DIY Hand Sanitizing Wipes

How to make homemade DIY hand sanitizing wipes with just two ingredients! These wipes can be made disposable with paper towels OR reusable with cloth washcloths, so you can use them over and over again! 

Keeping our hands clean is everything right now. EVERYTHING. Social distancing, staying home, and washing hands are the actions that are going to save the lives of grandparents, at-risk people and even some people that think they’re perfectly healthy.

When I write it like that, it seems so simple.

I know, we have to sacrifice time with friends and family. We need to give up going out for non-essential reasons. We have to keep our kids at home. It feels huge mentally. I get it. But there’s really nothing complicated about what we’re being asked to do.

In this time of uncertainty, I’m choosing to try to appreciate things more than I’ve done in the past.

So I’m appreciating that we’re not being asked to do anything extreme or confusing or dangerous in our attempts to protect ourselves and our loved ones. At the very least, they’re relatively easy things to accomplish.

Fortunately, one of those easy things to do is keep our hands clean. Unfortunately, there’s been a run on hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. A shortage of hand sanitizer is just something that never crossed my mind!

Stores around here have been out for weeks. I’m guessing that they’ve received hand sanitizer shipments here are there, but they sell out as soon as they hit the shelves.

The good news is that I have a DIY hand sanitizer recipe that works incredibly well. It costs pennies to make, it only uses two ingredients you probably have at home and it’s ready to use in just two minutes.

Note: I love all sorts of DIY ideas! If you love making your own versions of popular items, you’ll want to look at my homemade Pedialyte and homemade Gatorade electrolyte replacement drink recipes.

If you’re looking to keep your family healthy, get my printable cold and flu shopping list, tips to stop the stomach flu fast and a surprising way to treat other illnesses.

But liquid hand sanitizer can be hard for kids to use, and it’s harder to use when you’re trying to sanitize skin that’s not on your hands.

DIY Hand Sanitizing Wipes Tutorial

Enter my DIY hand sanitizing wipes. I’ve made them before for road trips and travel and they’re fantastic.

The main ingredient is rubbing alcohol, which is super effective at killing germs and dangerous microorganisms that can cause illness. It’s incredibly reassuring to know that homemade sanitizer wipes can help keep my family safe!

You only need a handful of ingredients and supplies to make my homemade hand sanitizer wipes, which is why you need this tutorial in your life!

Materials needed to make hand sanitizing wipes

• Paper towels or reusable cloth washcloths
• Liquid measuring cup
• Mixing bowl
• A whisk
• 1 tablespoon measuring spoon
• An airtight container for storage

DIY hand sanitizing wipes ingredients

• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel
• 1 1/2 cups 91% rubbing alcohol

Notes:

1. Rubbing alcohol and isopropyl alcohol are the same thing.
2. Only use 91% or 99% isopropyl alcohol when you make this recipe.
3. Any glass or plastic airtight container will work for storage. I think latching hermetic jars like these look nice and keep a tight seal, but you can also use a classic Tupperware container or a plain plastic storage piece.

Homemade hand sanitizer wipes FAQ

Before I get to how to make hand sanitizer wipes I want to answer some common questions you might be asking about them.

How should I store my wipes?

These wipes must be stored in an airtight container. If they’re not kept in something airtight, they’ll dry out very quickly.

If you don’t have a clean jar or plastic container to put them in, a ziplock bag will work just fine. I actually love keeping about 10 of these wipes in a zip top sandwich bag in my purse.

Here are some great ways to store your homemade wipes:

Encheng 25 oz Glass Jars With Airtight Lids And Leak Proof Rubber Gasket,Wide Mouth Mason Jars With Hinged Lids For Kitchen Canisters 750ml, Glass Storage Containers 6 Pack …See more detailsTupperware Cool N Fresh Set, 5-Pieces,Color May VarySee more detailsRubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Container, Medium Deep, 4.7 Cup, Clear 1991157See more detailsZiploc Sandwich Bags, 145-CountSee more details

 

Are these DIY sanitizer wipes safe for skin?

Yes. There’s quite a bit of rubbing alcohol in them, so they’ll be drying. The alcohol kills germs and evaporates quickly, which is nice because no one wants wet hands for too long.

But the downside is that the alcohol also steals moisture from your skin. The aloe vera gel helps replenish some of it, but you’ll probably want to follow with some lotion if you use these wipes several times a day.

Are these also disinfectant wipes?

The added aloe gel makes them perfect for skin, but feel free to use them to disinfect surfaces if you need them.

Are these hand sanitizer wipes as good as hand washing?

Washing hands the right way (following the CDC’s directions) is “one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick.”

The CDC also says that “you can use an alcohol based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol” if soap and water aren’t available. (source)

Will hand sanitizer wipes clean my hands?

These wipes will wipe small amounts of dirt and other soil off your hands. If you do use a wipe to clean things off your hands, be sure to use another wipe to sanitize your hands after they’re clean.

Can these wipes be made without alcohol?

Yes, of course they can. You can make hand wipes with witch hazel instead of alcohol. But notice I no longer called them “sanitizing wipes.” The real question is, will these wipes be effective if they’re made without alcohol?

If you use something other than alcohol in your wipes, they’ll clean your hands, but don’t expect them to keep you healthy. That’s because alcohol is the most effective ingredient in hand sanitizers. Period.

Can I use other alcohols in these DIY hand sanitizer wipes?

No. The CDC says you need to use hand sanitizers with a concentration of at least 60% alcohol. Because you’re mixing your rubbing alcohol with other ingredients and diluting it with water for these wipes, use 91% or 99% isopropyl alcohol in these wipes to ensure their effectiveness.

Also, don’t use vodka or other spirits from your liquor cabinet in your homemade hand sanitizers. In truth, some spirits may be strong enough to work as sanitizers, but most of them aren’t. It’s also more expensive.

On the plus side, some distilleries (like our local Vikre Distillery) are producing hand sanitizer and giving it away for free. So leave the specialized hand sanitizer making to the professionals.

How to make DIY Hand Sanitizing Wipes

1. Cut a roll of paper towels in half. Set one half aside. Tear off sheets from the other half and fold them in half.
2. Stack The paper towels in a jar or another airtight container. When the container is full, set aside more folded paper towels to add later.
3. Pour your hot water into a small bowl and add two tablespoons of aloe vera gel. Whisk together.
4. Add the rubbing alcohol and whisk until smooth.
5. Pour the mixture over the stack of paper towels in the jar. Wait for it to absorb.
6. Add more paper towels after the stack has been saturated. Turn the jar upside down a few times to help the liquid get to all the paper towels.

Wait about 30 minutes and try a wipe. If it feels extra wet, add more folded paper towels to absorb excess liquid until they’re they feel right.

Store your homemade hand sanitizer wipes in an airtight jar.

I love to hear your feedback, so if you loved this tutorial as is or made changes, I want to know what you did. Please come back and let me know in the comments.