One Way to Proactively Handle This Corona Virus Challenge
Our last night’s local news announced hand sanitizers were sold out in most retail stores, due to all the concern around corona virus. While I refuse to live in fear, I do want to wisely prepare for what comes our way.
So imagine my delight and relief when this morning I found an article from Food Storage Moms on how to make your own hand sanitizer! Such a good idea. You’ll know what’s in it and of course, it is less expensive to make your own.
So let’s get right to it. The items you need:
And the recipe is simple. All you need is aloe vera gel (not liquid or juice) and 91% isopropyl alcohol. The alcohol percentage will be reduced once the aloe vera is added to it, thus that’s why you start with such a high alcohol percentage. And doctors say for the sanitizer to be truly effective, you need at least 70% alcohol content.
2/3 cup 91% isopropyl alcohol
1/3 cup aloe vera gel (not juice)
essential oil(s) (optional)
Directions:
Add Recipe to Cook'n
Be aware that you do need to use pure isopropyl alcohol. You can’t use spirits or liqueurs because they are watered down and not 100% alcohol. Trying to create a hand sanitizer with something like that will only get a 40% proof hand sanitizer. And also know that when you do use a sanitizer, you need to let it completely dry for it to be effective.
I’ll close with what the CDC has to say about hand sanitizing, etc: “Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of microbes on hands in some situations, but sanitizers DO NOT eliminate all types of germs.
“Soap and water are more effective than hand sanitizers at removing certain kinds of germs, like Cryptosporidium, norovirus, and Clostridium difficile1-5.
“Although alcohol-based hand sanitizers can inactivate many types of microbes very effectively when used correctly, people may not use a large enough volume of the sanitizers as they would the soap and water, or they may wipe it off before it has dried.”
And lastly, blessings upon us all as we cautiously but hopefully proactively handle this challenge!
So imagine my delight and relief when this morning I found an article from Food Storage Moms on how to make your own hand sanitizer! Such a good idea. You’ll know what’s in it and of course, it is less expensive to make your own.
So let’s get right to it. The items you need:
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring cups
- Whisk or spoon
- Funnel
- Bottles with flip caps or bottles with disc cap
- OR, bottles with pumps
And the recipe is simple. All you need is aloe vera gel (not liquid or juice) and 91% isopropyl alcohol. The alcohol percentage will be reduced once the aloe vera is added to it, thus that’s why you start with such a high alcohol percentage. And doctors say for the sanitizer to be truly effective, you need at least 70% alcohol content.
Homemade Hand Sanitizer
Ingredients:
2/3 cup 91% isopropyl alcohol
1/3 cup aloe vera gel (not juice)
essential oil(s) (optional)
Directions:
Combine alcohol and the aloe vera gel until well mixed. Give it the time it takes; it's harder than it looks to mix thoroughly. Add any favorite essential oils, if desired. Use a funnel to fill the desired containers. Label appropriately. NOTE: Research says that if you’ve started with fresh gel and alcohol, this sanitizer should stay potent for 2 to 3 years. Likely you’ll use it up before then, however.
Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.
Be aware that you do need to use pure isopropyl alcohol. You can’t use spirits or liqueurs because they are watered down and not 100% alcohol. Trying to create a hand sanitizer with something like that will only get a 40% proof hand sanitizer. And also know that when you do use a sanitizer, you need to let it completely dry for it to be effective.
I’ll close with what the CDC has to say about hand sanitizing, etc: “Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of microbes on hands in some situations, but sanitizers DO NOT eliminate all types of germs.
“Soap and water are more effective than hand sanitizers at removing certain kinds of germs, like Cryptosporidium, norovirus, and Clostridium difficile1-5.
“Although alcohol-based hand sanitizers can inactivate many types of microbes very effectively when used correctly, people may not use a large enough volume of the sanitizers as they would the soap and water, or they may wipe it off before it has dried.”
And lastly, blessings upon us all as we cautiously but hopefully proactively handle this challenge!
Sources:
- www.nbcnews.com
- www.foodstoragemoms.com
- www.womenshealthmag.com
Alice Osborne
Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2006
Email the author! alice@dvo.com
