Hand sanitizer is a great tool to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus, which is why in NYC and elsewhere around the country, stocks of hand sanitizer are selling out.
Here’s how to make your own hand sanitizer with just three simple ingredients you probably already have in the bathroom, or still can find in the supermarket or health products store.
The CDC recommends using a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content, which this recipe creates. So be sure to follow the proportions exactly.
Recipe for DIY hand sanitizer:
- 2/3 cup Isopropyl alcohol 91% (rubbing alcohol)
- 1/3 cup aloe vera gel
- Essential oil in your choice of fragrance (optional)
That’s it. Easy peasy.
Oh, wait, you still have to mix it and package it.
- In a mixing bowl, stir the Isopropyl alcohol and aloe vera gel together until well blended.
- Add 8-10 drops of scented essential oil (optional, but nice!).
- Stir to incorporate.
- Pour the liquid into an empty container, such as a 3-ounce container from a travel toiletries kit
- Add a label, such as you use for your office file folders, or small piece of masking tape.
If you want a sanitizer with a higher alcohol percentage, decrease the amount of aloe vera to 1/4 cup.
If you don’t have rubbing alcohol on hand, you can replace it with a high-proof vodka.
Of course, hand sanitizer is the second-best way to keep your digits germ-free. The best way continues to be to wash your hands.
Use a lot of soap and water and scrub for at least 20 seconds. Just like your mother taught you.
Here’s the advice from the CDC, how to properly wash your hands.
What do you think about this? We welcome your comments.