How to make Hand Sanitizer | Protecting yourself & your family

March 18, 2020

Over the last few weeks, we are seeing a mass supermarket hysteria in the wake of the COVID19 or Corona Virus Pandemic.
This means many people are hoarding or buying up supplies of items that can protect or assist with keeping you and your family healthy and protected. We are seeing shortages of toilet paper, antibacterial wipes, pasta, rice and meat in supermarkets but we’re also seeing empty shelves where the hand sanitizers used to be. How can you protect your family in this time of health insecurity?

Your hygiene is your first defense. 

A good way of keeping yourself protected from this and other viruses and germs is to maintain good hygiene, this means washing your hands regularly and using hand sanitizer when there is no access to those facilities. Ensure you are cleaning surfaces daily with antibacterial agents, this includes counters, bathrooms, sinks, doorknobs, light switches, remotes, wallets, handbags, steering wheels, and computers. Cough or sneeze into your elbow and most importantly, stay home if you are sick.

Be a hand-washing pro!

You should be washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. It is particularly important to wash your hands thoroughly if you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

Follow these five steps every time.

1. Wet down your hands with clean running water. Turn off the tap and apply soap. An amount equivalent to 0.7ml is recommended. You might need to use more depending on the activities you have been participating in or how big or dirty your hands are.
2. Stop. Lather time. Now it's time to get your hands into a lather, ensuring you spread the soap across the backs of your hands, under your nails, between your fingers and your wrists. 
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. While the CDC recommends humming ‘Happy Birthday’ twice, we also like the idea of humming Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’ chorus twice.
4. Rinse your hands thoroughly with running water. 
5. Use a clean towel or air dry your hands thoroughly. Pro tip: In a public bathroom grab a clean paper towel to dry your hands while the water is still running and then grab a second paper towel to turn off the tap and use it to open the door to exit the bathroom. 

Hand Sanitizer for the win. 

Hand sanitizer can really be helpful when you are in a situation that does not allow for a thorough hand washing. There may be a lack of the product on shelves, but we have a really easy to follow recipe for creating your own.
Start with clean dry hands. You will need a funnel, bowl, spoon, and bottle for the final product.

Gather the following ingredients: 

2/3 cup 99 percent rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) or ethanol - the CDC recommends at least 60% efficacy for effective sanitation.

1/3 cup aloe vera gel - For hand conditioning and ease of application.

8 to 10 drops of your favorite essential oil. We recommend either Orange or Lemongrass essential oils. Check out the efficacy of essential oils here. 

1. In a bowl add all ingredients and mix until thoroughly combined. 
2. Use the funnel to pour the mixture into the bottle. 
3. Give it a shake prior to each use so all ingredients are mixed together.

We want to ensure that only factual and useful information is being provided in this confusing time so we encourage you to consult the CDC or your healthcare provider for accurate advice and information pertaining to COVID19 and other health concerns. 

References: 
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8893526
https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash.

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