Washing your hands is one of the best ways to stop the spread of germs and viruses and ensure you don't get sick yourself. However, if you don't have access to soap and clean water or if you're out and about, consider using hand sanitizer to protect your health. As you already know, that isDisinfectant gel sold out everywhere. But don’t worry – you can make your own hand sanitizer using ingredients you (maybe) already have at home.
Pay attention to good hygiene during production
Make sure the tools you use for mixing are properly sanitized or you could contaminate the whole thing. Additionally, the World Health Organization recommends letting the disinfectant sit for at least 72 hours after preparation. In this way, any bacteria that may have been introduced during the mixing process will definitely be killed.
(To repeat:Nothing helps better than washing your hands. Hand sanitizer – even the real, professionally made stuff – should always be a last resort).
If you want to make hand disinfectant yourself, you can try the following two recipes. The first is a recipe you can make with things you probably already have on hand, so it's effective in emergency situations. The second recipe is more complicated but easy to make if you have the opportunity to shop and plan ahead.
The alcohol content is important for effectiveness
You will need some rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) or ethanol 96%. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, your disinfectant mix must contain at least 60 percent rubbing alcohol to be effective. A bottle of 99 percent isopropyl alcohol is the best you can use. Vodka and whiskey have a volume percentage of 40%, which is too low.
Hand disinfection gel recipe:
Isopropyl alcohol
Aloe Vera Gel
Teebaumöl
Mix 3 parts isopropyl alcohol with 1 part aloe vera gel. Add a few drops of tea tree oil to give the disinfectant a pleasant scent. Alternatively, you can also use lemon juice.
WHO Disinfectant Recipe:
The aloe mixture is effective, but aloe feels sticky on the skin. So here is a recipe that is less sticky and stronger. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the following formula for a larger amount of hand disinfectant:
400 ml of Isopropyl alcohol
2 tsp glycerin 98%
1 tbsp hydrogen peroxide 3%
60 ml distilled water (or boiled then cooled water)
500ml spray bottle
Mix 400 ml of isopropyl alcohol with 2 teaspoons of glycerin. Glycerin is an important ingredient because it prevents the alcohol from drying out your hands. If you can't find glycerin, continue with the rest of the recipe anyway and remember to moisturize your hands after applying the sanitizer.
Mix in 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide and then 60 ml of distilled or boiled (then cooled) water. (If you're working with a less concentrated solution of rubbing alcohol, use much less water; remember that at least two-thirds of your final mixture needs to be alcohol).
Pour the solution into spray bottles - this is not a gel, but a spray. You can also moisten a paper towel with it and use it as a wipe. If desired, you can add a few drops of essential oil.
Here you canthe complete guide from WHOfor the production of disinfectants read in English.
Health experts advise against making homemade hand sanitizer
However, health experts strongly advise against making a do-it-yourself form of disinfectant. The experts point out that a DIY product could irritate the skin if made incorrectly.
“I'm concerned about people making their own hand sanitizer because it will be difficult to ensure that the potency and dilution levels are correct,” said Daniel Parker, an assistant professor of public health at the University of California.
To be effective, hand sanitizer must be at least 60 percent alcohol, notes the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If not made this way, it may be ineffective or dangerous.
In addition to the ingredients that manufacturers put in their hand sanitizers to kill germs, these products also contain protectants that protect the consumer's skin from the harsh effects of alcohol. If they don't have the necessary emollients included in the products sold in a store, you could be putting yourself at risk of damaging your skin, Sally Bloomfield, a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told The Guardian. So if you want to make your own hand disinfectant, you should pay attention to the right proportions and ingredients.
If you couldn't get your hands on a commercial disinfectant, don't worry. No matter what happens, the best hygiene measure is to wash your hands properly. If you look at thehands for at least 20 secondsWashing thoroughly with soap for a long time can prevent transmission of the coronavirus, Parker said. If the disinfectant is your only option, be sure to use the gel correctly. In this guide with a practical video from WHO you will learn how to properly disinfect your hands:
