Can't find a sanitiser in the market? Here's how you can make it at home.
With the coronavirus outbreak engulfing the world and the majority of the population running out of essential supplies including soaps and sanitisers, it is imperative to look for backups. With the rising demand, sanitisers have run out of stock at many places or are being sold at exorbitant prices. A more convenient and cost-effective alternative is to prepare it at home.
“Yes, a hand sanitiser can be made at home. Pour the alcohol and aloe vera gel into the bowl. As hand sanitizers need to contain at least 60% alcohol to be effective, you should ideally maintain a 2:1 ratio,”Dr Rajesh Chawla, senior consultant, respiratory and critical care at the Indraprastha Apollo hospital tells theindianexpress.com.
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The 2:1 ratio refers to isopropyl alcohol to aloe vera gel. In order to prepare it, stir the ingredients together with a spoon and pour them into plastic bottles using a funnel. The mainstay ingredient of a sanitiser is the isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol). Aloe vera is added in the sanitiser to prevent your hands from drying out. This is extremely useful because sans aloe vera gel in the sanitiser, the skin will have cracks, exposing it further to the virus.
However, one must always remember that a hand sanitiser can never replace the good old hand-washing.
Here are the ingredients you need to make a hand sanitiser at home
- 2/3 cup of 99 per cent alcohol
- 1/3 cup of 92 per cent aloe vera gel
- A bowl and spoon to mix it all together
- A basic funnel to get your hand sanitiser into a bottle
- Travel-friendly bottles for storing the hand sanitiser
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Here’s how you can go about the process
Dr Chawla mentions that the sanitiser made at home needs to be used within 15 days at most. “By and large it does work like the ones which are found in the market,” he added. On asking the doctor if there’s a correct way to using a sanitiser, he said, “the correct way of using a hand sanitiser is to apply it liberally to your hands and rub them together until the gel effervesces.”
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However, remember to always follow the safety instructions on the alcohol you use says the doctor. “Remember this is only for cleaning your hands” mentioned Dr Chawla.
Here’s a quick coronavirus guide for you to stay updated: Who all should be tested for Covid-19 and when? | How should you quarantine yourself? | How often (and how) should you clean your home? | What is the Janata Curfew announced by PM Modi? | Who are restricted from coming to India, and from when? | How long can the virus live on surfaces or in air around you? | Still more Coronavirus Q&A Explained news here
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