*Please note - this hand sanitiser recipe has not been tested for effectiveness against Coronavirus (COVID-19). This article was written and published prior to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
As a parent of 2 young kids, with one still in nappies, germs are a constant battle. I suffer from dermatitis, so I try to steer away from commercial hand sanitisers that are laden with chemicals.
Fortunately, I’ve come across an all-natural hand sanitiser that I can make myself. It smells wonderful and doesn’t dry out my skin. You can make this product at home with an anti-bacterial essential oil and a handful of other ingredients. For this particular sanitiser I chose oils with strong anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.
Homemade Moisturising Sanitiser Recipe
This natural sanitiser is a must for every handbag and kitchen!
Ingredients
- 5-10 drops Sandalwood or lavender essential oil
- 30 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil
- 1 Tablespoon of high proof Vodka (Smirnoff 100 Proof, Svedka 100 or Absolute 100)
- 250 ml of Pure Aloe Vera Gel
- ¼ Teaspoon of Vitamin E Oil. Vitamin E will help soften your hands, but because it’s a natural preservative, it will increase the shelf life of your sanitiser.
All these ingredients (except the Vodka) can be purchased at Priceline or Chemist Warehouse although you may find cheaper alternatives online.
Method
- Add the essential oils and Vitamin E oil to a small bowl and mix together.
- Add the Vodka and mix again
- Combine the oils and vodka with the Aloe Vera gel and mix well
- Transfer the mix into a small, clean squirt bottle. Use a coloured or block white bottle to protect the essential oils.
Shelf Life
This mixture will be effective for several months, but shake well before use as the Aloe Vera may separate from the essential oils. I suggest having a small pump pack around the house and in back-packs for easy access. Given the use of alcohol in the recipe, it's best to keep the sanitiser for the grown-ups only.
The Power of Essential Oils
One of the great benefits of using essential oils in a hand sanitiser is that they don’t cause bacterial resistance like anti-bacterial sanitisers, and they are effective at killing strains of bacteria that have become resistant to commercially produced sanitisers and medicinal products (as published by the US Library of Medicine)
Tea Tree essential oil has been shown to kill most types of germs and bacteria at a strength of 0.5% to 1% (International Journal of Dermatology). Using 30 drops of Essential Tee Tree Oil in this solution gives a strength of 0.5%, so if you were to change the volumes, you’ll need to adjust the quantity of tee tree oil accordingly.
I use Lavender Oil or Sandalwood oil in this recipe to balance out the strong smell of the Tee Tree Oil, and because they have strong anti-bacterial products. If you prefer a different fragrance then some other anti-bacterial oil you may want to try include Rosemary, Sage or Peppermint.
Allergy Test
Before using this recipe, we suggest testing your susceptibility to an allergic reaction to the essential oils used in this product. You can run this test by mixing a drop of the essential oil and a tablespoon of olive oil and rub in on the inside of your elbow. Wrap the area in a bandage for 24 hours and then check for a reaction.
Disclaimer:
This is a recipe used at home, derived from research on the subject on the internet. While I am a big fan of my home-made sanitiser, clinical trials have not been performed to confirm its effectivity or safety.
This recipe is derived from a similar recipe found on www.diynatural.com. We would like to thank the authors of DIYnatural for their excellent information on living naturally.
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