Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer with 4 Recipes

I am not a fan of hand sanitizers, but they do have there place such as situations when you don’t have access to water for hand washing. With that said, many commercial hand cleaners contain Triclosan which is a chlorophenol. It is a class of chemicals that is suspected of causing cancer in humans. Dioxins, PCBs, chlorophenols and many other pesticides are categorized as persistent organic pollutants. They accumulate to higher concentration levels with each step up the food chain. Once these pollutants are absorbed into fat cells it is extremely challenging to remove them. Triclosan is one of these chemicals and with people at the top of the food chain, the risks are high.
Triclosan has been strongly linked to the following effects on human health:
Abnormal cell growth

Abnormalities with the endocrine system

Birth defects

Carcinogenic effects

Muscle weakness

Unhealthy weight loss

 

To learn about Triclosan click here and here

 

If you like to use hand sanitizers, you can easily make your own for less than commercial  brands and use safer ingredients.

aloe-vera

Recipe #1-Aloe Vera & Alcohol Hand Sanitizer
Add the following ingredients to a mixing bowl:
2/3 C. rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol)
1/3 c. aloe vera gel
Mix well, pour into container and label.

 

 

 

Recipe #2-Witch Hazel & Vodka Hand Sanitizer                witch-hazel

2 ounces vodka
4 to 5 drops of tea tree or eucalyptus
2 teaspoons witch hazel
Mix well, and pour into your bottle and label.

 

Recipe #3-Aloe Vera, Witch Hazel Hand Sanitizer
Add the following ingredients to a mixing bowl:
1/4 cup 100% aloe vera gel
1/4 cup witch hazel
1 tsp vegetable glycerin
1 TBS apple cider vinegar
10 drops tea tree oil

Mix it all together and put it in bottle, shake and label

 

GSE for external useRecipe #4-Aloe Vera, GSE Hand Sanitizer

1/4 C. aloe vera gel

1 tsp. glycerin

1 tsp. rubbing alcohol

20 drops of Grapefruitseed Extract (natural antibiotic and preservative)

Mix together, pour into bottle and label.

 

How It Works

The active ingredient in this hand sanitizer recipe is the alcohol, which needs to comprise at least 60% of the product in order to be an effective disinfectant.

Essential Oils in Hand Sanitizer
The essential oil you choose may also help protect you against germs. For example, thyme and clove oil have antimicrobial properties. If you are using antimicrobial oils, only use a drop or two, since these oils tend to be very powerful and might irritate your skin. Other oils, such as lavendar or chamomile, may help soothe your skin.

When choosing a pure essential oil to use, research the company that makes it. Pick one that explains its distillation process—some companies use solvents, so you want to avoid those. To see if an essential oil is pure, drop a dab on a piece of blotting paper. If it evaporates without leaving a stain, it’s pure.

Naturally antibacterial essential oils:

• Basil
• Orange
• Chamomile
• Patchouli
• Peppermint
• Coriander
• Cypress
• Eucalyptus
• Rosemary
• Geranium
• Rosewood
• Grapefruit
• Sage
• Lemon
• Sandalwood
• Lime
• Spearmint
• Also spicier oils like thyme, oregano, and clove.

Written By

My Health Maven offers information on a wholistic approach to healthy lifestyle choices.