Kevin Lee Jacobs

Gardening, Recipes & Home Décor Tips

Hand Sanitizer (WHO Formula)

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 93 Comments

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Last updated on March 30th, 2020

Hand Sanitizer (WHO formula)Can’t find hand sanitizer at your local supermarket or drugstore? You’re not alone. My local shops sold out of the stuff weeks ago. Fortunately, sanitizing hand rub is easy and inexpensive to make right at home. I made a batch this morning, from a recipe that is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The recipe has been scaled down (by science geek G. Chang) for home use.

Hand Sanitizer (WHO Formula)

To make 1 1/3 cups of hand sanitizer, mix up the following in a 2 cup glass measure:

1 cup 99% isopropyl alcohol OR 1 cup plus 4 teaspoons 91% isopropyl alcohol…

1 tablespoon of regular 3% hydrogen peroxide…

And 1 teaspoon glycerin. Glycerin is a moisturizer. Look for it in the cosmetics department at drug stores, supermarkets, and health food stores.

Add enough water to bring the total liquid to 1 1/3 cups. Mix thoroughly.

Pour, via funnel, the sanitizer into small bottles. I used squeeze-type bottles, but a spritzer should work as well. The mixture is not as thick as commercial hand sanitizers.

Note: My friends Tom and Darren told me about a hand sanitizer that is made from 2 parts 91% isopropyl alcohol and 1 part aloe vera gel. Whether this formula is as effective as the one recommend by WHO, I do not know. Based on what I’ve read, the goal is to achieve a hand sanitizer that is 75% isopropyl alcohol v/v. The WHO formula meets this target.

Another Note: Health authorities tell us that hand washing with soap and water is sufficient, providing we scrub thoroughly (including our fingernails) for at least 20 seconds. Still, there are times when you don’t have access to soap and water. Like when you are forced to eat in your car, after stopping by your favorite donut shop. (Mea culpa). Or when the restaurant bathroom has run out of soap, or the bathroom is so gross that you wouldn’t dream of washing your hands there anyway. Yeah, bottles of hand sanitizer are convenient at times.

Back on track. You might like to label your bottles before filling them. I labeled mine after the fact, and placed one in each of the following locations: my desk drawer, my coat pocket, and the glove compartment of my car. I’ll certainly mix up a bottle for Mr. Fox. When Fox arrived from the city on Thursday morning, he immediately lunged at the Scrumptious Chickpea Brownies (recipe here) that were resting on the kitchen counter.  “Have you washed your hands?” I inquired. “Yes,” he said. “I washed them before I boarded the train.”  Oy.

Well, I hope this DIY hand sanitizer post was helpful to you. I want you to stay healthy and well! xKevin

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And here, because I love you, is the printable:

Print Recipe
4.34 from 15 votes

Hand Sanitizer (WHO Formula)

This is the World Health Organization-recommended formula for hand sanitizer. The recipe has been scaled down for home use.
Prep Time5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup 99% Isopropyl alcohol OR 1 cup plus 4 teaspoons 91% Isopropyl alcohol
  • 1 tablespoon 3% hydrogen peroxide
  • 1 teaspoon glycerin
  • Water

Instructions

  • Tip the alcohol, peroxide and glycerin into a 2-cup glass measure. Then add enough water to bring the total quantity to 1 1/3 cups. Mix well.
  • Pour, via funnel, the sanitizer into small ("travel-size") bottles. I used squeeze-type bottles, but spritzer- or spray-type bottles are ideal.

Comments

  5. 5

    Tricia says

    Great!! Thanks for this diy recipe for hand sanitizer. Kevin, can you add a “Print” button to this post so that we can print out this information??

  9. 9

    John A Root says

    I agree with Fanceen. Finding the alcohol is difficult. I tried 3 drug stores in Guelph, the hardware stores, and was about to give up, but one last try at a small drug store in Rockwood was the gold mine for the alcohol. We made up several bottles very similar to your recipe, Kevin. Thanks for posting. Hoping it will help many of our mutual friends out there.

  11. 11

    Sandra Payette says

    Thanks Kevin: Dollar stores carry both alcohol and hydrogen peroxide. If you can’t find it in drug stores because that’s where people go first try the Dollar. It’s cheap too. Thanks for the recipe too, Kevin. So necessary when we’re out and about. xo

  13. 13

    Barbie says

    Thank you for posting this information, Kevin. After reading it, I went to the World Health Organization website (WHO) to read their information directly. The directions they give is to make 50 liters. Where did you find the formula you shared? I want to be very careful, since I have read that imprecise measurements or substituting a lower concentration of alcohol than the 2 options they offer can render the concoction useless.

  14. 14

    Carol H says

    Just don’t use this formula if you’re flying, go through TSA screening, and happen to get pulled aside for extra screening. They will then swab your hands and the swab testing machine will say”ALARM” meaning your hands tested positive for some toxic substance. The glycerine in your sanitizer (or in hand lotion) tests as “nitroglycerin” in the testing machine and that means that every inch of your personal belongings will be carefully searched by TSA.

  15. 15

    Linda Kalbler says

    Thank you Kevin for the timely information. We all need to do our part to keep this thing under control

  17. 17

    Patricia says

    Not sure if glycerin will set off airport screeners- it is the second ingredient in many moisturizers that we commonly use on hands and face, after water. Just sayin’.

  18. 18

    Diane says

    Check the date on hydrogen peroxide and isopropyl alcohol. My dermatologist always wants me to use a fresh bottle for dressing my wounds from his freezing of keratoses. My alcohol bottle says 2014.
    For flying could you make it without glycerin and follow with hand cream?

  19. 19

    Peg says

    Kevin you are a special person. We need more just like you. Thanks for the great tip trying to help us all keep this virus at bay and under control.
    THANKS
    Peg

  20. 20

    Jennnifer says

    I love how you write! You made me laugh out loud this morning. Thank you for that! And thank you for the recipe; I plan to mix up a batch today!

  21. 21

    Brenda says

    Thank you so much. So nice to have this important information from such a happy, upbeat site. So much sadness and fear out there!

  23. 23

    Rebecca says

    If we want to make use of aloe Vera plants, can you explain how best to get the gel from the leaf?

  24. 24

    frederique jennette says

    Thank you!! Will buy the ingredients immediately since also no luck in drugstores for sanitizer!!!

  25. 25

    SueEllen says

    5 stars
    Kevin, Thank you so much for giving us this recipe!! You are so thoughtful and considerate!!
    I will be making up a batch today and sharing your link with others.
    May God Bless you!

  26. 26

    Fran Townsend says

    Kevin – thank you, this is a little different from other recipes for “hand sanitizer” that I’ve seen. Without glycerin I’m opting for a drop of hand cream afterward. Love your sense of humor.

    Fran

  27. 27

    Linda says

    5 stars
    Sharing and caring is an important contribution we can give to each other as we experience this virus that affects us all in one way or the other. Thank you for sharing and caring Kevin.

  28. 28

    Danella on the Canadian west coast says

    THANK YOU! I so enjoy all your posts. Have a great day.

  29. 29

    Patty says

    Well, I’m going to mix it with coconut oil. Make a cream. The oil is anti bacterial, anti viral….and I have some. Might soften my hands, too. We shall see.

  31. 31

    lise says

    5 stars
    thank you so much! i cannot find hand sanitizer anywhere, since this Covid-19 has started! so, i’ll make some, and also wash my hands thoroughly! ;o)

  33. 33

    Helena says

    Many thanks. Am traveling to a San Francisco with two granddaughters and will provide each with one.

  34. 34

    Frani says

    Thank you for the recipe Kevin. I don’t use hand sanitizers but this is great for preventive care!! Hope the ingredients are still available here.

  35. 35

    Marci says

    I bought one of the last bottles of 70% isopropyl alcohol on the Target on-line site; there was no 90%+ available anywhere unless you bought it in huge quantities. Aloe vera gel was tough to find as well and back-ordered. And, of course, no alcohol at all in local shops.

  36. 36

    Mark says

    5 stars
    Thanks for this. With all the hoarding craziness going on maybe you could also teach us how to make our own toilet paper.

  37. 37

    Ana says

    Thank you so much from a germaphobe. Yes, most public places are too gross to wash hands and then there is the matter of the door and how to get out without being contaminated again. The nice thing about this is that there is no cheap, awful perfume added. Thank you again.

  38. 38

    Nancy says

    5 stars
    We are traveling in New Zealand, leaving for home in Minneapolis tomorrow. There is not a hand wipe, sanitizer or bottle of rubbing alcohol to be found in the country. Yikes. We paid $26NZ, about $17US for a 200 count box of the tiny wipes the nurse uses before she gives a shot. It will take several just to wipe down our trays on the plane. It will give us something to do on the long flights home.

  39. 39

    Dominique Marshall says

    Sorry Nancy you could not find any sanitiser anywhere in NZ. Where you in North or South Island ? I live in Christchurch. Some of the chemist and supermarkets are running out but I just bought mine ( 3 small bottle ) at a Budget Chemist for $7.00 each. They still had plenty of stock there. They also sell it in Dollar shop where they seem to have plenty of stock there too at $7.50 each for a small bottle. Have a safe flight home.

  40. 40

    Elaine Wilmes-Pandolfo says

    Thanks very much! There are a lot of recipes floating around. I appreciate you for doing the research and finding the best one for us all to make. In the meantime, wash, wash, wash those hands!!

  41. 41

    Paula k says

    Love your calm demeanor, we appreciate it. Sad its taken this ugly virus to remind folks of good hygiene like frequent handwashing. I still hear my nana in my mind– “wash up for supper” and the general “wash up” when we would come in from playing. I think of her while “washing up” for the umpteenth time!

  42. 42

    Dennis Rosenfeld says

    I put a couple of drops of Geranium essential oil into the
    concoction (makes my hands smell ‘purty’.
    You can use any oil you want, actually.

  43. 43

    Ricki says

    Thank you, Kevin. I will try to make the hand sanitizer.
    Your recipes are always lovely.

  47. 47

    Conchy says

    Good! But the alcohol must include benzalkonium chloride otherwise it would not be as efficient

  48. 48

    Annie W says

    Thank you SO much for posting this important recipe. Kevin, you are a dear person and all your fans love you.
    My husband and I have made our own DIY sanitizer using alcohol, aloe vera gel, a little vitamin E and a couple drops of rosemary oil.

  50. 50

    Michele Reeves says

    Hand Sanitizer Blend
    An all-natural sanitizer gel that will kill germs but not create resistance—unlike the chemical-based versions. And it’s safe for kids.

    Ingredients
    6 drops tea tree oil
    6 drops lavender oil
    1 ounce organic aloe Vera gel for base I have used this formula for years. It is not drying, but very effective!

  51. 51

    clarissa says

    5 stars
    Thanks so much. You are a gem! I had 2 of the 3 ingredients already. Mixed some up today. Will come in handy this weekend when I have to travel on Amtrak!!!!!!!

  52. 52

    Sharon says

    1 star
    I bought everything for this recipe except the glycerine that I couldn’t find. Knowing it was a moisture goal ingredient and having aloe Vera, I used it instead. After I followed your recipe, I put some on my hands. Within a few seconds my hands were burning and turned very red. I washed them under hot water and it took the burn away. What did I do wrong? Everything is still sitting on my table, waiting to rescue me. Can you help?

  53. 53

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Sharon – I used glycerin (as directed above), and hallelujah, my delicate, eczema-prone hands did not burn or break out. Keep in mind that aloe vera gel is mostly water. Excess water from aloe will dilute the alcohol in the above recipe, and render it useless as a hand santizer. If helpful to you, I found glycerin at a health food store.

  54. 54

    Connie Graham says

    How would you determine the expiration date on this sanitizer? Maybe go by the expiration date in either the peroxide or the alcohol.(whichever has the earliest expiration date)?

  55. 55

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Connie – Hydrogen peroxide is good for 6 months after opening. When stored in a sealed container at room temperature, Isopropyl alcohol remains stable for a very long time — 1 to 3 years, from what I’ve read.

  56. 56

    Esperanza says

    Thank you Kevin for the DIY recipe for the sanitizer! Thanks for caring!
    I found this very helpful since my stores are empty.

  58. 58

    Antoinette says

    Thank-you Kevin…
    Greatly appreciated. Some of the necessities we need for this worrying period are becoming scarce here in Australia, as indeed, across the world
    Best wishes to everyone, stay well..
    Antoinette.

  59. 59

    Debra Honeyford says

    Thank You Kevin. Fortunately I had a quart bottle of 91% and the other ingredients here. I bought glycerine last year for flower preservation, the only time I’ve ever had it, and it certainly isn’t something you find around the corner., so I feel lucky indeed. I made up three batches and filled some good little spray bottles I’ve saved, and now feel a little better. I’ll make it again, it wasn’t irritating to my hands.

  61. 61

    Bob says

    IPA is banned in Europe, but you can substitute with Ethanol for this recipe still to be effective.

  63. 63

    Cheryl says

    Thanks Kevin, two of my grandkids live with me and this is a superhandy, timely post. Thanks again!

  64. 64

    Jackie says

    I’m curious about the hydrogen peroxide.. it degrades when exposed to light right? I’ve seen that it is a CDC approved cleaning product to kill the virus but I wonder how long it is stable like this?

  65. 65

    Amy says

    Kevin,
    Your recipe is very much appreciated. Unfortunately all my stores have now sold out of alcohol and peroxide.

  66. 66

    Mary says

    Thanks Kevin, Made this hand sanitizer for my family and shared ingredients with my friends.

  67. 67

    Betty Jane says

    I was shopping for the ingredients in a pharmacy and asked for help finding glycerin. Told the pharmacist what I was using it for – she said that’s good for anti-bacterial but will not kill a virus. I’m making it anyway.

  68. 68

    Rose says

    Alcohol went as fast as toilet paper. Shelves were empty before the sanitizer recipes came out.

  69. 69

    Elan says

    5 stars
    thanks kevin –

    I clicked on the link above (for the science geek) and got the recipe using 70% alcohol (as that was all I could find) (even that is almost, if not, impossible now) – I had the peroxide and found the glycerin online before it sold out at Vitacost. This is the first time I’ve ever used hand sanitizer, but since I’m over 70, I’m going to start using it in public places, etc.
    * * * Keep safe everyone.

  70. 70

    Deb says

    5 stars
    I made a double batch of this just this morning. I added a little organic lavender essential oil just to make it a little less “clinical” smelling. Plus, lavender has a nice calming effect. Thanks for sharing the recipe!

  74. 74

    Bruce says

    3 stars
    Why do think hydrogen peroxide come in a dark bottle, It breaks down very quick when eposed to light. Dark bottles are need for this.

  75. 75

    Matthew says

    If you read the WHO information, you’ll see that the hydrogen peroxide is there to sanitize your equipment and your ingredients. It dissipates pretty quickly, but after it has done the job.

  76. 76

    Alicelynne says

    Thanks so much. I love your blog…….gardening, yard work (I bought that blower), recipes, advice….keep it all coming!!!!

  77. 77

    Dianne says

    I couldn’t find any percentage rubbing alcohol and the 71% I had on hand expired Jan. 2020. Soooo, I used Everclear. It’s 95% grain alcohol, 2/3 cup, +1/3 cup aloe vera gel, (also expired, but I included it anyway for moisturizer) and +1 tsp. glycerin. Be safe and stay home.

  79. 79

    Kirit Parmar says

    Thank you.
    wanna ask you about use denatured Spirit IV rather than isopropyl alcohol??
    In Hospital we have generally used . Please send your ms..

  80. 80

    Jessica says

    2 stars
    Wonderful recipe but PLEASE update it to say only 3% hydrogen peroxide! There are many types that are stronger.

  82. 82

    Ginny says

    Finding rubbing alcohol is a joke these days.
    My husband went to the horticulture store, where they sell all the supplies needed for gardening or growing pot. They had one gallon bottles availalbe of rubbing alcohol for a day or two. He came home with a 16 oz. bottle of rubbing alcohol @ 99%.
    If you can’t find aloe vera gel, try looking for aloe vera juice. It looks like water, I use it in my d.i.y. recipes instead of water. You can make your own aloe vera gel by adding some glycerin to it, I read. I have not tried to make my own yet, so I can not say it works.
    I hope this helps.

  83. 83

    David says

    Hi Kevin Lee,
    Thanks for sharing this,after mixed all ingredients that you mentioned it estimate is how many % of alcohol? Please advise. Thanks.

  85. 85

    Amber says

    5 stars
    Thank you for this recipe. After reading all the replies, I’d like to share what I have learned. Re: methanol – it is toxic to use on skin. Please don’t use ethanol that has methanol in it. I found some perfumer’s alcohol, which is ethanol cut with a non-toxic substance, and is okay for use on skin. Re: essential oils – not all of them are okay for use on skin if you will be exposed to sunlight. For instance, lemon oil (I believe all citrus oils are photo sensitive).

  86. 86

    Mary Ann says

    I believe your recipe is making a concentration of 68% alcohol. The 1 cup (8oz) of 91% alcohol has only 7.28oz of alcohol. so 7.28oz of 10.666oz (1 1/3cup) is 68%.

  89. 89

    Helen says

    Nice recipe. Please why do you add water to it and can we make it without adding water? Thank you.

  90. 90

    Elfrieda Tullar says

    I kept some of my small empty hand sanitizer bottles. interestingly, the ingredient used in all of them is ethyl alcohol, not isopropyl alcohol. My son ordered a small drum of this from Amazon. I tried mixing it with the green aloe vera and it just doesnot mix well. I’ve tried it with the glycerin, and it feels too greasy. The best mix is a bottle of after sun lotion I found at CVS. It has a pleasant smell and mixes very easily, I’ve been making some for friends and they like to the smell. I don’t add any essential oils — they don’t do anything except provide a perfume and they’re expensive. I really like the after sun lotion.

  91. 91

    Larry Syverson says

    I have been using this WHO recipe from the start. I wasn’t going to spend $10 for an 8 oz container of hand sanitizer…

    I use this WHO recommended recipe but I recalculated things to put it into a recipe format. It makes it easier to work with. The only changes I make to it are: adding Jojoba oil and Tea tree oil and Levendar oil. Raw alcohol products can really dry your skin. They add glycerol (glycerin) to the WHO formula, which helps… and I add the Jojoba oil as well. The tea tree oil is a natural antibacterial and also helps with the skin drying. I also add some lavender oil for fragrance. My modified formula is as follows;

    10 oz of 91% isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)

    Note: You could substitute 190 proof ethyl alcohol from the liquor store, if you can’t find rubbing alcohol. I bought a fifth of it for about $25. 91% Isopropyl alcohol is REALLY hard, if not impossible, to find in stores. You could use 70% isopropyl alcohol (and delete the distilled water), but the WHO says you should have a concentration of at least 70% and after adding the other ingredients you’d fall just slightly short of that value.

    1/4 cup of distilled water

    1 1/2 Tablespoons of 3% hydrogen peroxide

    1 1/2 teaspoons of glycerin (glycerol)

    10 drops of tea tree oil (antibacterial)

    15 drops of lavender oil (fragrance) You could use any of the aromatic oils…

    1 Tablespoon of jojoba oil.

    Yields a solution with about a 72% concentration of isopropyl alcohol and won’t chap your hands!

    Then, go to the Dollar Store and find a small bottle of eyeglass cleaner… they have a pump spray which puts out a very fine, cloud like, mist. Just rinse out the eyeglass cleaner and put the sanitizer in it. Don’t forget to put a label on it, identifying it as hand sanitizer. (BTW… this formula is also an excellent cleaner for your eye glasses, as well as a sanitizer, which surprised me because of the oil in it)

  92. 92

    Deeb says

    4 stars
    Very much appreciated you sharing such clear directions! I have linked this page, along with the “science geek’s” link you have at the tippy top, along with all three ways to make this, using either 99%, 91%, or EVEN 70% alcohol! THAT was the key for me, because just as others have said, the two highest alcohol %-ages are almost impossible to find or ridiculously expensive.

    The way to find all three of the science geek’s recipes, like the one Kevin has here is to go to his youtube video–ESPECIALLY if you need the proper proportions for 70% alcohol. THEN click the “VIEW MORE” under the video. VERY detailed for all three. The sci geek explains this, which is just fine! you DON’T have to have the WHO’s %. 60% alcohol and above is needed.

    “The 70% alcohol case, no additional water is needed, and the resulting sanitizer is 66% alcohol, which is less than the WHO recommended 75%, but still greater than the minimum required 60% for effectiveness.”

    Thank you again! Blessings and safe comings and goings to all!

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