HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN HAND SANITISER

With the spread of COVID-19, stores around the world are quickly selling out of hand sanitiser. But fear not, if you can’t find it on the shelves, there are ways to make your own natural hand sanitiser at home.

It’s important to remember that just using hand sanitiser is not a complete substitute for handwashing. But when you can’t get to a sink and soap, it can be a useful safeguard against catching COVID-19. Hand sanitiser is a top ‘panic buy’, so if the shops are empty, make your own.

A SIMPLE RECIPE FOR GEL HAND SANITISER

1 cup of 91 per cent isopropyl alcohol

(also known as ‘rubbing alcohol’)

½ cup of aloe vera gel

15 drops of tea tree, lemongrass or eucalyptus oil

First, pour the alcohol into a medium container with a pouring spout.

Add aloe vera gel. Aloe is a good way to counteract the harsh effects of alcohol on the skin. You can use aloe vera gel straight from the plant or from the store; just note that natural aloe gel is typically thicker so will make the final product stickier and you’ll need to rub your hands more to absorb it.

Add the essential oil. Tea tree, lemongrass and eucalyptus oils are naturally antibacterial, making them great for homemade sanitisers.

Whisk. To fully mix all ingredients, whisk and beat the ingredients until they form a smooth gel.

Sanitise your chosen bottle and pour in your hand sanitiser. Spray some of your leftover alcohol into your bottle and let it sit until the alcohol has evaporated, then pour in your sanitiser.

This recipe comes from Popular Science.