Homemade Tea Tree Oil Hand Sanitizer

Before you reach for the hand sanitizer from the store, try this recipe for homemade tea tree oil hand sanitizer! Killing bacteria is one of the many tea tree oil uses and better for your health than store brands!

Do you use hand sanitizer when you are out and about? I’m so happy to see sanitizer so readily available when we are in public places, but I always try to carry my homemade tea tree oil hand sanitizer to use instead.

Commercial hand sanitizer is great in theory, but most of them contain harsh chemicals that just dry out your skin creating cracks which in turn allow viruses to penetrate your skin!

Another important fact about commercial hand sanitizer is that they aim to kill bacteria, which may be what it actually does, but it doesn’t kill viruses, which means the flu virus can still travel on your hands. Essential oils actually inhibit bacteria naturally!

This year the flu is so bad that in one day in the elementary school alone there were 100 kids out sick. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the flu is highly contagious partly because it’s possible to pass the virus on before you become sick. You can be infected by someone with the virus one day before their symptoms start which is why it’s key to keep those germs at bay.

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Facts about Hand Sanitizers

Some evidence shows that kids who grow up in an overly sterile environment have higher rates of allergies and asthma than kids who don’t use antibacterial products as much.

Hand sanitizers may affect your immune system by killing good bacteria which keep disease-causing bacteria at bay. In a 2011 study by the Centers for Disease Control, it was found that healthcare workers who routinely used alcohol-based hand sanitizers were much more likely to get the norovirus or stomach flu.

Can’t I just use soap and water to clean my hands?

Yes, of course you can use plain soap (not antibacterial) and water, but that will dry out your hands as well. Save the hand washing for after bathroom use or when you are cooking to keep the moisture in your hands!

Why should I use tea tree oil in hand sanitizer?

I love tea tree oil! It is one of my very favorite essential oils and I use it for so many things. Studies have shown that tea tree oil kills several common bacteria and viruses responsible for causing illness, including E. coli, pneumonia and the flu.

Tea tree oil is also AMAZING for the skin. Besides fighting bacteria, it also has healing properties that helps with cuts, scrapes and redness.

I love Rocky Mountain Oils because of their quality 100% pure essential oils that require no minimum purchase and always supplies FREE shipping! Plus they always have specials going on!

Looking for a Homemade Hand Sanitizer with alcohol? Check out this recipe.

Hand Sanitizer with Tea Tree Oil

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. witch hazel extract (I like Thayers)
1 cup aloe vera gel
30 drops tea tree essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil (for scent)
1 tsp. vitamin E oil

Directions

In a metal or glass bowl, mix the oils together.
Add witch hazel and mix again
Add aloe vera and mix to combine.
Using a funnel, which sometimes comes with the bottles, pour the mixture into a 4oz or 8oz bottle. Use a dark bottle to keep the essential oils from drying up.
Shake gently before using.
Use within 6 months