Homemade Hand Sanitizer

I found this recipe in my "try it" stash pile. I must have printed it way back in 2010. You'll probably laugh, but I even found a crochet pattern in my "recipe stash."

Youngest was still in elementary school, and I had been recycling school papers for printer paper.

I have no idea where I got this recipe either. I did not put any notes on it. My guess, is that I put it to the side, due to the ingredients. Back then I did not have all of them. Today, however, I have them, and quickly mixed up a jar of it. I guess that shows me how much I have learned over the past several years.

The recipe states to use a "glass" jar to mix it in. I am wondering if I could put this in a travel (BPA free) bottle for any future weekend (or other) road trips? I've heard so many bad reviews about the hand sanitizers sold in stores, so I am so happy I am depleting this very old pile of recipes and finding these gems.

Hand Sanitizer

1/4 cup witch hazel *

1/4 cup aloe vera gel

1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin

1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

10 drops tea tree essential oil

Mix all ingredients in a glass jar and shake well.

To use, simply dab a bit on your hands and rub in.

*note: I used all organic ingredients, and a high quality witch hazel (available at most health stores). I had witch hazel extract on hand from making homemade bug spray, and it is much better on my skin in my opinion.

Update on the organic aloe vera gel. I've had this product on hand due to the hay rash I got a while back. My girls have been dabbing it on acne and it dries it up and is better on their skin.

Comments

Kim said…

It is nice to see a recipe for this. Thanks for sharing. it would be nice if you could put it in a squeeze or even a spray bottle. I have a aluminum spray bottle I got at the $$$ tree, I wonder if that might work?

March 6, 2016 at 10:14 AM

Pioneer Woman at Heart said…

Kim, it does have a teensy bit of gel due to the aloe and glycerin, so I may try a squeeze bottle.

March 6, 2016 at 10:26 AM

Lady Jane said…

Thanks, I will try this. I made the bug spray recipe and it was great. Hugs, LJ

March 6, 2016 at 11:21 AM

Pioneer Woman at Heart said…

Lady Jane, I love that bug spray too. I've been using the sanitizer for a few days. I made it in time too. One kiddo is sick. I hope we can stop the germs from getting passed around.

March 6, 2016 at 12:12 PM

Dawn said…

I made some hand sanitizer last year, still using it up it was a large bottle much prefer it to the stuff in shops, will have to give yours a try next :-)

March 6, 2016 at 1:14 PM

Mama Pea said…

You are just full of such good tips! So generous of you to share it all with the rest of us. Thanks.

March 6, 2016 at 6:57 PM

Pioneer Woman at Heart said…

Dawn, please let us know which one is better, your recipe or this one. It's the first for me to try.

March 7, 2016 at 6:33 AM

Pioneer Woman at Heart said…

Mama Pea, you are welcome. I'm just working my way through the recipe pile.

March 7, 2016 at 6:33 AM

RB said…

Good to have this. I use hand sanitizer daily when I'm working at the store. Many don't know this, but store meat packaging isn't bacteria free on the outside and may even have blood contamination, so touching that then touching something you eat raw without washing your hands first AND then the item you eat raw before you eat it, could be a cross-contamination event that could cause sickness or even death.
Heck even that touching the outside of cereal boxes, canned food, etc., spreads contamination throughout one's entire vehicle and household.
If the store doesn't provide it, I get plastic bags from the produce section and take it to the meat department to place individual meat packages in before placing them in my basket, on the checkout belt, in carry out bags, my vehicle, etc.
I don't see any ingredients that wouldn't be ok in a plastic bottle, but to be sure, try a few drops in one overnight before committing to doing it.
Prayers everyone has a safe happy week.
God bless.
RB
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March 7, 2016 at 5:46 PM