Is Homemade Hand Sanitizer Effective?

These days, we’re all trying to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe from germs – and that means you’ve probably been using a lot more antimicrobial hand sanitizer lately. You may have also seen recipes for homemade hand sanitizer floating around the internet. But is it safe to use hand sanitizer made from scratch? Is homemade hand sanitizer effective or should you stick with the store-bought stuff? We have the answers you need to be safe below.

Table of Contents
Why are people making their own hand sanitizer?
Is hand sanitizer from scratch safe?
How effective is homemade hand sanitizer?
What ingredients are in homemade hand sanitizer?

Remember, hand sanitizer is a convenient way to clean your hands, but the CDC still recommends using soap and water when possible.

Why are people making their own hand sanitizer?

Usually, there are two types of people who are looking for ways to make their own hand sanitizer: those who are worried about the ingredients inside store-bought products or those looking for an alternative if their local store is out of stock. While DIY hand sanitizer can be a great alternative in a pinch, it should not be used instead of FDA-approved products. For more information on ingredients and products to avoid, refer to the FDA’s list of bad hand sanitizers.

Is hand sanitizer from scratch safe? 

It may seem easy to make homemade disinfectants or hand sanitizers. However, many recipes call for large quantities of potentially hazardous ingredients and require you to store these ingredients at home, posing a risk for children and pets. The ingredients in homemade sanitizer recipes (ex: isopropyl alcohol, essential oils, and bleach) are typically reserved for professionals who have the experience and equipment necessary. An improperly made batch can cause:

skin irritation,
exposure to dangerous chemicals,
and serious illness or death in some cases.

When you use a store-bought product, you can rest knowing the formula was professionally developed and delivered in a way that makes it easy and safe to use.

How effective is homemade hand sanitizer?

When the health of our loved ones is at stake, it's important to be confident in the products you use. In terms of efficacy, homemade recipes do not undergo the rigorous testing required to be approved by the FDA. So there is no way to officially know if they are effective or not. To effectively kill germs, the CDC recommends using sanitizer products with at least 60% alcohol content. While home recipes can result in sanitizer that meets those standards, it takes practice and skill to ensure the ratios are accurate and consistent. Those looking for an alcohol-free recipe will often find themselves hunting for several different essential oils and concocting a witch's brew that involves constant trial and error – without any guarantee that it will work. Additionally, homemade recipes can lose efficacy over time because the ingredients used have a limited shelf life.

What ingredients are in homemade hand sanitizer?

Common ingredients found in homemade sanitizer recipes include isopropyl or rubbing alcohol, aloe vera gel, Vitamin E, witch hazel, household bleach, and essential oils, among others. The essential oils and alcohol for their antiseptic properties, while the aloe and Vitamin E is used to moisturize and protect skin.

However, if you’re looking for simple ingredients that protect your skin from germs and keeps them soft, you don’t have to turn your home into a lab. Choose Just Human’s 24 Hour Hand Sanitizer instead. Our formula uses just a handful of ingredients:

Benzalkonium chloride (active ingredient)
Our proprietary 24-hour Bionic Shield smart molecule
De-ionized water to hydrate your hands

Just Human’s revolutionary product only has to be applied once a day for up to 24 hours of protection from germs. So you can live your life without worry!