Although the most basic form of hygiene, hand washing, is the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as the first line of defense against Coronavirus (COVID-19), sometimes other options have to be considered.

How to Make Hand Sanitizer: A D.I.Y. with Hand Sanitizer Bottles

What if you do not have access to soap and water at the moment while out in public? Want to be safe before (and after) touching that shopping cart on your bi-weekly grocery trip? Yes, hand washing should be the top method of staying safe and clean, but if that method is currently not accessible and all store-bought hand sanitizers are also not accessible due to large supply and demand, what else is one left to do for hand sanitation in their personal and workspaces?

It is time to learn how to make hand sanitizers with the help of plastic bottles, hand pumps, and plastic caps.

DIY Hand Sanitizer Supplies

For starters, the finished D.I.Y. hand sanitizer has to go into something. Grab quality plastic bottles with hand pumps for the non-traveling hand sanitizer variety or plastic caps for the on-the-go variety.

If you are going the bulk-sized route and will make a large batch of hand sanitizer mix to distribute into smaller, travel size plastic bottles or for use in a larger facility by others, a durable, FDA compliant one gallon bottle hand pump that delivers 1 oz of liquid per stroke is key. Pair it with a one gallon bottle that has a 38mm opening. A cap is not necessary, but if you desire to remove the hand pump on occasion, then you'll need a one gallon jug with an included cap or a one gallon bottle that comes with a 38mm cap.

If you want more of a mid-size hand sanitizer bottle for your own desk, then a 32 oz HDPE plastic carafe bottle is a swell choice with a long-ribbed neck that offers a better grip when spraying.

If you want to carry hand sanitizer in a plastic bottle with you while out and about on errands to the home improvement shop or grocery store, then consider an 8 oz natural cylinder round plastic bottle that easily squeezes out your sanitizer mix. Add a proper dispensing cap to it for rounding everything out.

Aloe Vera Gel - This ingredient is called for in order to keep your hands moisturized against the abrasiveness of the alcohol. Due to supply and demand, we'd suggest the larger the size, the better if you opt to get premade aloe vera. If you can find pure aloe vera plant and don't mind the extra work, that is another option.

Isopropyl or Rubbing Alcohol - Again, the more, the better. Preferably use a variety with 99% isopropyl alcohol volume.

Essential Oils - This is optional in order to mask the smell of the alcohol.

Glass or Plastic Heavy Duty Measuring Container with a Spout - For mixing the hand sanitizer ingredients and pouring them into the plastic bottles

Spoon

Whisk

DIY Hand Sanitizer Directions

Now that you have the proper supplies, it is important to get the proper DIY hand sanitizer recipe. We found this one from Healthline.*

1. Wash your hands!

2. Wipe down your production space and countertops with a diluted bleach solution.

3. Gather the following amounts of product: 2 parts alcohol, 1 part aloe vera gel, and 10 drops of essential oil or lemon juice

4. Pour all ingredients into a bowl, ideally one with a pouring spout like a glass measuring container.

5. Mix with a spoon and then beat with a whisk to turn the sanitizer into a gel.

6. Pour the ingredients into an empty bottle for easy use, insert and fasten the pump or cap, and label it “hand sanitizer.”

Now, you are all set.

*IMPORTANT NOTE: Ensure that your finished hand sanitizer will indeed be effective in protection by producing the minimum amount of alcohol volume needed to kill most germs as according to the CDC. Stick to a 2:1 proportion of alcohol to aloe vera in order to keep the alcohol content around 60 percent. Furthermore, hand sanitizer recipes are intended for use by professionals with the necessary expertise and resources for safe creation and proper utilization.

If you need some assistance in finding the right bottle specifically for your need, contact us at 1-800-776-3786 for further information.

And again, keep washing your hands!