Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is useful when soap and water are not available, but it works best when it is made, measured, stored, and used correctly. This guide explains how to make a small personal-use batch of hand sanitizer with 200 Proof Food Grade Ethanol, plus the safety details that matter before you begin.

For everyday hand hygiene, washing with plain soap and water is still the first choice, especially when hands are visibly dirty or greasy. When soap and water are not available, the CDC recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. This recipe is designed to finish above that minimum when measured accurately.

Homemade Hand Sanitizer Recipe Using 200 Proof Ethyl Alcohol

Before You Make Hand Sanitizer at Home

Hand sanitizer is a leave-on product for hands. It is not the same thing as a household surface disinfectant, and it should not be used on pets, food, eyes, wounds, toys that may be mouthed by children, or surfaces where a properly labeled surface disinfectant is needed.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is also flammable. Mix and use it away from heat, sparks, pilot lights, cigarettes, candles, and open flames. Use it in a well-ventilated area, and rub hands until completely dry before touching anything hot or doing anything that could create a spark.

Even when made with food grade ethanol, finished hand sanitizer is not food and should never be swallowed. Store finished sanitizer out of sight and reach of children and pets. Do not package sanitizer in beverage bottles, food containers, or anything that could be mistaken for something drinkable.

Why the Alcohol Percentage Matters

The most important part of this recipe is the final alcohol concentration. If the ethanol is diluted too much, the sanitizer may not work as intended. This recipe uses 8 fluid ounces of 200 proof ethanol mixed with 4 fluid ounces of aloe gel, creating a 12 fluid ounce batch with an approximate final alcohol concentration of 66.7% by volume.

The basic calculation is:

Alcohol percentage = alcohol volume ÷ total batch volume × 100

For this recipe:

8 fl oz ÷ 12 fl oz × 100 = 66.7%

This calculation assumes the use of 200 proof ethanol, which is 100% ethyl alcohol by volume. If you use a lower-proof alcohol, the finished percentage will be lower and the recipe must be recalculated.

Homemade Hand Sanitizer Recipe

Yield: 12 fl oz

Approximate final alcohol concentration: 66.7%

Use for: Hands only, when soap and water are not available

Ingredients

• 8 fl oz 200 Proof Food Grade Ethanol
• 4 fl oz plain aloe vera gel

Optional Notes About Ingredients

Use plain aloe vera gel without added fragrance, glitter, colorants, or food-like scents. Avoid adding essential oils, perfumes, flavorings, or extra water. These additions may irritate skin, change the feel of the finished product, or make the product more attractive to children.

Do not use methanol, fuel alcohol, denatured alcohol, or unknown industrial alcohols for homemade hand sanitizer. Methanol is not an acceptable ingredient in hand sanitizer and can be dangerous.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Wash and dry your mixing bowl, whisk, measuring tools, funnel, and storage bottle before beginning.

Step 2: Measure 8 fl oz of 200 Proof Food Grade Ethanol into a clean glass or stainless steel mixing bowl.

Step 3: Measure 4 fl oz of plain aloe vera gel and add it to the alcohol.

Step 4: Whisk slowly until the mixture is as even as possible. Avoid vigorous shaking if you can, since shaking may create foam and air bubbles.

Step 5: If the mixture becomes foamy, allow it to rest until the bubbles settle. This helps improve the final texture and makes it easier to pour.

Step 6: Transfer the finished hand sanitizer into a clean bottle with a tight-fitting lid. A pump bottle, squeeze bottle, or small travel bottle works well.

Step 7: Label the container clearly as hand sanitizer. Include the date made, “For external use only,” and “Flammable.”

How to Use Homemade Hand Sanitizer

Apply enough sanitizer to cover all surfaces of your hands. Rub hands together, covering palms, backs of hands, between fingers, fingertips, and around nails. Keep rubbing until hands feel completely dry.

Do not rinse or wipe it off while wet. Do not use hand sanitizer near your eyes. If hand sanitizer gets into the eyes, rinse carefully with clean running water.

Hand sanitizer does not work as well when hands are visibly dirty, greasy, or covered with chemicals. In those situations, wash with soap and water instead.

Storage and Safety Tips

Store finished hand sanitizer in a cool, dry place away from heat, flames, sparks, and direct sunlight. Keep the lid closed when not in use to reduce evaporation. If alcohol evaporates over time, the sanitizer may become weaker.

Keep all high-proof ethanol and finished hand sanitizer out of reach of children and pets. If someone swallows hand sanitizer, contacts it with their eyes, or has symptoms after exposure, contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or seek medical help right away.

Can This Recipe Be Sold or Distributed?

This recipe is intended for small personal-use batches only. Hand sanitizers sold or distributed in the United States are regulated as over-the-counter drug products and must meet applicable FDA requirements. Do not use this home recipe for commercial manufacturing, resale, or public distribution.

Why Use 200 Proof Food Grade Ethanol?

Starting with 200 proof ethanol makes the math simple because the alcohol is not already diluted with water. Culinary Solvent’s 200 Proof Food Grade Ethanol is non-denatured ethyl alcohol made for customers who need pure ethanol for approved uses.

Because hand sanitizer depends on the final alcohol percentage, accurate measuring matters. Always measure by volume using clean measuring tools, and do not dilute the recipe beyond the amounts listed above.

Helpful References for Hand Sanitizer Safety

For more guidance on hand sanitizer safety, review the CDC and FDA resources below:

• CDC Hand Sanitizer Facts
• FDA Safely Using Hand Sanitizer
• FDA Hand Sanitizers Consumers Should Not Use