When soap and water are not available, the CDC recommends using an alcohol based hand sanitizer with more than 60% alcohol.(1) But what do you do if you can’t find sanitizer at the store? You can always make your own alcohol-based sanitizer spray.

Adding lavender essential oil to this homemade sanitizer spray gives it a lovely scent. And since it is made with Everclear, there is no overpowering medicinal smell.

DIY Alcohol Sanitizer Spray with Everclear

If you are making hand sanitizer with Everclear, it is important to first check the proof, or alcohol content.

The Everclear sold where I live is 151 proof, or 75.5% alcohol. However, depending on where you live, four different proofs of Everclear are available: 120, 151, 189, and 190 proof.

Percent alcohol matters, so it is important to know how much alcohol is in the Everclear you are using.

How to dilute Everclear for a DIY Sanitizer Spray

It is important to measure carefully when making your own homemade sanitizer. Maintaining an alcohol percentage above 60% is critical for effectiveness.

When it comes to making your own alcohol-based sanitizer spray, keep the following chemistry equation in mind:

C1*V1 = C2*V2

In words, this equation means the concentration of alcohol in solution one (C1) times the volume of solution one (V1) equals the concentration of alcohol in solution two (C2) times the volume of solution two (V2).

How to make a 66% Alcohol Sanitizer with 151 Proof Everclear

C1 = Everclear concentration (75.5% alcohol, 151 proof)
V1 = Everclear volume (10.5 teaspoons)
C2 = Final solution concentration (66% alcohol)
V2 = Final solution volume (12 teaspoons = 2 oz)

75.5% * 10.5 teaspoons = 66% * 12 teaspoons

Simply said, you can make 2 oz of a 66% alcohol sanitizer spray with 10.5 teaspoons of 151 proof Everclear.

Sanitizer Spray with 151 Proof Everclear

DIY Alcohol Sanitizer Spray

Yield: 2 oz

Active Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

This homemade alcohol sanitizer spray contains 66% alcohol from Everclear and has a light lavender scent.

Materials

Everclear alcohol, 151 proof
Water, distilled or boiled and cooled
Lavender Essential Oil

Tools

Small Funnel
Measuring Spoons
2 oz Spray Bottle

Instructions

For 2 oz of 66% Alcohol Sanitizer

Using a funnel, pour 3.5 tablespoons of 151 proof Everclear to a clean 2oz spray bottle
Add 1.25 teaspoons distilled water to 2oz spray bottle
Add 30 drops lavender essential oil (approximately 0.25 teaspoon) to Everclear and water solution
Place lid on spray bottle and shake to combine

For 1 cup (8 oz) of 66% Alcohol Sanitizer

Using a funnel, pour 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons of 151 proof Everclear to a clean bottle
Add 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons distilled water to bottle
Add 120 drops lavender essential oil (approximately 1 teaspoon) to Everclear and water solution
Place lid on bottle and shake to combine. Store in an air-tight container to maintain alcohol concentration

Notes

The above ratios are for 151 Proof Everclear. Please do not prepare this alcohol-based sanitizer spray with 120 Proof Everclear or another spirit such as vodka (typically 80 proof). An alcohol content about 60% is required for sanitizer efficacy.

How to use Alcohol Based Hand Sanitizer

Spray sanitizer on hands to completely wet them, about ten spritz with a small 2 ounce spray bottle
Vigorously rub hands together for about 25 seconds until sanitizer completely evaporates
Do not use sanitizer spray on visibly dirty hands as it will not be as effective.

These instructions are based on recommendations from the Mayo Clinic for alcohol-based gel type sanitizers, like Purell. (2).

Tips and Tricks for Homemade Sanitizer Sprays

For this recipe, only use 151 proof Everclear
Store spray in an airtight container to prevent alcohol evaporation
Do not use vodka for hand sanitizers! Normal vodka is only 80 proof or 40% alcohol. Even if you were to use it without any dilution, vodka does not meet the CDC’s requirements for an effective alcohol-based sanitizer
Sanitizer sprays can also be made with rubbing alcohol (using a different recipe). However, when I wrote this article, rubbing alcohol was sold out at my local stores
Store sanitizer spray away from open flames as high alcohol content sanitizers can be flammable

Disclaimer

This recipe for a homemade alcohol-based hand sanitizer is presumed to be effective based on having an alcohol concentration above 60%, as recommended by the CDC. However, I have not had the mixture tested in a lab for efficacy.

Additionally, where available, washing with soap and water for more than 20 seconds is the preferred method of handwashing.

Natalie

Wednesday 16th of March 2022

Hi! How would I make this hand sanitizer with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol (rubbing alcohol) instead of Everclear?

Meredith

Tuesday 22nd of March 2022

Hi Natalie -

For 1 cup (8 oz) of 68% Alcohol Sanitizer made with 91% isopropyl alcohol Using a funnel, pour 3/4 cup 91% Isopropyl Alcohol to a clean bottle Add 3 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons distilled water to bottle Add 120 drops lavender essential oil (approximately 1 teaspoon) to Isopropyl Alcohol and water solution Place lid on bottle and shake to combine. Store in an air-tight container to maintain alcohol concentration

Eileen

Monday 10th of August 2020

I have 190 proof Everclear- to 1 cup Everclear how much alo Vera gel would I use plus essentials oil

Hi Eileen

To make 70% alcohol hand sanitizer with 190 proof Everclear (starting with 1 cup Everclear)… 1 cup 190 proof Everclear 5 Tablespoons Water or Aloe Vera 160 drops lavender essential oil (approximately 1 and 1/3 teaspoon)

Kathleen

Thursday 14th of May 2020

Hi Meredith,

Is there any reason why the alcohol must be Everclear brand specifically? have a bottle of 190 proof (95%) alcohol from a different distillery. It should perform the same as Everclear, right?

Thanks, Kathleen

Hi Kathleen - You are correct. As long as the alcohol has the correct percentage alcohol you can use it. Brand doesn't matter. I simply listed Everclear as that is what is available in our local liquor store.

Stef

Saturday 18th of April 2020

Hi! In your recipe adjustment you made for 190 proof Everclear and glycerine would the ratios be same for using Aloe Vera? Do the Aloe Vera ingredients make a difference?

Hi Stef,

As long as you are replacing only the water and/or essential oil component of the hand sanitizer with Aloe Vera, you should be fine. Just ensure that the quantity of Everclear remains the same.

For example, you could do the following... To make 12 oz of hand sanitizer with 190 proof Everclear (12 oz total)… 1 cup + 2 tablespoons 190 proof Everclear 1/4 cup + 1.5 tablespoons Aloe Vera 1.5 teaspoons or 180 drops lavender essential oil

Patsy Underwood

Thursday 9th of April 2020

For a couple years I have made a Vodka based room disinfecting spray. To 16 ox of vodka I added 30 drops of tea tree essential oil and 15 drops each of lemon, lavender and eucalyptus essential oil. When I learned that the COVID 19 must be above 60%, I added rubbing alcohol to my spray. It is too strong smelling. So I bought a bottle of Everclear. Do you think it would be okay to lessen the amount of water so I can put in the essential oils with their amount I have listed above?

Friday 10th of April 2020

Hi Patsy,

You actually won't be reducing the amount of water in the Everclear-based sanitizer if you use the amount of essential oils you have listed above... it looks like you are using approximately 75 drops of essential oil. (I bet your combination of essential oils smells fantastic)

Here are the ratios to make a 66% alcohol spray with 151 proof Everclear with your essential oil mix. Note this will only work for 151 proof Everclear. If you have a different proof, let me know and we can rework the ratios. Be well!

16 oz 151 Everclear Sanitizer 1.75 cups 151 proof Everclear 3 tablespoons + 2.25 teaspoons distilled water Essential oil mix (15 drops lemon, 15 drops lavender, 15 drops eucalyptus, 30 drops tea tree oil (75 drops total, approximately 1/2 teaspoon + 1/8 teaspoon)