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Neem Hand and Surface Sanitizer

Here’s my “rough” recipe for hand/thing sanitizer. I haven’t made it in a while and I’m out so it’s time to make more. I buy neem leaves at Starwest Botanicals, they are available here and there, I use c/s - cut and sifted, small chopped up leaves. In FL and HI neem tress grow!! (wish wish). Probably other herb outfits carry; maybe cheaper, maybe not. Since neem leaves are very light, a pound bag is huge. Current retail price is 17.75 per #.

https://www.starwest-botanicals.com/category/neem-leaf/

Soak 3 c. neem leaves in 1 1/2 gallons of water overnight.
Bring to a boil the next day and simmer for a short while, 15 minutes or so, with lid on.

When cool, strain into a large bowl and add:

3-4 cups white vinegar
3 t.citric acid (I use this as a preservative, not sure if it’s vital)
3 good squirts of natural non-fragranced dish detergent
2-3 T vegetable glycerine (helps hands not get dried out)
3. T EOs total
Orange
Lemon
Eucalptus
VERY small amounts of:
Thyme
Tea Tree
Cinnamon (real microbe killer!!)

I have a large whisk with many wires and I whisk and whisk this stuff. I pour into gallon jugs - the ones white vinegar comes in, I always on hand. Makes a bit more than 1 1/2 gallons. I usually toss in some Clear Springs 180 proof.

I use this as a concentrate for hands, put in a spray/squirt bottle for when out and about. I use about 3 or 4 pts H20 per 1 part Neem sanitizer. Good for car steering wheel, door handles, etc.

I also use to clean sinks, toilet, or any other things I want sanitized.

Does it sanitize? I did research on essential oils re: microbe killing, not a great number of studies years ago when I did the searches. Most EOs have some anti-microbial action, and some are very potent. I use ones that seemed the best; cinnamon kills at one pt per...MILLION. Thyme and Tea Tree also potent, and all citrus EOs are very good, inexpensive, and smell really nice.

People have commented how good this smells. The smell is not ultra strong so it doesn’t stay on hands long in my experience.