It seems as if there is always some sticky or yucky mess to be cleaned off little hands and faces. Making your own wipe solution to use with cloth wipes is cost-effective and kind to the earth. Here are two solutions we like to use – effective, gentle, and easy to customize!
- Use the following recipe—
2 parts aloe gel (NOT juice).
1 part distilled water (NOT tap).
1 part grain alcohol-vodka (NOT isopropyl).
4-5 drops essential oil of choice (NOT fragrance oils). Hint: tea tree is a great antibacterial and one of the best essential oils to add to a hand sanitizer recipe.
Mix all ingredients in glass bowl (preferably) with a plastic spoon. It is a good idea to not use metal dishes or utensils because of potential reactions with the essential oils. Pour your aromatherapy hand sanitizer into plastic containers. You can add less water if you prefer a thicker product
Tips and Warnings:
- Essential oils are nearly all anti-microbial. I use tea tree and lemon for the hand sanitizer recipe that I market in my massage office. When using both, add 4 drops each or to your own preference. Oils can be found in any natural foods store.
- Aloe gel is used as a thickening agent and moisturizer. It is found in natural food stores. Grain alcohol is a sanitizer without the smell of isopropyl alcohol. Found anywhere; hint: don’t spring for the expensive stuff ! Distilled water will allow a more clear product without the mineral content of other types. Found in the grocery store.
- Lavender oil is also a good choice to blend with tea tree.
- This is a safe, effective product. I believe the chemical constituents in store sanitizers is allowing microbes to become more resistant. Essential oils, to date, have not been shown to allow this to happen. As with all products, keep out of reach of children.
source: http://www.ehow.com/how_2223499_natural-antibacterial-hand-sanitizer.html
Anti-Bacterial Gel
Choose containers that work best for your lifestyle. You can use glass bottles, plastic squeeze bottles or spray bottles. Small containers are especially handy, as you can carry it in your purse. You can find smaller containers in the travel section at a local drugstore.
- 1/4 cup pure aloe vera gel
- 1/4 cup witch hazel
- 1 tsp. vegetable glycerin
- 1 tbsp. grain alcohol
- Essential oils such as tea tree oil or lavender
Combine the following ingredients in a container or bowl: 1/4 cup witch hazel, 1/4 cup pure aloe vera gel, 1 tsp. vegetable glycerin and 1 tbsp. grain alcohol. Using grain alcohol avoids the clinical smell of isopropyl alcohol.
Add eight to 10 drops of an essential oil such as tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is well-known for its antimicrobial and antiseptic properties. Lavender also works well. You can even try mixing lavender with tea tree oil. Essential oils are commonly found in natural foods stores.
Mix all the ingredients thoroughly. If the liquid is not thick enough, add more glycerin or aloe vera gel. Once everything is mixed together, fill the containers.
Reference http://www.ehow.com/how_7466620_make-antibacterial-gel.html