Making hand sanitizer from alcohol plus ???

eric2light
eric2light Posts: 113 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have alcohol and can prob buy some other stuff:

https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-make-hand-sanitizer/

Any suggestions? I want stuff that really works even if it drys the hands. Thanks!

Replies

  • COGypsy
    COGypsy Posts: 1,365 Member
    Last I heard some guys at my neighborhood liquor store were trying to concoct hand sanitizer out of 151 and olive oil. That was after the Everclear sold out. :D
  • BarbaraHelen2013
    BarbaraHelen2013 Posts: 1,941 Member
    I admit I’m slightly confused!

    The link you’ve included in your post answers the question you’ve asked in your post. 🤷‍♀️

    Forgive me if I’m misunderstanding but I’m not sure what anyone can add.
  • watts6151
    watts6151 Posts: 905 Member
    Blasphemy
  • privy95
    privy95 Posts: 82 Member
    1 cup alcohol, 1/2 cup aloe, some essential oils for good smell
  • steveko89
    steveko89 Posts: 2,223 Member
    Sounds like alcohol abuse to me.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    privy95 wrote: »
    1 cup alcohol, 1/2 cup aloe, some essential oils for good smell

    Isopropyl alcohol, yes? Most drinking alcohols aren't strong enough and the ones that are would not be nearly as cost effective as isopropyl alcohol.

    https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-make-hand-sanitizer/

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, your sanitizer mix must be at least 60 percent alcohol to be effective. But it's better to get way above that—aim for a minimum of 75 percent. A bottle of 99 percent isopropyl alcohol is the best thing to use. Your regular vodka and whiskey are too wimpy and won’t cut it.
  • privy95
    privy95 Posts: 82 Member
    Yes, isopropyl alcohol. Sorry I didn’t make that clear!😊 We have 91% in the cabinet so that is what I used.
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    If you can find plain glycerin that’s your best bet. It will keep your hands from drying out and is what Purell uses. Like this: https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/africare-100-glycerin/ID=prod4118523-product

  • lightenup2016
    lightenup2016 Posts: 1,055 Member
    We have some 70% isopropyl alcohol and some 91%. We had some small spray bottles of hand sanitizer, and as those have emptied, we’ve just been pouring the alcohol straight into the spray bottle. It works well when sprayed on hands, but is probably pretty drying.

    Please remember to use caution when working with high percentage alcohol—fire/burn hazard!!
  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,997 Member
    edited March 2020
    Actually, +90% alcohol is believed to be LESS effective than 70-90% . So more abv than this is NOT necessarily better but 70% is considered the min abv to be effective as a didinfectant.

    See:

    https://labproinc.com/blog/chemicals-and-solvents-9/post/the-difference-between-isopropyl-alcohol-ipa-99-and-70-25

    There are other articles on the Net saying the same thing.

    I bought 1gal of 99% alcohol but have diluted it w/lower abv alcohol and distilled water to make it about 75%.

    I also made some hand sanitizer w/some leftover 75.5% Everclear that I had lying around. The "recipe" I used called for 2/3rd alcohol and 1/3rd aloe vera but after I mixed it together reslized that the recipe lowered to only 50%. So, I added 99% alcohol to the mixture to raise the abv back to 75% and made twice as much sanitizer in the process, which was a good thing.

    FWIW, all sanitizer recipes call for adding aloe vera or something else to avoid drying your skin but this is unnecessary if you are not susceptible to this problem or just cost your skin w/balm or loction after spraying or rinsing your hands w/alcohol 1st.

    BTW, according to the CDC, you also need to let the alcohol dry on your hands for at least 10sec for it to kill most germs.
  • eric2light
    eric2light Posts: 113 Member
    sgt1372 wrote: »
    Actually, +90% alcohol is believed to be LESS effective than 70-90% . So more abv than this is NOT necessarily better but 70% is considered the min abv to be effective as a didinfectant.

    See:

    https://labproinc.com/blog/chemicals-and-solvents-9/post/the-difference-between-isopropyl-alcohol-ipa-99-and-70-25

    There are other articles on the Net saying the same thing.

    I bought 1gal of 99% alcohol but have diluted it w/lower abv alcohol and distilled water to make it about 75%.

    Yours is the sort of wisdom that I've been seeking. Thanks very very much, @sgt1372 @rheddmobile

    See why I asked, @BarbaraHelen2013 ?

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