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Hand Sanitizer
Nothing beats washing your hands with soap and water. But sometimes running water and soap are just not an option. Whether you are on the go with the kids, at work or camping homemade hand sanitizer is a great go to option for keeping your hands clean and germ free.
cold and flu season hand sanitizer
During cold and flu season keeping a bottle of hand sanitizer is a must. Even during your regular everyday. Have you ever thought about all the surfaces you touch while you are out and about and how many other people have touched those surfaces.
how clean is
We can control how clean our home is and our car but we can’t control how clean a school door handle is or a shopping cart or an item on the grocery store shelf. This is where hand sanitizer comes in to help us out.
washing hands versus hand sanitizer
If you have running water and soap available to you this is always the best option. Make sure you wash your hands for more than 20 seconds and get that soapy lather going.
Now if running water and soap are not an option using a hand sanitizer than contains 60% alcohol is recommended.
finding hand sanitizer
During cold a flu season finding hand sanitizer can be hard. Your store shelves might be empty. But don’t stress you can make hand sanitizer at home with a few simple ingredients. You can even make scented hand sanitizer using essential oils.
is homemade hand sanitizer safe?
Yes, homemade hand sanitizer is safe if you use the correct ingredients. But remember washing your hands with soap and water is your best option.
hand sanitizer and sensitive skin
Now I want to note using hand sanitizer whether it be homemade or store bought on a repetitive basis can irritate sensitive skin. If you notice redness, dryness or itching opt for another form of hand washing.
alcohol in hand sanitizer
You want to ensure you are not using a hand sanitizer with less than 60% alcohol according to the department of health. Germs are everywhere you want to keep your family safe.
how to use hand sanitizer
Apply a small amount of hand sanitizer or antibacterial gel to your hands. Enough to cover the surface area. Rub your hands together until product dries this should be 20 seconds. Do not rinse or wash off.
hand sanitizer use with children
Do not use hand sanitizer on children less than 3 without consulting a health professional.
Hand sanitizer in school
It is suggested and encouraged for all elementary, secondary and college students to carry and use hand sanitizer in school. Some classrooms or teachers may provide hand sanitizer, wipes or disinfectants.
Keeping a bottle in your backpack, lunch bag or purse is suggested to keep yourself and others safe. Use as directed and required.
Ingredients you need to make hand sanitizer
Making your own hand sanitizer is super easy and requires a few simple ingredients:
how to make hand sanitizer at home
Making homemade antibacterial gel or hand sanitizer at home is real easy. The best hand sanitizer recipe according to a health science professor is:
- one part rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol
- two parts aloe vera gel
You want to stick with the 2:1 ratio of aloe vera gel to alcohol. Changing this could result is skin irritation or burns as well as lost germ killing effectiveness.
hand sanitizer storage and safety
Combine your rubbing alcohol and aloe vera gel in a glass jar and ensure you store in a cupboard away from young children. You can read more about the science behind hand sanitizer and the safety protocols.
essential oils for hand sanitizer
We all like to smell great and washing our hands is no different. You can scent your homemade hand sanitizer with essential oils. Some essential oils will even add more antibacterial protection.
⭐Top essential oil choices:
how to make scented hand sanitizer
Follow the instruction above for making hand sanitizer using the 2:1 ratio of aloe vera gel to alcohol. Once this is combined in a glass jar add drops of your preferred essential oil. Start with 10 drops and adjust for the volume of hand sanitizer made and the scent level you prefer.
alternatives to hand sanitizer
Washing your hands with soap and water is the best personal hygiene choice. If you can’t wash your hands and access to hand sanitizer is not an option you can use antibacterial wipes or baby wipes.
soap and water
Remember soap and water are your best choice. In keeping clean and germ free.
does hand sanitizer kill germs?
According to the center for disease control hand sanitizers with a 60% alcohol volume will kill or reduce the number of germs present on surfaces. Not all cleaning methods will kill 100% of germs present.
how does hand sanitizer protect against cold and flu germs
Following the instructions given hand sanitizers can lower the cold and flu germs present from daily handling, sneezing and coughing.
Buying hand sanitizer
If you choose not to make your own hand sanitizer this one can be purchased online and it got great reviews. Plus it is aloe vera based and uses essential oils for added scent and health benefits.
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Updated August 18, 2020
