How to Make Hand Sanitizer at Home with IPA: The WHO Formula Step by Step

Pioma Chemtech Inc.
Jun 30
5 min read

You can make a competent hand sanitizer at home using the World Health Organization's published recipe — Formulation II uses isopropyl alcohol (IPA) as its active. The ingredients are simple, the steps are short, and the formulation is the same one hospital pharmacies and small manufacturers worldwide produced during the 2020-2022 pandemic period when commercial supply was disrupted. The catch is that you need the right starting materials at the right strength, and you need to be willing to wait 72 hours before using it.

This is a step-by-step guide to making WHO Formulation II at home. For most people, buying a commercial product is the practical choice. If you do want to make your own, this walks through the right way to do it.

Consult a doctor or pharmacist if you have a specific health concern that affects choice of sanitizer; what's appropriate in general is not always right for every individual.

Ingredients for 1 litre

For WHO Formulation II (IPA-based):

Isopropyl alcohol 99.8% — 751.5 ml
Hydrogen peroxide 3% — 41.7 ml
Glycerol 98% — 14.5 ml
Distilled or sterile water — to make up to 1000 ml

The final isopropyl alcohol concentration in the finished product is approximately 75% v/v — the kill-curve sweet spot for surface and skin antisepsis.

For the underlying physiology of why 70-75% is the right number, see why 70% IPA is the standard for surface disinfection.

Equipment

A clean, dry, calibrated 1-litre measuring container (food-grade or laboratory glass).
A smaller measuring cylinder or syringe (10 ml graduations) for the small-volume ingredients.
A clean stirrer or spoon.
A labelled 1-litre opaque bottle for storage (HDPE is fine).
Disposable gloves and eye protection.
A clean, dry, well-ventilated workspace away from flame and heat.

The equipment should be clean and dry. Any moisture or contamination at the start of the process becomes part of the finished product.

Step-by-step method

Set up. Put on gloves and eye protection. Open windows for ventilation. Move flame, candles, and heat sources out of the area. IPA vapour is flammable.
Pour the IPA. Measure 751.5 ml of 99.8% isopropyl alcohol into the 1-litre container.
Add the hydrogen peroxide. Measure 41.7 ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide and add it to the alcohol.
Add the glycerol. Measure 14.5 ml of glycerol. Glycerol is viscous and clings to measuring containers — rinse the measuring container with the next-step water and add that rinse to the bottle so all the glycerol is captured.
Top up with water. Add distilled or sterile water until the total volume is exactly 1000 ml.
Cap and mix. Cap the bottle tightly and invert gently several times to mix. Don't shake vigorously — splashing alcohol is a fire hazard.
Label clearly. Mark the bottle: "WHO Formulation II hand sanitizer", date of preparation, expiry date (24 months from preparation under correct storage).
Wait 72 hours. This rest period is a defined part of the protocol — it allows the hydrogen peroxide to inactivate any bacterial spores in the starting materials.
Dispense into smaller bottles for use.

For the comparison ethanol-based version (Formulation I) and the history of why this formulation became the global reference, see our WHO hand sanitizer formula article.

Common mistakes that ruin the formulation

Using "rubbing alcohol" of unknown strength. Read the label. If the alcohol is below 70% IPA at the start, the finished sanitizer will be too dilute.
Substituting vodka for IPA. Vodka is 40% alcohol. Adding water and glycerol makes it weaker, not stronger. The finished product won't work.
Skipping the hydrogen peroxide. Without it, any spore contamination of starting materials remains in the bottle.
Using tap water instead of distilled or sterile. Tap water can introduce microbial contamination.
Adding essential oils or fragrance. This is no longer the WHO formulation — it's a derivative product with uncharacterised behaviour.
Skipping the 72-hour rest. Use straight away and you may be applying a contaminated product.
Making it in a workspace with flame nearby. IPA vapour is flammable. Be careful.

Safety reminders

IPA is flammable. Don't smoke, light candles, or use open flame in the workspace.
Don't drink the alcohol. IPA is toxic if ingested at high concentration.
Keep finished product out of reach of children.
Avoid contact with eyes — flush with water if it happens.
Don't apply to broken skin or use as a wound antiseptic — different products are designed for that.
Store cool and away from heat — IPA evaporates faster in warm conditions.

For a discussion of what to use on cuts and grazes, see our piece on hydrogen peroxide on cuts and modern wound care.

Shelf life and storage

Sealed bottle, opaque, away from heat, away from sunlight — typically 18-24 months.
Once opened multiple times for refilling — practical life of 6-12 months.
In a pump bottle that's left uncapped on a desk — much shorter; alcohol evaporates.

The main shelf-life-limiting factor is alcohol evaporation. Keep it sealed.

Where to get the ingredients

In India:

99.8% IPA — available from chemical suppliers, some pharma-grade pharmacies. Confirm the strength on the label.
3% hydrogen peroxide — available from any pharmacy.
98% glycerol — available from chemical suppliers and some pharmacies (look for "pure glycerin" pharmacy-grade).
Distilled water — available from automotive supply stores (used for car batteries) or chemical suppliers.

Sourcing high-strength IPA in retail can be inconvenient. If you can't find 99.8% IPA in your area, buying a commercial sanitizer is probably the practical answer.

Is it worth making your own?

Honestly, for most people, no. The cost of ingredients to make a litre of WHO Formulation II is similar to or higher than buying a litre of commercial sanitizer. The reasons to make your own usually come down to:

Wanting a verifiable formulation under your own control.
Bulk production for an institution where commercial supply isn't reliable.
Educational or training purposes.

For routine home use, a commercial bottle is simpler and probably better.

Pioma's view

Pioma Chemtech, a specialty chemical manufacturer based in India, supplies isopropyl alcohol and finished WHO-formulation hand sanitizer in commercial channels. For institutional buyers needing batch-wise documentation and commercial supply, please contact us.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I substitute ethanol for the IPA?

Yes — that gives you WHO Formulation I. The ratios are slightly different (833.3 ml of 96% ethanol, otherwise the same).

Can I skip the 72-hour wait?

Strictly the rest is a defined part of the protocol. If you skip it, the product is no longer the WHO formulation as published.

Is home-made WHO sanitizer as effective as commercial?

If you follow the recipe precisely with the correct starting materials, the active concentration is the same — efficacy against most vegetative bacteria and enveloped viruses should be similar. Commercial production benefits from controlled-environment manufacturing, but the formulation itself is the same.

What if my IPA is 70% instead of 99.8%?

The recipe assumes 99.8% IPA. Using 70% means the finished product will have a much lower alcohol concentration — well below the kill curve. Don't substitute.

Can I add fragrance to make it more pleasant?

Adding fragrance changes the formulation; it is no longer the WHO formulation. For your own use this is your call; don't sell it as "WHO formulation".

Does the sanitizer feel different from commercial product?

Slightly — the glycerol gives it a similar moisturising note. Without thickeners (which the WHO formulation does not include), it is more liquid than gel-style commercial sanitizers.

How do I know my batch worked?

A simple check: visual clarity, no odd smell, and the alcohol concentration matches the recipe ratios. For quantitative confirmation you would need an alcoholmeter or laboratory test.

For commercial supply of hand sanitizer and the underlying ingredients, Pioma Chemtech is available for distributors and institutional buyers — contact us for specifications.