HOW TO MAKE HAND SANITIZER

*As written in LIFE WISDOM: Pandemic Prep by T. Frentz

LIFE Wisdom – PANDEMIC SURVIVAL

 

SANITIZER

Gather some stems of an Aloe vera plant or Aloe gel. This keeps the alcohol from excessively drying out your skin and provides the gel like substance. Without Aloe vera, the mixture would be more like a spray.

There are a few essential oils you can use for sanitizer. The most recommended essential oil to use for sanitizer is tea tree. Tea tree oil features antibacterial properties as well as anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antiviral properties. While research is limited on which viruses tea tree essential oil can successfully combat, it is thought to fight off the pathogens associated with acne, staphylococci, micrococci, Enterococcus faecalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Cinnamon is another recommended essential oil for making hand sanitizer. A 2015 study published by Tuoro College found that cinnamon effectively “deactivated” the viral components in some organisms. To make your sanitizer smell good, use 8-16 drops of lemon, orange, peppermint, or lavender.

If you’re using 91% Isopropyl alcohol use a 3:2 ratio; 3 tablespoons alcohol to tablespoons of Aloe. If you are using 99 percent Isopropyl alcohol, you will want a 2:1 ratio. With 91 percent Isopropyl alcohol for example, pour 1 cup into a mixing bowl and add 2/3 cup Aloe and the oil.  Mix it all together with a spoon, then use a funnel to transition the mixture into a bottle with a pump.