Hand Hygiene: Why Not to Make Sanitizer at Home
This archive post is not an instruction for making hand sanitizer at home. For ordinary hygiene, wash hands with soap and water; when that is not possible, use a commercially prepared product labeled for hands exactly as directed. Homemade mixtures should not be treated as an equivalent substitute.
About Homemade Recipes
- Do not mix alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, glycerin, and water at home to make sanitizer.
- Alcohol is highly flammable, so keep it away from flames, heat, and sparks.
- Concentrated ingredients and homemade mixtures can injure skin or eyes and are dangerous if swallowed.
- If a hand product is needed, choose a commercially prepared product with clear labeling and instructions.
Do not transfer or mix chemicals to make a homemade sanitizer. Use soap and water or a ready-made hand product only as intended.
About Alcohol-and-Gel Mixtures
- Do not use medical alcohol and aloe gel to make sanitizer yourself.
- Do not add essential oils: they can cause irritation or sensitivity and do not make a mixture a reliable hand sanitizer.
- Keep alcohol-containing products out of children's reach to prevent poisoning.
For hand care, choose a ready-made product and follow its label.
Chlorhexidine, tinctures, and cosmetic products have their own intended uses and should not be mixed at home or substituted for a labeled hand product.
Important to Remember
Alcohol strength alone does not make a homemade mixture a validated sanitizer. Do not use vodka, homemade alcohol, or random pharmacy products as a substitute for a ready-made hand product.
- Apply and rub in the product for the duration stated on its label.
- Cover palms, backs of hands, fingers, and areas around the nails.
- After public places or contact with contaminated surfaces, wash with soap and water when possible.
- Stop using a product if it irritates your skin and seek appropriate advice.
That seems the safer approach. Different products have different intended uses, so it is better not to rely on a homemade mixture or assume that any antiseptic works for every purpose.