these are the (crazy) days of our lives

Recipe for hand sanitizer gel

Stop frantically searching for the world’s last bottle of Purell.  Make your own hand sanitizer. It's cheap, easy to make, and just as effective as brand names.  

• 2/3 cup rubbing alcohol (more than 60% alcohol)
• 1/3 cup aloe vera gel (100% aloe vera)
• 4-6 drops* of essential oil (optional)

Sterilize an 8 oz empty container or buy a cheap pump bottle. Combine the correct amount of each ingredient into a bowl. Stir gently. Then funnel the mixture into the bottle.
Alcohol kills germs. Aloe Vera provides moisture.  The oil makes it boisy. The amount and scent of essential oil depends on your own preference.

Avoid a mediciny smell by adding

essential oil.

*Use fewer drops of antimicrobial oils like thyme or clove.  Antimicrobial oils tend to be more abrasive. Use more drops of soothing oils such as lavender or chamomile to help soften skin.  

Is it safe?

If you are capable of following directions, reading product labels, and measuring ingredients accurately, then it is safe. 

Although federal agencies do not endorse making hand sanitizer at home, they do offer specific recipes to be used in case of emergencies. Official guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) covering hand sanitizers emphasize the importance of getting the correct product with the right amount of alcohol. The CDC emphasizes the most effective method to kill germs is properly washing hands with soap. 

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) permits pharmacists to make hand sanitizer. These federal agencies are cautious of home-made hand sanitizers for a variety of reasons.  None of those reasons prevents a responsible adult from making home-made hand sanitizer. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) site offers details, ingredients, and steps involved in making safe and effective versions of home-made hand sanitizer.  The WHO provides substitute ingredients.

The alcohol product must contain over 60% 

to kill germs. 

Does it work?

According to CNN Health hand sanitizers can kill parasites like nasty bacteria and a host of deadly viruses including coronaviruses. Similar to hand washing, sanitizer needs to cover the entire hand. A drop in the palm of your hands defeats the main goal of killing germs. Rub between fingers, on thumbs, and on the back of your hand. 

Reading labels is the key in making an effective sanitizer.  To be effective against COVID-19 the alcohol product MUST contain at least 60% alcohol.  This recipe includes 91% isopropyl (rubbing)  alcohol. Most rubbing alcohol contains at least 70% alcohol.
Use the kind of alcohol purchased in pharmacies and grocery stores. Do not use toxic alcohol products like methanol or butanol. 

Avoid the urge to replace rubbing alcohol with vodka or a similar substitute. Alcohol content can be as low as 40%. Plus, rubbing alcohol costs about a dollar. Depending on the brand vodka or a similar liquor cost much more than a dollar. It can also cause more irritation.  

If/when sanitizer returns to store shelves the most effective product is a gel with an alcohol based.

Beware! Shortages of hand sanitizer and a few other products cause a variety of reactions from different people.  For some extremists common sense seems to be in short supply. Speaking of common sense, don't slather this stuff or any sanitizer on your kids; it can be abrasive to delicate skin. Use it when hand washing is not an option. Soap and water is better than any hand sanitizer.