How to make hand sanitizer
What the WHO formula actually is, why most DIY recipes fall short, and why CDC and FDA say to buy it instead.
Why experts say don’t
“FDA recommends that consumers do not make their own hand sanitizer,” and CDC says it doesn’t recommend producing, using or selling homemade hand sanitizer either. The problems are practical:
- It’s easy to end up under 60% alcohol, the minimum CDC says sanitizer needs to work well. You can’t measure alcohol content at home.
- Mistakes can hurt. FDA warns that sanitizer made incorrectly can cause skin burns.
- It can be contaminated by unclean containers, tap water or the wrong kind of alcohol.
- It’s flammable while you mix it, store it and use it.
What’s in the WHO formulas
| Final strength | Formulation 1 | Formulation 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | Ethanol 80% | Isopropyl alcohol 75% |
| Glycerol (moisturizer) | 1.45% | 1.45% |
| Hydrogen peroxide (kills spores in the mix) | 0.125% | 0.125% |
| Rest | Sterile distilled or boiled cooled water | Sterile distilled or boiled cooled water |
WHO developed these recipes so hospitals in places without a reliable supply could make their own. Its production guide is written for pharmacies: batches are made with calibrated equipment, checked with an alcoholmeter, and held for 72 hours before use so the hydrogen peroxide can kill any spores. WHO also notes the mixtures can catch fire at room temperature. That’s a long way from a kitchen counter.
The problem with aloe vera recipes
The most shared DIY recipe is two parts rubbing alcohol to one part aloe vera gel. The math only works with 91–99% alcohol. Most drugstore rubbing alcohol is 70%, and two parts of 70% mixed with one part aloe gives you roughly 47% alcohol, well under the 60% you need. Even with stronger alcohol, the final strength depends on exact measuring and thorough mixing.
What to do instead
- Wash with soap and water whenever you can. It works on more germs than sanitizer and removes dirt and chemicals too.
- Buy sanitizer with at least 60% ethanol or isopropyl alcohol listed as the active ingredient.
- Check FDA’s list of sanitizers not to use at fda.gov/handsanitizerlist.
Quick questions
Can I use rubbing alcohol as hand sanitizer?
70% rubbing alcohol does kill germs, but it isn’t made for skin and dries hands quickly with frequent use. A commercial sanitizer with moisturizers is gentler, and soap and water is better still.
Can I make hand sanitizer with vodka?
No. Most vodka is 40% alcohol, far below the 60% hand sanitizer needs to work well.
Is homemade hand sanitizer effective?
It might be, if the final alcohol content is high enough, but you can’t check that at home. That’s the main reason CDC and FDA recommend against it.
What is the WHO hand sanitizer formula?
Ethanol 80% (or isopropyl alcohol 75%), glycerol 1.45% and hydrogen peroxide 0.125%, with sterile water. It’s designed for production in pharmacies, not at home.