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COVID-19 TIP #5
March 13th, 2020 - Posted in Alerts
Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer
Here’s a tip from the experts to help you and your household stay safe from coronavirus COVID-19.
Frequent hand washing is important to help prevent COVID-19, and public health experts agree that it is better to wash your hands than use hand sanitizer. But sometimes a squirt of hand sanitizer might be the only option, such as when riding a Metro bus or out shopping. Purell and similar products can be hard – and expensive – to come by these days. If necessary, you can make your own inexpensively. Recipes are widely available on the internet. Here’s a basic recipe and a few pointers.
* 2/3 c. alcohol that is at least 99 percent strength isopropyl alcohol.Here’s your first pointer. Often, products labelled rubbing alcohol are lower strength, maybe 70% instead of 99%. If you use lower strength alcohol you must do the math so you end up with hand sanitizer that is 60% alcohol.
* 1/3 c. aloe vera gel or vegetable glycerin to stabilize the mixture and make it easier on your skin.
* Mix well in a clean bowl. You can also add 10 drops skin-friendly essential oil, such as lavender, for a nice smell. Pour into a squeeze or pump bottle. Second pointer: To be effective, you must use a generous amount of the hand sanitizer. Put it in your palms and then rub it vigorously all over your hands including the backs. Third pointer: You must let the sanitizer dry on your hands, not by wiping it off. It’s that long exposure to the alcohol that kills microbes. You must let it dry
* Finally: To be effective, your do it yourself sanitizer must be 60 percent alcohol or it won’t do the job. Some recipes call for using liquor, such as vodka, but because of the high alcohol content needed, it’s best to leave the vodka for its intended purposes.
This series of Voice of Vashon public service announcements on COVID-19 prevention has been compiled from county, state and federal resources as well as other experts.
En Español
Haga su propio desinfectante de manos
- 1/3 de taza de gel aloe vera o glicerina vegetal para estabilizar la mezcla y hacer la aplicación en las manos mas fácil. Mezcle los ingredientes muy bien en un tazón limpio. Si usted quiere, le puede agregar 10 gotas de algún aceite esencial, como lavanda para que huela rico. Vacíelo en una botella con aerosol.
- 2o. Indicador: Para que sea efectivo, usted tiene que usar una buena cantidad del desinfectante. Póngalo en la palma de las manos y frótelo con ganas entre los dedos y la parte de atrás.
- 3er. Indicador: Tiene usted que dejar que el desinfectante se seque en sus manos, no se seque con una toalla. Es esta exposición al alcohol la que mata a los microbios. Tiene usted que dejarlo que se seque.
- Finalmente: Para que sea efectivo, el desinfectante que haga usted en casa, tiene que ser 60% de alcohol o no le servirá de nada. Algunas recetas usan licores como el vodka, por su alto contenido de alcohol, pero lo mejor será dejarlo para su uso original como bebida.