Written by Kate Tietje
We all know that washing our hands is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of germs. And most of us know that those commercial hand sanitizer products and antibacterial soap are not the ideal choice, right? Those products can seep into your skin and kill healthy gut flora, and some of the ingredients in them are downright dangerous.
Yet, we don’t always have access to sinks with safe soap and water. And sometimes, like at a playground, we need to be able to clean our hands and our kids’ hands before snack time.
I created this spray to try to combat winter illnesses. I can’t say if it’s worked so far, as I haven’t been super consistent about using it. But I do know that my kids haven’t been sick much this year, and what they have had has gone away very quickly. (Seriously — some of them had a “stomach virus” this year, but they went from playing happily and normally to sick and back again in a ten-minute time span. I’ve never seen anything like it. And some didn’t get it at all.)
At any rate, this hand sanitizer combines witch hazel, an herbal extract that is good for the skin, with an essential oil blend that helps to kill germs and is kid-safe. It could not be simpler to make or use. Of course, if DIYs aren’t your thing, feel free to check out Earthley’s All-Purpose Spray, a premade, all-natural alternative that can even be used for cleaning and as deodorant!
Hand Sanitizer Spray
Ingredients:
- 3.5 oz. witch hazel
- 15 drops Earthley’s Immune Support Essential Oil Blend (or another antibacterial essential oil like lavender, lemon, or tea tree)
Directions:
Step 1: Add both ingredients to a 4-ounce spray bottle and shake to combine. That’s it!
Usage: spray your hands and then rub them together. All of mine love it and will hold their hands out and ask for “spray” — even my youngest (almost 2). technically, this essential oil blend is safe for kids over 2. Don’t worry when they are close to 2.
I toss mine in the side pocket of my diaper bag, along with some tissues. That way, it’s always with us!
