HOW TO: MAKE SIMPLE HAND SANITIZER AT HOME

Key Points

MAKE AFFORDABLE HAND SANITIZER AT HOME

Elistatus is here again to teach you how to make a simple hand sanitizer at home. Washing your hands remains the best way to protect yourself from germs and diseases. But when you don’t have access to soap and water, or if you know that where you are going to has no sink or access to soap and water, then you should carry a hand sanitizer to protect yourself.

As you are well aware, bottles of well-branded hand sanitizers have become very expensive, and they sell out quickly. This homemade sanitizer is a great time to save yourself the extra cost by making your simple hand sanitizer at home. Making your own hand sanitizer is remarkably easy. You just have to be careful and ensure that the tools you use for mixing are properly sanitized; otherwise, you could contaminate the whole thing. The World Health Organization recommends allowing your concoction to sit for a minimum of 72 hours after making the product. This way, the sanitizer has time to kill any bacteria that might have been introduced during the mixing process.

Elistatus will be sharing two recipes with you. The first is one you can make with ingredients available in your kitchen cabinets or first aid box, so it is useful for emergencies. The second recipe is a bit more complicated but easy to make if you have the chance to source for the ingredients ahead of time.

Please note: A lot of these items are quickly going out of stock because of high demand. There’s a higher chance of finding them at your local drug store, but your priority should be to stay safe indoors.

To prepare your Hand sanitizer at home, you will need some alcohol. According to the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and The World Health Organization, your sanitizer mix must be at least 60 percent alcohol to be effective. It is always better to get above that, so try to aim for a minimum of 75 percent. A bottle of 99 percent isopropyl alcohol is the best thing to use. Your regular vodka and whiskey cannot do the work.

The Simple (Gel) Recipe

Isopropyl alcohol
Aloe vera gel
Tea tree oil

Process

Mix 3 parts isopropyl alcohol to 1 part aloe vera gel. Finally, add a few drops of tea tree oil to give it a pleasant scent and to align your chakras.

The Effective (Spray) Recipe

Isopropyl alcohol
Glycerol or glycerin
Hydrogen peroxide
Distilled water
Aloe vera gel (optional)
A spray bottle
Essential oil (optional)

Process

The aloe mixture gets the job done, but aloe can leave your skin feeling very sticky. So, here is another recipe that is less sticky and more potent, based on the mix recommended by the WHO.

Mix 12 fluid ounces of alcohol with two teaspoons of glycerol/glycerin. Glycerol/glycerin is a vital ingredient because it keeps the alcohol from drying out your hands. If you can’t find glycerol/glycerin, continue with the rest of the recipe anyway. But ensure you remember to moisturize your hands after applying the sanitizer.

Mix in 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide, add three fluid ounces of distilled or boiled ( cooled down) water.

Note: If you’re working with a lower-concentration solution of rubbing alcohol, use far less water; remember, at least ¾ of your final mixture has to be alcohol.

Next, pour the solution into spray bottles because this isn’t a gel, it’s a spray. Feel free to wet paper towels with it and use them as alcohol-based wipes.

Finally, you can choose to add 2 or 3 drops any essential oil you want to give it a pleasant scent, just try not to overdo it.