How To Make Hand Sanitizer Gel Using Vegetable Glycerin

Washing our hands with soap and water is the best way to keep germs at bay, but sometimes we need a little extra. That’s where hand sanitizer comes in handy. While you can buy pre-packaged hand sanitizer, why not make your own at home? 

This blog will teach you how to make hand sanitizer gel using vegetable glycerin. It’s easy, and you can do it anytime. Read on to learn more.

What Is Vegetable Glycerin?

Vegetable glycerin was discovered over 200 years ago by heating a mixture of olive oil and lead monoxide. It can be made from animal products, plants, or even petroleum. It’s also made from plant oils, like olive, palm, soy, and coconut oil.

When you heat triglyceride-rich vegetable fats under pressure or with an alkali, the vegetable glycerin splits away from the fatty acids and turns into a sweet-tasting syrup — perfect for DIY hand sanitizer gel!

How To Make Hand Sanitizer Gel Using Vegetable Glycerin

Making your hand sanitizer gel is a breeze with the help of our vegetable glycerin. Let’s show you how to easily prepare a batch in the comfort of your home! 

Prepare these ingredients:

• 4 tsp. of vegetable glycerin, also called glycerol
• 4 cups of isopropyl alcohol, also called rubbing alcohol
• 1 cup of distilled water, or cooled or boiled
• ¼ cup of household hydrogen peroxide (3%)
• A clean glass or plastic container that can hold 8 cups
• Smaller containers to divide up the last batch of hand sanitizer gel

Take note, you can control how much sanitizer will be made by preparing double or half the ingredients.

Here are the easy steps for making hand sanitizer gel using vegetable glycerin:

Step 1

Make sure to make a hand sanitizer gel in a dry, clean space. Don’t forget to wipe down the countertops with a diluted bleach solution beforehand. Wash your hands gently before making the hand sanitizer gel.

Step 2

Clean the container you’ll use to mix the ingredients and any bottles you’ll store it in. Sterilize them if they’re heat-resistant.

Step 3

Pour the isopropyl alcohol into the clean container. Blend in the hydrogen peroxide. This ingredient helps to kill germs that can get into the hand sanitizer gel as you make it. You need to add extra care with this step as this may irritate your skin.

Step 4

Add 4 tsp. of our vegetable glycerin. It helps to gently protect your skin from drying out, giving you smoother skin.

Step 5

Next, add 1 cup of water, and mix all the ingredients.

If you’re looking to make your batch last longer, just use a funnel to transfer it into smaller bottles. Give it a full 72 hours to sit before using it – that’ll give the hydrogen peroxide time to kill any germs that might’ve snuck in during the making process. 

Also, make sure your hand sanitizer gel has at least 60% alcohol, with 75% being the sweet spot. If you’re not sure, grab an alcohol meter to check.

If you find yourself going through your hand sanitizer gel quickly, you may choose to take out hydrogen peroxide from the recipe. However, when you do this, take note that the product’s shelf life decreases. 

How To Use Hand Sanitizer Gel?

Using hand sanitizer is as easy as pie! All you need to do is gently rub it into your skin until your hands are dry. If your hands are dirty or greasy, wash them first with soap and water.

With that in mind, here are some tips to use hand sanitizer gel effectively:

• Apply or spray the sanitizer on the palm of your hand.
• After doing so, gently rub your hands together. Make sure that it covers the entire surface of your hands and your fingers.
• Continue rubbing them for 20 seconds, or until your hands are dry. Sometimes, it takes 60 seconds or longer, for hand sanitizer gel to kill most germs.

Other Things To Remember

While washing your hands with soap and water should be your priority, using hand sanitizer when soap and water aren’t available is also important when:

• After using the bathroom
• After sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose
• Before and after eating
• After touching contaminated surfaces

Key Takeaway

Hand sanitizer gel is a lifesaver when you’re on the go and can’t wash your hands with soap and water. And if you’re having trouble finding it at stores, don’t worry! You can easily make your own at home.

This blog just discussed how to make hand sanitizer gel using vegetable glycerin. Here at Oktakem, we are your best partner for high-quality vegetable glycerin and other raw materials for your successful DIY recipe, all at affordable prices! With our easy bulk purchasing options too, there’s no reason for you not to craft amazing recipes at home.

Contact Oktakem today — the leading chemical supplier in the Philippines. You may also purchase our cost-effective chemical products and raw materials at our official Shopee page or Chemstore’s Lazada page (our official Lazada partner).