The past few months there’s been many colds, coughs, and flu illnesses going around! People have been washing and sanitizing like crazy! This is a good thing and something we should have all been doing anyway!
Soap and water are the best ways to clean your hands, however, if they aren’t available, that’s when you turn to a hand sanitizer! You can read more about how and when to use hand sanitizers from the Center For Disease Control and Prevention here.
If you’ve read any of my other posts then you know one of my daughters is immunocompromised. Therefore, this is something my family has been used to doing for years! My kids know that the second they get out of school and jump in my car, they use my DIY hand sanitizer! They love it and we all know it works!
My kids also get home and run to the bathroom and use our DIY germ-fighting foaming hand soap. My oldest daughters enjoy making it themselves and think it’s fun to use it as well!
For those of you running out to buy hand sanitizers and there’s nothing left on the shelves at your local grocery stores, here are 5 homemade hand sanitizers that work like magic! Most of these products you should already have in your home anyway!
Here are DIY hand sanitizer recipes that your kids will love to make! They will kill viruses and bad bacteria and you can keep it in your car or carry it in your purse!
Please remember, I am not a doctor, just a mom! Always remember that nothing I say is to be misconstrued as medical advice. The recipes below have not been tested to determine their efficacy against all viruses. Also, please do not delay in seeking medical attention if you do have respiratory or health problems.
DIY Thieves Hand Sanitizer Recipes
This one is my favorite! This is the one my family has been using for years because I love Young Living! If you aren’t interested in getting YL products at this time, there are a few other essential oil brands that are similar below.
- 1/3 cup of aloe vera gel
- 2/3 cup of rubbing alcohol
- 8 drops of Thieves or this immunity booster essential oil
*If you can’t get rubbing alcohol anywhere at the moment, here is another recipe for a Thieves hand sanitizer:
- 6 ounces of water
- 1 teaspoon of aloe vera gel
- 12 drops of Thieves essential oil or this one
The ingredients in the Thieves blend essential oils and Revive Immunity booster oil have antimicrobial properties that help kill off germs and bacteria. The rubbing alcohol is a stronger blend that kills germs on contact. However, if it’s not available, this version of hand sanitizer without rubbing alcohol still works!
Click on the photos below for more info:
Are you out of rubbing alcohol? Try this recipe instead with witch hazel!
DIY Essential Oil Hand Sanitizer Recipe with Witch Hazel
- 3 teaspoons of witch hazel
- 6 drops of tea tree oil
- 6 drops of lemon oil (or lemongrass, orange, purification)
- fill the rest of a small spray bottle with water and shake!
Hand Sanitizer Recipe With Hydrogen Peroxide
If you can find hydrogen peroxide, this works great! Just get a spray bottle and pour some in! Carry this with you! It can be drying and foaming on your skin a bit. Kids may not like this, however, if you do have a big bottle of it laying around, it works great as a hand sanitizer and disinfectant!
Colloidal Silver as a Hand Sanitizer
Colloidal Silver was used as an all-purpose treatment for infections and illnesses before modern-day antibiotics. It is a liquid made with silver particles that was once used as an antibacterial. Studies have claimed that colloidal silver can be used to kill a wide range of bacteria and viruses.
- 1/2 cup of colloidal silver at 100%
- 5 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 5 drops of clove or lemon essential oil
Should You Add A Carrier Oil To Your Hand Sanitizer?
You can add a carrier oil to any of the sanitizers that use essential oils. The carrier oil helps to moisturize the sanitizer a bit more so it’s not so drying on your skin. This is just an option. Just add 1-2 teaspoons of carrier oil to any hand sanitizer with essential oils. I like jojoba or coconut.
For a large batch hand sanitizer recipe, the World Health Organization shares this recipe here you can make.
I hope these DIY hand sanitizer recipes can help some of your families out in a pinch! You can experiment with different essential oils and see which one works better or smell nicer for you! Just remember to buy essential oils that are pure because they will be the strongest at fighting off germs and bacteria!
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