Hand sanitisers provide adequate protection against germs and viruses and their popularity seems to have reached its peak. What do you do, though, when there is a shortage of bottles in the stores and the risk for our health is increasing with each passing day?
Making your own seems like the only possible solution and the good news is that it’s neither difficult nor expensive. In fact, preparing a homemade hand sanitising solution can be a useful skill to master for protecting your family’s health in the future.
When it comes to proper hygiene, nothing really beats the effectiveness of water and soap. Unfortunately, access to them is not always available and germs are lurking on all kinds of surfaces that we touch daily without thinking twice. An antibacterial hand sanitiser, even a homemade one, can kill those, given that it is properly prepared. Keep reading to learn how!
Hand sanitiser – gel recipe
Ingredients:
Clean lotion bottle
Clean measuring cup
Rubbing alcohol (90% – 99%)
Aloe vera gel
Essential oils
The process:
Wash the bottle and measuring cup with warm water and soap to provide a clean environment for the mixture.
Add 2 parts of the rubbing alcohol into the bowl. The higher the percentage of the alcohol, the better, as this is the main active ingredient that provides the disinfection. The final product should not go below 60%, which is the recommended ratio from CDC for adequate germ protection.
Mix the rubbing alcohol with 1 part pure aloe vera gel, which is easy to find in stores. If you have access to a real organically grown plant, that would be even better.
Essential oils are the final ingredient. We recommend eucalyptus, tea tree, peppermint, lavender, thieves, rosemary, as some of those are known to fight bacteria, so this will add extra power to your hand sanitiser. Add no more than 5-10 drops and you can use just one or combine more.
Mix well, so all ingredients can blend.
Transfer into the bottle and shake again.
You have your homemade hand sanitiser ready for use. The rubbing alcohol fights the bacteria while the aloe vera protects the skin and keeps it moisturised. The essential oils, on the other hand, are invigorating and give extra protection.
The solution will thicken over time, given that all the ingredients combine well. You can slightly increase the aloe vera dosage to give the hand sanitiser a gel-like structure.
Hand sanitiser – spray recipe
What you need:
Clean spray bottle
Measuring cup
Isopropyl alcohol or ethanol (over 90 %)
Hydrogen peroxide (3 %)
Glycerine/glycerol (98 %)
Sterile water
The process:
Clean the containers for the mixture.
Pour 1 cup of the alcohol into the measuring cup.
Add 1 tbs of the Hydrogen peroxide.
Next comes the same amount of glycerine, which will prevent your skin from drying.
Finally, you can pour ½ cup of sterile water. You can use distilled water or just boil some and add it after it has cooled off. Reduce the amount of water if you are having doubts about the percentage of alcohol in the mixture.
Pour into the spray bottle, shake and start spraying.
How to make hand sanitising wipes
Wipes are also a convenient method to maintain good hygiene whether you are outside or at home. They can be used for hand disinfection but also for general cleaning of the high-touch points in your home, doorknobs, light switches and why not even your electronic devices.
You can easily make your own batch using things like rubbing alcohol (at least 70 %), glycerine, dish soap, water or aloe vera. Try the following ideas:
Kitchen roll in a container – You need to cut one kitchen towel roll in half (2-3 ply, so it doesn’t fall apart when wet) and fit it into a container or jar, whatever you have available. The important thing is to have a lid to preserve the solution. Once the paper is in the container, you can mix 2 parts of water with 1 part of the rubbing alcohol and pour it over the roll until it’s covered. The paper needs to absorb the liquid well before you can close the lid. Since rubbing alcohol can severely dry your skin, you can add 1 tbsp of glycerin, dish soap, aloe vera or coconut oil to make the hand sanitising wipes gentler on the hands.
Portable wipes in plastic bags – If you want to have some of those homemade wipes with you when outside, just place a few sheets in a ziplock bag and carry them with you. This way you will have something reliable to protect your hands from bacteria and viruses when on the go.
When and how to use hand sanitiser
We transmit germs with our hands on a daily basis, which poses a threat to us and others, as well. Antibacterial gels can destroy the bacteria and they can be our shield against the viruses, although they may not be as effective against specific chemicals.
Nevertheless, using a hand sanitiser is necessary when there is no water and soap available, when in contact with contaminated surfaces, before eating and other risky situations. Keep in mind, though, that the gel or spray may not work if your hands are covered with food, grease or dirt because this stops them from forming the usual protective layer over the skin.
However, as mentioned before, hand sanitisers do not work in specific circumstances. They cannot eliminate dangerous chemicals or protect your hands when there is severe contamination. Still, it is a good alternative everyone should take advantage of.
Protect your whole home with professional antiviral sanitisation
Harmful bacteria and germs can attach themselves to more than just our hands, but various other surfaces in our homes, too. For your peace of mind, Fantastic Services has developed a solution in the form of specialised sanitisation service that can minimise the possibility of viral infection. Done with safe non-toxic detergents, you can rest assured that your home will be treated from top to bottom.
Need your home professionally sanitised?
See how our antiviral sanitisation service can help you.
