How To Make a Natural Anti-Viral Hand Sanitizer with Aloe Vera.

​Making a Natural Anti-Viral Hand Sanitizer with Aloe Vera

Learning how to make Aloe Vera Hand Sanitizer is so easy, you just need the right ingredients. Although there is a worldwide health emergency occurring as we speak, there are ways to keep yourself safe and protected. Often Aloe Vera can offer many uses and hand sanitizing is one of them.

As recommended by the “World Health Organization Recommended Handrub Formulations”, it is important to allow the formulated hand sanitizer to quarantine for approximately 72 hours before using it, making it more effective.

Although this is related to a homemade Aloe Vera hand sanitizer, it is still important to let the sanitizer quarantine in a sense.

​Watch Video to Learn How to Make Aloe Vera Hand Sanitizer and Scroll Down Page and see the Recipe​

How To Stay Safe In a Pandemic

In order to stay safe in a health emergency, it is important to recognize the symptoms and if you are experiencing them.

By staying aware of how you feel, how you take care of yourself, and who you surround yourself with, you can keep yourself and others safe.

Symptoms related to viruses as mentioned by the World Health Organization include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and difficulties in breathing.

There have been more severe cases where infections have presented themselves and caused pneumonia, kidney failure, and severe acute respiratory syndrome. In very serious cases, even death (WHO Recommended Handrub Formulations 2010).

​Stay Safe!!

​To stay safe, continue to be aware of the most recent news that is being presented in relation to viruses spreading.

You can keep updated by checking the World Health Organization’s website and also between your local and national health authorities as well.

At the beginning as has been reported, the frequented area being infected is mainly people who live in China. But as now can be seen there is a worldwide spread of this virus and most countries are not safe from its reach. 

The common symptoms are mild and not too severe. Often someone who has contracted the virus reports mild symptoms and is able to recuperate back to normal health.

In some cases, it can be more severe which is why it is important to be aware of how you feel and to report any symptoms that may arise and begin to worsen.

​Social Distancing is so Important during virus spread

As humans, we are naturally social but this is a time where we have to learn to distance ourselves from others at least 6 feet apart who have contracted a cough or are sneezing.

Even if someone does not exhibit those symptoms, keeping your distance is still necessary. This ensures those small liquid droplets are disposed of from a person’s nose or mouth. Which may carry the virus, from reaching your respiratory system.

If someone is close enough you could breathe in those droplets and if it contains the virus, you could essentially contract it. Any chance you get, dispose of any tissues you may use especially in public. You can use a tissue or your elbow to cover your mouth if you sneeze or cough.

​A Little Distance Could Help Us All!

It is always important to make sure you have good respiratory sterility. Disposing of tissues that were used to cover your mouth or your nose is part of that respiratory sterility. A very crucial but not the most important as every step you take to protect yourself is equally important, you should stay home if you are feeling sick.

Any hint of a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing should follow up with a doctor. As recommended by the World Health Organization. People should stay home and call a health professional before showing up at a doctor’s office. (WHO Recommended Handrub Formulations 2010).

From there medical professionals will inform people of the next step in the process and how to proceed in the safest way possible. Following these safety protocols, it halts the spread of viruses. It is pivotal to stay educated by your health professionals and follow any advice given by them.

Follow any local procedures appointed by your employer or procedures in the area where you live and how to keep yourself and others safe from viruses.

​The Importance of Washing your Hands

Wash your hands and wash them often. Using hand sanitizer along with washing your hands is highly recommended.

For a thorough clean, wash your hands with regular soap and water. You can also opt to use an Aloe Vera hand soap which can add extra moisture to the skin. 

It is sufficient to wash hands for 20 seconds or more for a thorough clean. This will ensure the killing of any virus or germs that may be lingering on your skin.

You must attempt to not touch your mouth, eyes, or nose. This is because hands touch various surfaces allowing any germs or viruses to latch onto.

If infected your hands can carry the virus to your nose, mouth, or eyes. Those are the orifices in which the virus can enter and essentially infect you. 

This is why it is extremely crucial to wash your hands after anyone you have encountered. Or after anything you may have touched that may have been touched by someone who has contracted the virus. Aloe Vera is beneficial and healing to the skin and is often used as a moisturizer for dry, cracking skin. 

Because of the importance of washing hands often and thoroughly during this pandemic outbreak, it can lead to dry, cracking skin for some.

Following up with an Aloe Vera moisturizer can combat dry skin, allowing you to continue to wash your hands as often as you should. 

You can find Aloe Vera gel, sanitizers, and moisturizers in just about every store in the aisle for hand creams or lotions.

​The importance of using an Anti-Viral Hand Sanitizer

Anti-viral hand sanitizer can be extremely helpful during virus spreading.

An important factor to consider is that the sanitizer must have 60% alcohol or more for it to accurately kill any germs or viruses that may be lingering on the surface of the skin.

Please keep in mind that both hand sanitizer and hand-washing go hand in hand and one should not be done more than the other but done equally. You also have the option of formulating Aloe Vera gel combined with rubbing alcohol and added essential oils (for scent and antibacterial properties).

This is to provide an in-depth sanitizer for the hands while also providing moisturizing effects to the skin that could become dry after constant hand washing. 

The most common essential oil that people add to their handmade sanitizer is tea-tree oil.

​How To Make an All-Natural Anti-Viral Hand Sanitizer with Aloe Vera

​The potency of the sanitizer is key when proceeding to make your own. More often today, it is very difficult to find hand sanitizer at the stores. This is a big reason why a lot of people are beginning to make their own hand sanitizer. ​First, find natural Aloe Vera gel or store-bought which you can find in just about any grocery store. 

There is also the route of buying fresh Aloe Vera but keep in mind that fresh aloe can be much thicker than store-bought.

This can cause your hand sanitizer to become sticky. This just means that you will have to rub the sanitizer into your hands much more than if you were to use store-bought Aloe.

Because alcohol can be very harsh to the skin, using an ingredient such as Aloe Vera can combat the dryness that alcohol causes. ​What’s most important, you want to find potent alcohol that is 60% or higher. People have used vodka but it is recommended that you use Isopropyl alcohol. Because vodka does not normally contain a high enough percentage of alcohol to be completely effective. 

​Kill that Virus!!

This ensures that it will kill, more specifically viruses, on the surface. The alcohol acts as a preservative which will extend the shelf life of the sanitizer and preserve fresh Aloe Vera if used.

It is common for fresh Aloe Vera to go bad after so much time has passed. The alcohol will prevent that from happening. ​Some people, don’t care about scents but others, may want to have a scented hand sanitizer.

The most common essential oil that is used is tea tree oil due to its natural antibacterial properties.

Not only do essential oils offer a pleasant scent but they will also exhibit anti-viral, antibacterial, and sometimes anti-fungal properties. You can use other essential oils as well depending on what scent you prefer.

• ​Mix 1 cup of 60%+ alcohol with ½ cup of Aloe Vera gel and then add your scents. 15 drops of the essential oil will suffice for the formulation and should provide you with a potent scent that will last.
• Whisk all of the ingredients together until it turns into a consistent gel.
• Before even pouring your mixture into your spray bottles, you will want to first sanitize your bottles by spraying a little alcohol inside of the bottle, allowing it to sit which also allows the alcohol to evaporate and sterilize the inside of the bottle.
• Pour your mixture into the spray bottle and label it.

​Anti-Viral Hand Sanitizer Recipes That Include Aloe Vera

Recipe 1

​There are various formulations that are helpful. Here is a recipe that makes about 2 ounces worth and includes:

• 1 TBS of Aloe Vera gel,
• ½ TBS of vegetable glycerin or if you prefer you can also use vitamin E oil or both.
• Vitamin E oil and vegetable glycerin can be very beneficial to the skin and may be useful in combating dry skin that alcohol causes. Vegetable glycerin locks moisture into the skin as well as vitamin E oil. Keep in mind, these are both optional and only add extra moisture.
• Next and as mentioned before, you need a high alcohol content alcohol that is 60% or higher. You will need 3 tablespoons of 60% or higher alcohol.
• ​20 drops of tea tree oil and 10 drops of lavender oil. Since both essential oils offer antibacterial properties it can be very useful to combine them together in the hand sanitizer. This recipe includes a larger amount of essential oils and includes two different kinds in combinations.

Before each use, shake the bottle to make sure you are getting the most out of your hand sanitizer.

Recipe 2

​Here is another helpful recipe. This recipe will make about 2 ounces worth. It begins by using a 2-ounce spray bottle.

• In that bottle add 5 drops of vitamin E oil (for softer hands but is optional)
• ​3 tablespoons of witch hazel with Aloe Vera (witch hazel can remedy dry skin as well and can be purchased at health food stores),
• 3 tablespoons of 60% or higher alcohol,
• 5 drops of lemon oil, 5 drops of tea tree oil,
• 5 drops of orange oil. 

You can also add distilled water to top off the rest of the hand sanitizer. Shake the bottle very well for at least 20 seconds.

​Maybe you are wondering why this recipe asks for orange oil. As I mentioned above about the other essential oils, they offer amazing antibacterial properties.

Orange more specifically offers those same benefits. Combining all 3 oils will only provide you with a more effective homemade hand sanitizer. As they say, the more the merrier.

Recipe 3

​If you decide to try and attempt a somewhat stronger hand sanitizer, you can try this recipe. This one starts with:

• 1 TBS of 99% isopropyl alcohol 
• ½ TBS of vitamin E oil (always optional)
• ¼ cup of aloe vera gel 
• 1 TBS of distilled water
• 2-5 drops of cinnamon oil (add more if you feel that it needs it),
• 2-5 drops of tea tree oil 
• 2-5 drops of lemongrass ( also known for its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties) 
• 2-5 drops of peppermint oil (this one can be strong depending on the person so start off with 1 drop at a time). As mentioned above, before each use, shake the bottle to thoroughly mix it.

Recipe 4

​Here we have a more complex recipe and it is not for everyone but if you are dealing with extremely dry skin from constant hand washing, this recipe may be for you.

If you are up to the challenge, be our guest. This should make about 8 ounces worth. Start by combining:

• ½ cup of Aloe Vera gel, 
• ¼ cup of vodka or Isopropyl alcohol (70-90%) 
• you also have the option of adding ¼ cup of witch hazel 
• Next, add 10-20 drops of essential oils. This is where you have some free reign to add which oils you want. This calls for thyme, cinnamon, rosemary, eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, clove, tea tree, and orange. You can use every one of these if you choose to do so.
• Start by putting 10 drops and add more if you prefer a stronger scent. You can mix and match these various oils and as an added moisturizer you can also
• add 1 TBS of moisturizing lotion and 1 TBS of vegetable glycerin. Make sure to blend this mixture of ingredients very thoroughly. Before every use, shake the bottle to make sure you are getting the most out of your hand sanitizer.

​Staying Safe Until the Pandemic Blows Over

It is being expressed more and more the need for social distancing.

Being around a large group of people is now largely not recommended. A lot of businesses are beginning to only allow drive-thru, delivery, and pick-up services and not allowing customers to sit and gather in their business.

Many people have begun to work from home. It is crucial to avoid groups of 10 or more people as the World Health Organization has recommended in an attempt to stop the spreading of the virus.

I talked about this earlier in the post, but keeping your distance from anyone is important. Try to avoid shaking hands or having any close contact with another person especially if they have a cough, fever, or shortness of breath.

As recommended by the World Health Organization, you should continue to practice consistent hand washing and using hand sanitizer together (WHO, 2019).

Although it would make more sense to wear gloves while you are out. The World Health Organization says that hand washing and the utilization of hand sanitizer are much more effective than wearing gloves.

Self Isolation is the key

During this time of isolation as you may call it, it is a time to prevent viruses from spreading any further.

The World Health Organization asks that you stay home if you feel unwell. You must first call your doctor so that you be given strict steps on how to proceed with those symptoms.

The fewer people that leave their homes, the less likely they will spread the virus or contract it.

Stay aware of new updates by checking the World Health Organization website and by watching the news for your own country’s guidelines. Another website is the CDC.

Be sure to only refer to the World Health Organization, national news, and local authority updates and briefings. This will ensure that the information being given are in fact true and credible.

​Stay calm and as long as you are following protocols, you are doing everything you can. The World Health Organization offers tips on how to cope with the anxiety and stress that this pandemic has caused many people. (Advice For the Public, 2019).

Those tips also extend to children who may be dealing with stress and anxiety as well. If you chose to travel, wash your hands consistently, avoid any contact with others around you, and if you find yourself dealing with virus symptoms. Tell your party and then contact a medical professional as soon as possible to prevent those symptoms from getting worse and causing further spreading.

The main goal for any country at this time now is to bring the spreading of a virus to a halt, so in the meantime. Keep washing your hands and using your hand sanitizer and stay home as much as you can. People will get through this together.

Stay Safe Everyone!​

​References“Guide to Local Production PDF.” World Health Organization Recommended Handrub Formulations, World Health Organization, Apr. 2010, www.who.int/gpsc/5may/Guide_to_Local_Production.pdf.”Advice For the Public”. (2019). Retrieved March 18, 2020, from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public