Coronaviruses like COVID-19 spread through human contact, and one of the most effective ways to curb its spread is by washing your hands. Hand sanitizer is just as effective at killing bacteria and viruses, and it’s easier to use when you’re out and about. Here’s how you can make your own hand sanitizer at home.

What ingredients do you need?

Making your own hand sanitizer is easy to do and only requires a few ingredients:

• isopropyl or rubbing alcohol (99 percent alcohol volume)
• aloe vera gel
• an essential oil, such as tea tree oil or lavender oil, or you can use lemon juice instead

The key to making an effective, germ-busting hand sanitizer is to stick to a 2:1 proportion of alcohol to aloe vera. This keeps the alcohol content around 60 percent. This is the minimum amount needed to kill most germs, according to the CDC Trusted Source.

Hand sanitizer recipe

What you’ll need:

• 3/4 cup of isopropyl or rubbing alcohol (65 percent)
• 1/4 cup of aloe vera gel (to help keep your hands smooth and to counteract the harshness of alcohol)
• 10 drops of essential oil, such as lavender oil, or you can use lemon juice instead

Directions:

• Pour all ingredients into a bowl, ideally one with a pouring spout like a glass measuring container.
• Mix with a spoon and then beat with a whisk to turn the sanitizer into a gel.
• Pour the ingredients into an empty bottle for easy use, and label it “hand sanitizer.”

If you are making hand sanitizer at home, then please follow these tips:

• Make the hand sanitizer in a clean space. Wipe down countertops with a diluted bleach solution beforehand.
• Wash your hands thoroughly before making the hand sanitizer.
• To mix, use a clean spoon and whisk. Wash these items thoroughly before using them.
• Make sure the alcohol used for the hand sanitizer is not diluted.
• Mix all the ingredients thoroughly until they are well blended.
• Do not touch the mixture with your hands until it is ready for use.

Source: Healthline