When I was 8 months pregnant with my son, I once took my 2 year old daughter with me to the liquor agency in my local grocery store. We stood in a very, very long line, receiving more than a few odd glances from our fellow shoppers.

When we got to the front I said calmly, “I’d like the biggest, cheapest bottle of undiluted vodka you have in a glass bottle.” Sometimes I think J. must be rubbing off on me because I enjoyed the look on everyone’s faces immensely.

Just so you don’t worry, I was buying the (admittedly giant) bottle of vodka to make vanilla, mint, and almond extracts to give away as Christmas gifts.

Since then, we’ve also added “hand sanitizer” to the list of things we make with vodka. I mean, if teenagers can drink hand sanitizer to have fun (oh, good grief), why can’t we use vodka to clean our hands?

The first recipe I found for homemade hand sanitizer called for equal parts vodka (40% alcohol or “80 proof”) and water. In my state, Ohio, there is also diluted vodka (21% alcohol or “42 proof”) available in the grocery store aisle for wayyyy cheap (like $3 a bottle instead of $10 in some cases), so I just buy that and skip the added water.

I also tend to feel great about avoiding triclosan, which is ubiquitous in anti-bacterial hand soaps, in addition to some other grossness***

***note: hand-washing is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of disease. There. The preschool teacher part of me feels like I’ve done my duty.

So without further ado:

Cheap Vodka Hand Sanitizer

Ingredients and supplies:

small spray bottle (the kind you want to carry around with you if that’s your thing)

diluted grocery store vodka, or Fancy Liquor Store Vodka diluted equally with water

essential oils (my favorites: lavender, eucalyptus, lemon, frankincense, or some combination of those)

a tiny funnel or a measuring cup with a pouring spout and very steady hands

Method:

Mix vodka and essential oils in spray bottle. Take with you and shake before each use.