Tea tree oil makes an ideal natural hand sanitizer.
Studies have shown that it kills several common bacteria and viruses responsible for causing illness, including E. coli, S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae
Moreover, a study testing several types of hand wash shows that adding tea tree oil to the cleansers boosted their effectiveness against E. coli
SUMMARY:Using tree oil as a natural hand sanitizer may help kill a number of germs responsible for colds, flu and other illness.
Homemade Natural Hand Sanitizer recipe
Arm yourself with a softly-scented natural version of hand sanitizer using this recipe:
Arm yourself with a softly-scented natural version of hand sanitizer using this recipe:
Ingredients
- 5-10 drops lavender essential oil (where to buy 100% pure lavender EO)
- 30 drops tea tree essential oil – this is a 0.5% concentration (find 100% pure tea tree EO here)
- 1 Tablespoon witch hazel extract or high-proof vodka (find witch hazel here)
- 8 ounces 100% pure aloe vera gel (where to buy 100% pure aloe vera gel)
- ¼ teaspoon Vitamin E oil – a natural preservative to increase shelf life (It will also help soften hands!)
- 5-10 drops lavender essential oil (where to buy 100% pure lavender EO)
- 30 drops tea tree essential oil – this is a 0.5% concentration (find 100% pure tea tree EO here)
- 1 Tablespoon witch hazel extract or high-proof vodka (find witch hazel here)
- 8 ounces 100% pure aloe vera gel (where to buy 100% pure aloe vera gel)
- ¼ teaspoon Vitamin E oil – a natural preservative to increase shelf life (It will also help soften hands!)
Method
Add essential oils and Vitamin E oil to a small glass bowl or container and swirl to mix. Add witch hazel (or alcohol) to the oils and swirl again. Combine this mixture with the aloe vera gel and mix well. Shake gently before each use. (Sanitizer should last several months with the addition of Vitamin E and alcohol to help preserve.)
Transfer hand sanitizer to small, clean squirt bottles. (Use colored bottles like this so the essential oils in the recipe are not exposed to light). Perfect for throwing into a purse or a backpack! You could also mix up a batch and keep in a container with a pump.
Add essential oils and Vitamin E oil to a small glass bowl or container and swirl to mix. Add witch hazel (or alcohol) to the oils and swirl again. Combine this mixture with the aloe vera gel and mix well. Shake gently before each use. (Sanitizer should last several months with the addition of Vitamin E and alcohol to help preserve.)
Transfer hand sanitizer to small, clean squirt bottles. (Use colored bottles like this so the essential oils in the recipe are not exposed to light). Perfect for throwing into a purse or a backpack! You could also mix up a batch and keep in a container with a pump.
Tips and warnings
The lavender is used in the recipe to round out the strong scent of the tea tree oil. If you’re not a fan of lavender, choose another antibacterial oil such as rosemary, sage, sandalwood, or peppermint. (where to buy 100% pure essential oils)
Always take care when handling essential oils. Keep in mind these are very concentrated, powerful plant extracts. If you are new to using essential oils you may want to test for an allergic reaction before slathering on this hand sanitizer. As with any natural plant, family members could be allergic. For a simple patch test mix one drop of essential oil with about 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Rub a bit on the inside of your elbow, cover with a bandage, and wait 24 hours to see if there is any negative reaction.
Note: If you’ve been reading recent reports about how unhealthy the use of hand sanitizers can be, keep in mind that the danger exists in the chemicals used in commercial sanitizers. This hand sanitizer recipe uses NONE of those harmful chemicals, and relies on pure essential oils to kill germs. One of the unique qualities of essential oils is that they do not cause bacterial resistance like antibacterial chemicals do, and are actually effective in killing strains of bacteria that have become resistant to our man-made medicines and chemicals. (source)
Sometimes it’s good to allow our bodies to encounter germs and strengthen our immune systems, but sometimes it’s nice to have a hand sanitizer available for emergencies. (Think dirty porta potty, or child next to you having a sneeze-fest.) In these cases, this gentle homemade formula is one of the best alternatives to commercial hand sanitizers.
The lavender is used in the recipe to round out the strong scent of the tea tree oil. If you’re not a fan of lavender, choose another antibacterial oil such as rosemary, sage, sandalwood, or peppermint. (where to buy 100% pure essential oils)
Always take care when handling essential oils. Keep in mind these are very concentrated, powerful plant extracts. If you are new to using essential oils you may want to test for an allergic reaction before slathering on this hand sanitizer. As with any natural plant, family members could be allergic. For a simple patch test mix one drop of essential oil with about 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Rub a bit on the inside of your elbow, cover with a bandage, and wait 24 hours to see if there is any negative reaction.
Note: If you’ve been reading recent reports about how unhealthy the use of hand sanitizers can be, keep in mind that the danger exists in the chemicals used in commercial sanitizers. This hand sanitizer recipe uses NONE of those harmful chemicals, and relies on pure essential oils to kill germs. One of the unique qualities of essential oils is that they do not cause bacterial resistance like antibacterial chemicals do, and are actually effective in killing strains of bacteria that have become resistant to our man-made medicines and chemicals. (source)
Sometimes it’s good to allow our bodies to encounter germs and strengthen our immune systems, but sometimes it’s nice to have a hand sanitizer available for emergencies. (Think dirty porta potty, or child next to you having a sneeze-fest.) In these cases, this gentle homemade formula is one of the best alternatives to commercial hand sanitizers.
