Hand sanitizer is a product that can reduce the number of potentially disease-causing germs on your hands when soap and water are not available. Here are some details about homemade hand sanitizer:
Ingredients:
- Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol or ethanol)
- Aloe vera gel
- Essential oil or lemon juice
Positive aspects:
- It is a handy on-the-go way to help prevent the spread of germs.
- It can be made with just a few ingredients.
Negative aspects:
- Homemade hand sanitizer recipes, including the one below, are intended for use by professionals with the necessary expertise and resources for safe creation and proper utilization.
- Improper ingredients or proportions can lead to lack of efficacy, skin irritation, injury, burns, or exposure to hazardous chemicals via inhalation.
- Hand sanitizers should not contain methanol, also known as wood alcohol, which is harmful to human health.
Inactive ingredients:
- Emollients (e.g., glycerin): help moisturize skin
- Polyacrylate (e.g., sodium polyacrylate): helps to thicken and stabilizes the ingredients
- Color
- Fragrance: helps improve the scent
- Water: carrier ingredient for the other active and inactive ingredients
It is important to note that homemade hand sanitizer is only recommended in extreme situations when handwashing isn’t available for the foreseeable future.
