In the midst of this Coronavirus pandemic, aside from toilet paper and minced meat, hand sanitiser has become one of the hardest commodities to find at stores, supermarkets or chemists, yet is one of the most valuable assets we have in preventing the spread of this virus as well as many other germs.
In addition to regular and thorough hand washing, it is recommended we use hand sanitiser regularly throughout our days. However, with shelves bare and an unknown timeframe on when new stock will be due to arrive, many families are worried about having enough hand sanitiser available for use.
To help all families out there, we’ve put together a simple and effective recipe on how you can make your own hand sanitiser if you’ve run out at home and can’t find any at the shops – just by mixing 4 ingredients!
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup of rubbing alcohol (Isopropyl Alcohol) 90% or greater strength – Ethanol or Methylated Spirits could also be used
- 1/3 cup aloe vera gel
- 10 drops of lemon essential oil
- 10 drops tea tree essential oil
- Note: You can add other essential oils you like for different fragrances.
Method
Mix all ingredients in a clean bowl, stir to combine, then add to a pump or squeeze bottle. – It’s that easy!
Important Safety Note
It is very important to ensure the individual ingredients used, as well as the hand sanitiser you’ve made, remain out of reach of children at all times.
The equipment used to make this hand sanitiser should also be kept out of reach and thoroughly cleaned after use.
The hand sanitiser should only be used by children under the direct supervision of adults and should not be ingested in any way.
What does each ingredient do?
Whilst it is a simple recipe, the impact each ingredient has is enormous in combating germs and viruses.
Alcohol/Ethanol
This ingredient kills the protein that surrounds the virus, which will stop it before it can infect you. It’s important to note that not just any alcohol will work. This recipe requires alcohol-based products with a 90% or greater strength – The higher the better.
(Most off the shelf vodkas only have 40% strength, which is not concentrated enough to kill viruses)
Aloe Vera
Alcohol will dry out your skin, therefore Aloe Vera is used to moisturise your hands and keep them feeling fresh. You can also use aloe vera gel straight from the plant. Natural aloe gel is typically thicker, so your hand sanitiser will be stickier, and you’ll need to rub your hands more to absorb it.
Essential Oils
Not only will these leave your hands smelling wonderful, essential oils such as tea tree oil has been known to provide antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antiviral benefits.
Remember, we’re here to help.
As we all learn to cope with the current Coronavirus pandemic, Sunkids would like to remind all within our greater community that we’re here to help you. We’ll continue to do all we can to assist our families, children and staff throughout this difficult and uncertain time, and continue to share helpful advice along the way.
Further information regarding Coronavirus
For additional information regarding Novel Coronavirus (COID-19), we encourage you to only visit trusted sources.
Queensland Department of Health – https://conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/condition/14/217/838/novel-coronavirus
Australian Government Department of Health – https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert
You can also call the National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080.
It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you require translating or interpreting services, call 131 450.
If you have concerns about your or your child’s health, speak to your doctor. If you are displaying symptoms of Coronavirus, call ahead first.
If you are having a medical emergency, please call 000