DIY Hand & Hard Surface Sanitizer
With the switch of just one ingredient, this all purpose sanitizer spray works great for both hands and surfaces!
Aloe juice pumps moisture into an otherwise drying solution for your hands. White vinegar adds to the surfactant ability of the surface cleaning mixture to help lift and remove impurities from topical surfaces such as glass, tile, granite, and stone, leaving them squeaky clean. Essential oils can leave marks, though, so use caution if cleaning finished wood.
This recipe calls for isopropyl alcohol which I know is hard to come by in most places right now, but it will come back! If you’re low on it, try not to fret and just keep checking amazon/local stores for availability. A 70%+ solution of isopropyl alcohol is an ideal base for this recipe. When using isopropyl alcohol, take caution. It is different from the ethyl alcohol/ethylene you’ll see listed on commercially made sanitizers in that if ingested it can make you very sick or may cause blindness. So be careful to keep out of reach of wee ones and (I don’t think I really need to say this, but…) do not drink this mixture. If you’re more comfortable using ethyl alcohol/ethylene, simply buy 150+proof grain alcohol from your liquor store.
HAND & HARD SURFACE SANITIZER SPRAY
4 parts isopropyl/ethyl (grain) alcohol*
1 part aloe juice (for hands) -or- white vinegar (for surfaces)
1 part water
Essential Oils Blend (equal parts Lemon, Grapefruit Rosemary, Thyme, Lavender, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus… use all or any combo of these antimicrobial oils which can help kill germs on contact, they’re not just in this recipe because they smell nice)
Grapefruit Seed Extract-GSE (approx. an equal amount to essential oils)
The exact amounts of each ingredient depends on the size bottles you’re using. Use your own discretion, but add at least 20 drops of oils and GSE and go up from there. Use a household/plant spray bottle for surface cleaner, and a small spritz bottle for hands.
Pour/drop all ingredients into your bottle, secure the lid, and shake before using.
For Hands: Spray a little onto your palm and fingers and rub in. *Please note, isopropyl alcohol can sting if applied to open cuts/scrapes.
For Surfaces: Spray directly onto hard surfaces and wipe with a cloth** or paper towel.
**When cleaning germy surfaces with a reusable cloth, to avoid the possibility of recontamination, I recommend throwing it in the laundry to be washed as soon as possible and not reusing the same cloth on multiple surfaces throughout your home.
