been a prized commodity, making it nearly impossible to stock up. Even now, you probably find that your favorite brand is routinely on backorder. So, you’ve decided to be proactive and try a DIY sanitizer version. And, because you’ve realized washing your hands so much can leave them dry and chapped, you want to find a soothing recipe. Hence, Googling “how to make hand sanitizer with aloe vera.” Well, we’re here to give you a (super-clean) hand.

We should, of course, preface this by saying that the CDC continues to remind us all that scrubbing with soap and water is the most effective way to wash your hands. But let’s be real — at this point, we’re all washing our hands and using hand sanitizer. If you want a solid and gentle backup, try making this homemade recipe.

How to Make Hand Sanitizer With Aloe Vera

You’ll be happy to hear that making your own hand sanitizer with aloe vera is pretty darn simple. You just need a few things:

Ingredients and Supplies

• Two parts 99 percent Isopropyl/rubbing alcohol
• One part aloe vera gel or fresh aloe from an aloe plant
• Essential oils of your choice or lemon juice
• Funnel
• Bottle, jar, or another storage container with a lid
• Whisk
• Spoon
• A mixing bowl

Instructions

• Step one: Ensure the area where you’re creating your hand sanitizer has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. We recommend wiping surfaces down with DIY disinfectant wipes or spraying them with a DIY disinfectant spray.
• Step two: Pour the rubbing alcohol and aloe vera into your mixing bowl. Using a clean whisk, mix the two thoroughly. If you’re using fresh aloe vera from a plant, you’ll need to use a food processor or blender to ensure the two blend completely.
• Step three: At this point, your hand sanitizer with aloe will smell a lot like the alcohol. That’s where the essential oils come in handy! You can use any essential oil of your choice to help mask the alcohol’s pungency. We’re partial to sweet orange and clove. Bonus? Many essential oils are natural disinfectants. Just add a few drops to your mix.
• Step four: Give the ingredients another whisk to blend in the essential oils.
• Step five: Using your funnel and a spoon to catch any drips, pour your mixture into an air-tight storage container. If you have a crafty friend (or if you’re crafty), have a cute label whipped up to slap on the front of your container.

How to Make Hand Sanitizer With Aloe Vera, But Without Alcohol

If you’re not a fan of alcohol’s strong odor or how harsh it is on your hands, you may be looking for a way to skip it altogether. But that isn’t gonna fly, buddy. Per the CDC, hand sanitizers must be at least 60 percent alcohol to effectively kill germs. Using aloe vera in a recipe cuts the alcohol content by 33 percent. So, when you start with 99 percent alcohol and mix it with aloe vera in a two-to-one ratio, you wind up with a hand sanitizer that’s approximately 65 percent alcohol.

You can use 70 percent alcohol — however, and this is crucial, you must adjust your recipe. If you use a lower percentage of alcohol, you can dilute it by no more than 10 percent. That means you need to use, for example, three cups of 70 percent alcohol and only ⅓ cup aloe vera.

Is Aloe Vera Gel Safe to Eat?

One of the perks of making a homemade aloe-based hand sanitizer is that it’s not as toxic as alcohol-based disinfectants. Thankfully, aloe vera gel can be eaten and has a bunch of health benefits. It can reduce blood sugar levels, dental plaque, boost memory, and is filled with antioxidants. It’s even good for your body and can be added to your skincare routine.

Homemade Soft Scrub Cleaner With Aloe

If you still have some aloe vera leftover, turn it into a cleanser for your surfaces. Next to your aloe vera hand sanitizer, this will help you and your family stay safe and clean. You’re going to need:

• Half a cup of baking soda
• Half a cup of liquid soap
• Fifteen drops of rosemary or tea tree oil
• One teaspoon of aloe vera gel

Mix these ingredients together into a jar and add the aloe vera gel to keep the solution moist. This is an excellent scrub for tubs and sinks. Then rinse it away with a vinegar and water solution.

Homemade Wooden Surface Cleaner With Aloe

Aloe vera is not only a great ingredient to include in sanitizers, but is a great tool to use for household surfaces as well. Here’s an aloe-based cleaner for dusting wooden surfaces in your home. This is great for cleaning your floors or furniture. So, give your dressers or chairs a shine using these natural products below:

• Water
• Vinegar
• Olive oil
• Aloe vera
• Essential oils