DIY Hand Sanitizer
Making your hand sanitizer can be done using simple ingredients, but it’s important to ensure that the final product meets the recommended guidelines for effectiveness. Here’s basic recipe for making hand sanitizer at home:
Ingredients:
2/3 cup of rubbing alcohol (at least 90% alcohol content)
1/3 cup of aloe vera gel (to moisturize and prevent skin irritation)
Optional: a few drops of essential oil for fragrance (such as lavender, tea tree, or peppermint)
Instructions:
In a clean mixing bowl, combine the rubbing alcohol and aloe vera gel. Mix well until thoroughly blended.
If desired, add a few drops of essential oil to the mixture and stir again.
Transfer the mixture to a clean, empty hand sanitizer bottle or pump dispenser.
Label the container clearly with the contents and date of preparation.
Important considerations:
The alcohol content in the final mixture should be at least 60% to effectively kill germs and viruses. Ensure that the rubbing alcohol you use is at least 90% alcohol content.
Aloe vera gel is added to the mixture to moisturize and soothe the skin, as alcohol can be drying and irritating to the skin with repeated use.
Essential oils are optional and can be added for fragrance, but make sure they do not cause skin irritation.
This homemade hand sanitizer is for external use only and should not be ingested. Keep it out of reach of children.
While homemade hand sanitizer can be effective, it's not a substitute for proper handwashing with soap and water, especially when hands are visibly dirty or greasy. Use hand sanitizer as a supplement to handwashing when soap and water are not readily available.
It's also worth noting that during public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, commercial hand sanitizers may be in high demand and readily available. If commercial options are accessible, it's generally recommended to use those instead of homemade versions, as they are formulated and tested for effectiveness by regulatory agencies.
