The other day I was at a pharmacy in Mumbai to buy a face mask and a sanitizer and what I saw… shocked me! There were customers who were buying hand sanitizers and face masks at a bulk. Mind you, all this was happening at 9:30 in the morning. What made it worse that a single 100ml bottle of sanitizer was being sold for Rs 200 and above. Large bottles were being sold for Rs 600-900.
Yes, we get it. Basic economics state that when the demand is high, supply is low. While it’s important to stay safe and do whatever it takes to protect yourself from coronavirus, you must be thoughtful of others too. Today, hand sanitizers are a rare commodity in stores. They’re either sold out everywhere or sold for a higher price online. Hence, I made this tiny, but helpful DIY tutorial video for you. For those who weren’t able to get their hands on a hand sanitizer, don’t panic, I’m going to teach you how to make it at home using 3 key ingredients.
Here’s How You Can Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer At Home
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It took me only 10 minutes to make my own hand sanitizer. Here’s what you need:
- Rubbing alcohol or Isopropyl alcohol (try to look for a 99% concentration)
- Aloe vera gel or Glycerine (will keep your skin from drying out & keep your hands moisturised)
- Lavender essential oil (this adds fragrance, also anti-inflammatory)
- Glass dropper or a funnel (to transfer the mix into a bottle)
- A glass bowl
- Metal spoon
- Spray bottle
The higher the concentration of rubbing alcohol, the more effective your sanitizer will be. You can add Aloe Vera Gel and Glycerine (or even both) to keep your hands moisturised.
Step 1: In a glass bowl, add 4-5 spoons of rubbing alcohol. (Can be bought at a pharmacy)
Step 2: Then, add 2-3 spoons of aloe vera gel.
Step 3: 5-15 drops of lavender essential oil.
You can customise this proportion, depending on how strong you want the fragrance of your sanitizer to be.
Step 4: Use a metal spoon to give all the ingredients a good stir.
Step 5: Use a glass dropper or a funnel to transfer the hand sanitizer into the spray bottle. Shake well before you use!
In case you need a visual tutorial, I have that for ready for you too!
Wasn’t that easy? In place of lavender oil, you can add tea tree or lemongrass essential oil too – whatever you’re comfortable with. Unlike commercial hand sanitizers, this one we just made will not dry your hands out or make them sticky. They’ll keep your hands squeaky clean and make them smell fresh all day. This hand sanitizer makes a perfect gift to give a friend or relative, especially during this coronavirus crisis. Since you’re at home, you might as well give this tutorial a shot!
Also Read: DIY Face Mask And Disinfectant Spray
Even if you’re using a hand sanitiser a few times a day, it is still important that you wash your hands with soap and water and keep scrubbing for 20 seconds. And for times you can’t wash your hands, a hand sanitizer will be your BFF.
Featured Image: Shutterstock
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