How To Make Hand Sanitizer At Home? DIY Hand Sanitizer
Hand hygiene and washing or disinfecting them never before has been as relevant as now - during the pandemic. Many people seek home-made, yet effective recipes for a disinfectant spray or antibacterial gel. It is because the access to such products is limited, as they quickly disappear from the shops. How to make a hand sanitizer? It's easier than you think.
Why is it important to wash your hands?
Bacteria are practically everywhere. Shaking somebody’s hand for greeting, opening the door at work or touching a product in a shop. Those situations cause the invisible to the naked eye bacteria and other contaminants spread onto your hands. For this reason, it is highly important to keep them clean by using special products.
Although many people neglect washing hands, it’s something which can protect one from viruses, infections and many diseases which are a result of germs affecting the organism. It is very difficult to constantly control what you touch every day. That’s why one should wash their hands.
What’s the difference between hand washing and disinfection?
Sometimes hand washing is wrongfully considered the same as hand disinfection. In reality, those two are completely different activities. Washing concerns both larger, visible dirt, as well as contamination invisible to the naked eye - already mentioned above. Disinfection is only about the invisible bacteria and germs.
Apparently, hand disinfection with the use of special antibacterial gel or disinfectant spray is far more effective. It does not mean that one should give up washing hands. It is, however not always possible, for instance in public transport or during a business meeting. Those are the situations a hand sanitizer comes in handy.
Hand sanitizer gel vs. disinfectant spray - does it matter which one you pick?
A disinfectant spray is more effective than an antibacterial gel. It can kill up to 99,99% of germs, whereas the effectiveness of a gel reaches up to 90%. The popularity of hand sanitizer gels is mostly a result of the fact that, as many state, they are easier to use because of their consistency. But if you put a disinfectant in a spray bottle - it is going to be equally easy to use - and even more convenient.
Hand sanitizer - store-bought or home-made?
One can buy an antibacterial spray practically in every pharmacy or a beauty supply shop. Depending on the manufacturer, a 500 ml bottle might be either relatively cheap or expensive. More and more people, however, decide to make a disinfectant spray at home. This way one can be sure what the ingredients are, and very often it is a far cheaper solution compared to off-the-shelf products.
A surprisingly easy disinfectant spray recipe
Are you wondering how to make a homemade, DIY hand sanitizer? It’s not a problem at all.
What do you need:
- 200 ml spirit (96%)
- 125 ml water
- a few drops of glycerine
- essential oil
Find a special spray bottle. Pour all of the ingredients inside and shake it delicately to mix them.
To make the disinfectant spray effective, one needs to keep the right proportions. If the concentration of alcohol is lower than 60%, the hand sanitizer is not effective against bacteria and germs. If a disinfectant spray contains more than 80% of alcohol, it might lead to skin irritation.
Homemade disinfectant for surface cleaning - how to make it?
Surface disinfection is as important as washing hands. For this purpose, you can make your own disinfectant as well. The recipe is very similar to the previous one, although the proportions are totally different.
Ingredients:
- rectified 96% spirit
- distilled water
- hydrogen peroxide
Preparation:
Take a 1000 ml bottle and pour approximately 833 ml of the spirit into it. Add the hydrogen peroxide - about 40-50 ml. Finally, add distilled water until the bottle is full. Screw the cap and shake the bottle.
A bottle of a homemade disinfectant should last you several weeks.
If you are wondering how to make your disinfectant spray smell better, you can add a few drops of an essential oil - lavender or tea tree, which are also antiseptic.
How to use a disinfectant spray?
Use your hand sanitizer always when you cannot wash your hands. It’s perfect for commuting, at a doctor’s waiting room or when shopping.
Pouring your homemade hand sanitizer into a small spray bottle is a great idea - this way, you can always carry it by yourself and if needed - quickly use it.
Are you looking for more lifehacks to make your life easier? Check how to take care of your house so it’s always clean. Learn how to clean an oven or wash a carpet. Also, find your pickles and wine recipes.
📍 How to make your own disinfectant spray at home?
A homemade disinfectant spray is very easy to use. All you need is: spirit, water and essential oil. Just mix them and you have your own homemade hand sanitizer to use and protect your health.
📍 How to make home disinfectant wipes?
To make disinfectant wipes, use a strong paper towel, paper napkins, cotton cloths or bamboo wipes. Divide them into pieces of a desired size, fold them and put into an airtight container. Pour disinfectant liquid (about two cups per 20 wipes) and close the container.
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