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DIY hand sanitizer spray is great to have in your purse, car, or diaper bag to keep germs away. This essential oil hand sanitizer spray is so simple to make, it smells wonderful, and it has only 3 natural ingredients.
It was recently brought to my attention that I didn’t have my DIY hand sanitizer spray on my blog. I had to double (even triple) check because I couldn’t believe it. It turns out she was right!
How did I miss this one? This spray is something I have been making and using for over 7 years. It is one of my most used DIYs and one of the simplest recipes to make! I also have a DIY hand sanitizing gel recipe that I make regularly.
This homemade hand sanitizer spray should be in everyone’s purse, diaper bag, house, and car. Thankfully, it is very cost-effective and takes less than 2 minutes to whip up.
Why You’ll Love It
- Natural ingredients: This recipe is made with simple, wholesome ingredients, allowing you to live a more natural lifestyle.
- Budget-friendly: Whenever I see the price of all-natural hand sanitizer spray at the health food store, I’m so happy I know how to make my own! This DIY recipe will help you skip the expensive store-bought bottles and save money.
- Sustainable: This hand sanitizer spray is made with eco-friendly ingredients, and it’s low-waste! I love making my own products with reusable containers because it’s much more sustainable.
- Perfect for on-the-go: Like I said, I always have a bottle of this hand sanitizer spray on me! It’s easy to toss in a bag and take wherever you go, so you have peace of mind.
Ingredients + Supplies
- Rubbing alcohol or witch hazel: You can use either rubbing alcohol or witch hazel for this recipe. I like to use witch hazel because I make this for my kids, and it’s more gentle on sensitive skin. Rubbing alcohol will make the spray even more effective, though.
- Essential oils: I use the On Guard essential oil blend, but you can make your own with the same essential oils. You’ll need wild orange, clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary oils. Read more about each oil below.
- Fractionated coconut oil: This is an optional ingredient that makes the hand sanitizer more nourishing and hydrating to the skin. Rubbing alcohol can be quite drying to the skin, so I like to add fractionated coconut oil to help with that.
- 2-ounce spray bottle: I recommend an amber or blue glass spray bottle. If you have an old bottle of natural hand sanitizer spray, you could also reuse that.
How to Make Hand Sanitizer Spray
Step 1. Add the essential oils to the spray bottle. If you’re using fractionated coconut oil, add that next.
Step 2. Fill the bottle to the top with the witch hazel or rubbing alcohol. Shake well before each use.
How to Use Hand Sanitizer Spray
To use this spray on your hands, simply mist it onto the palms of your hands, then rub them together as it dries. You can use this as often as you need to kill germs and keep your hands feeling fresh.
This hand sanitizer spray can also be used to disinfect surfaces in a pinch. Spray it on whatever surface you wish to sanitize and allow the spray to dry.
Essential Oils for DIY Hand Sanitizer Spray
The essential oils I am using in this spray are great for cleansing and purifying, and they are great essential oils for boosting the immune system. Boosting the immune system naturally while sanitizing your hands regularly can help prevent sickness.
I use On Guard essential oil for this spray, but if you don’t have that blend, you can still make this recipe. On Guard is a blend of wild orange, clove, cinnamon, rosemary, and eucalyptus. So if you don’t have the On Guard blend, you can make your own using the same essential oils.
Wild Orange
Like most citrus essential oils, wild orange has cleansing and antimicrobial properties, making it great for sanitizing and cleaning. Wild orange is a photosensitive oil and should not be used before going into direct sunlight.
Learn more about the benefits of orange essential oil.
Clove
Clove is a powerful antimicrobial essential oil that works great in this sanitizing spray and for cleaning. It is also an essential oil that can boost your immune system, so you get multiple benefits from adding this to your hand sanitizer.
Clove is a hot oil and should not be used on the skin undiluted. If you ever get it on the skin, be sure to apply a carrier oil (read more about the best carrier oils) to soothe any irritation.
Cinnamon
Sharing many similar properties to clove, cinnamon is antimicrobial and has been shown to kill common bacteria that can cause illness.
Learn more about the benefits of cinnamon essential oil.
Rosemary
Rosemary acts as a natural preservative and adds shelf-life to this product. This essential oil also has cleansing and purifying properties that can help to keep germs away.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is one of my favorite-smelling essential oils and can work wonders for respiratory issues. Like all the oils listed above, it also has cleansing and purifying properties and can naturally boost the immune system.
When Should I Use This Hand Sanitizer Spray?
This spray is great to use when you are out running errands, especially during the cooler months. You can also use this to sanitize before eating a meal or when the kids come in from outside. We make our own foaming hand soap, and I like to add these same essential oils into that.
Having this spray in the diaper bag will come in handy, mama! Use it to spray down the diaper changing table, toys that fall on the ground, high chairs, tabletops at the restaurant, or in public restrooms.
I spray my cart handle with this spray and my kids’ hands after we get out of the cart.
How to Store Essential Oil Sprays
When using essential oils, it is best to use glass spray bottles, metal bottles, or HDPE, also known as plastics number 2. This is because essential oils can dissolve certain plastics over time. Be sure to make your DIY hand sanitizer in an essential oil-safe spray bottle.
It is also important to use a dark-colored glass, like amber or blue, to preserve the oils even longer. Store this out of direct sunlight.
Recipe FAQs
The essential oils were chosen for a purpose, as they have antimicrobial properties and can boost the immune system, but you can substitute them if you wish. In that case, I recommend using rubbing alcohol rather than witch hazel.
This hand sanitizer spray has a shelf life of at least a year if stored properly. Be sure to keep it in a dark-colored bottle out of direct sunlight.
Related Recipes
- Homemade All Natural Cleaning Wipes
- Homemade Mouth Freshener Spray
- All Natural Bug and Tick Repellent
- Homemade Moisturizing Hand Cream
If you tried this DIY Hand Sanitizer Spray or any other tutorial on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting!
DIY Hand Sanitizer Spray
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces rubbing alcohol, or witch hazel*
- 15 drops On Guard essential oil**
- 1 tsp fractionated coconut oil, optional
Instructions
- Add the on guard and fractionated coconut oil (if using) to the spray bottle.
- Top off with witch hazel and secure the spray nozzle.
- Shake well before each use.
- Spray on your hands and rub them together. Or spray on a surface and wipe clean.
Hi, I love reading your blog and watching your channel! Thanks so much for all the amazing content! I’m still an oily beginner so learning heaps, would this DIY spray be safe to use for pregnant mum’s?
Thank you! Yes it would be safe.
Is dollar tree coconut oil in the little tube for hair nails and body something I can use for this?
It needs to be fractionated coconut oil.
Hi! Just wondering if this is suitable for killing COVID-19? Either way, I’ll definitely be using these recipes. Thank you so much!
Is this recipe safe to make for my 1, 2, 5, and 7 year old?
Those are almost all the same ages as my kids and I use it on them.
That looks wonderful! The CDC says that hand sanitizer has to container alcohol (70%-99%) to be effective against the virus. Do you think this will be okay?
You can make it with alcohol instead of witch hazel if you prefer. I personally find that to be very drying to the skin and studies have shown onguard to be effective on its own.
Is sweet orange EO similar to wild orange? I don’t have the on guard blend but do have the individual oils with the exception of wild orange.
Thanks for the recipe!
I enjoy your YouTube content 🙂
Yes, the sweet orange will work in this recipe! Thank you so much for watching my videos, I am glad you are enjoying my content!
This is a great thing to have on hand! I love to keep some in my truck to use when I am running errands. Perfect for when hand washing isn’t an option!
Yes it is perfect for that!