Recipe for Homemade Hand Sanitizer
Cold and flu season is coming around, and with it plenty of opportunities to share nasty germs. Using hand sanitizer is a great way to prevent spreading illness, but conventional germ fighting gel smells awful and can easily dry out your hands. Overuse of hand sanitizer can also lead to stronger germs, which may end up leaving you sicker than you would have been without that goopy, smelly gel.
The best way to stay safe from germs is to wash your hands regularly with soap and hot water. However, there’s not always a sink nearby, and you may find yourself in a situation where hand sanitizer really comes in handy. Use our aloe vera in this homemade sanitizer to keep germs from spreading without exposing yourself to the potential dangers of conventional sanitizing gel.
Aloe Vera and Sanitation
Aloe vera has been used as a medicinal plant for centuries. While its ability to help soothe and heal burns is well known, it’s a little less known for its antimicrobial properties. Because it helps to kill harmful bacteria, aloe vera can be used on small cuts and scrapes to speed healing. It also makes a great addition to homemade hand sanitizer, as it kills germs without drying out your hands or smelling awful.
Making Your Own Homemade Hand Sanitizer
To make your own aloe vera hand sanitizer, you’ll need a few ingredients:
- 10 drops of antibacterial essential oil (such as lavender, sandalwood, peppermint, sage, or rosemary)
- 5 drops tea tree essential oil (another antibacterial essential oil)
- 1 Tablespoon witch hazel extract (helps prevent bacterial colonization)
- 1/3 cup aloe vera gel
- Contents of 1 Vitamin E capsule (to preserve your sanitizer)
- A clean, empty squirt bottle (such as an empty bottle used to store conventional hand sanitizer)
In a clean glass bowl, mix the essential oils and the contents of the vitamin E capsule. Add the witch hazel and mix well. Pour the cup of aloe vera gel into another bowl, then add the witch hazel and essential mixture to it. Mix well. Carefully pour the end result into your preferred container. Shake your hand sanitizer well before each use. The Vitamin E in the sanitizer will help it keep for three to four months.
Stay Healthy!
It’s rough out there during cold and flu season, but by taking steps to avoid germs you can keep yourself and your family healthy. Use homemade aloe vera hand sanitizer when soap and water aren’t available to kill germs and avoid getting sick.
Interested in mixing this up? Try our cold-pressed, 99.75% organic Aloe Vera Gel!