In the era of coronavirus and other antibiotic-resistant superbugs it’s becoming absolutely essential to take proactive measures to protect yourself against surface pathogens. In the case of coronavirus, it can be spread by physical contact. It’s being initially estimated that it may remain on surfaces such as a table or doorknob for up to six hours.
Out in the public domain, the fear is real. Some people are beginning to take extraordinary measures like wearing surgical gloves in public or buying portable breathing apparatuses. Needless to say, these are highly impractical. From your community doctor down the street to the highest levels of the World Health Organization, there’s been one very effective and highly consistent piece of advice.
That’s it. Aside from vaccine development, this is the biggest coronavirus killer available right now. Good old fashion soap and water - just like grandmother told us, remains the king of cleaning. Here's where things get problematic. In terms of practicality, soap and water aren’t always available. Public washrooms can be downright disgusting while bringing your own hand soap everywhere is just plain difficult. From the petri dish of your computer keyboard to the railings on public transport, hand sanitizer can play the role of convenient key defender.
A 90% alcohol rub is effective against viruses & bacteria; Isopropyl alcohol will kill 99.99 % or more of all non-spore forming bacteria in less than 30 seconds, both in the lab and on your skin.
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Making your own hand sanitizer is really quite easy as long as you make sure to follow a few simple guidelines. Take these tips, combine them with the right materials & you’re well on the way to enjoying several blends of essential oil hand sanitizer - packed with the power to destroy germs and bacteria.
Process & Key Tips:
Let’s start with the most enjoyable part. You need to choose which scent you’d like to blend into the hand sanitizer. We can wholeheartedly recommend tea tree, lemon, rosemary, or clove. Don’t be afraid to experiment! After all, what’s more fun than creating something both practical & useful? Essential oil blends such as lavender and rosemary can also yield great results.
There are certain properties inherent in the various natural & pure essential oils we recommend using. Virtually all essential oils ease stress and have a calming effect - especially when paired with a nebulizing diffuser. The health benefits of stress relief and an overall sense of well-being are heavily documented in scientific literature. Individual oil scents have their own properties and applications. Here's a shortlist of the main benefits from the scents we recommend you make your DIY hand sanitizer with:
After you’ve selected your sanitizing scent, you need to get your mix on. There are a few different ones you can work with, but this is a guide for making an effective sanitizer. Many pre-coronavirus “how-to” guides use vodka as the main ingredient. Unless you just happen to be a doctor from the Civil War era, you probably want to give this mixing agent a skip. We strongly recommend isopropyl alcohol for your blend. Be liberally cautious in your measurements. For hand sanitizer to be in any way effective, it must have at least 60% alcohol content after you’ve completed your DIY blend.
What we have now is a great smelling and effective germ killer – but at the same time, alcohol can be harsh on the skin when used repeatedly. At this stage, you want to mix your blend with aloe vera to balance out the sanitizer. Aloe is a natural emollient and one of very few that aren't fatty; it's not thick and goopy so it's the perfect method to hydrate skin inside your DIY hand sanitizer mix. Aloe is also "non-comedogenic" - which is a really cool & nerdy way to say it won't clog up your skin pores.
Congratulations. You’ve concocted your very own DIY hand sanitizer that’s effective against harmful germs and otherwise. Applying the hand sanitizer certainly isn’t difficult, but basic technique will make it more effective. Apply your sanitizer generously, rub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds, making sure to push your fingertips and nail tops into the palm of your hand where most of the sanitizer is first applied. Let dry, and stay safe!
Now that you’re all taken care of and have your very own mobile germ-fighting factory, let’s have a closer look at what can be done around the home to keep family and friends happy and healthy. A high-quality nebulizing diffuser converts your essential oil into very fine particles, pushing them out of the diffuser in a very fine mist. Many of these essential oils have scientifically proven anti-bacterial properties. Surfaces within range of the diffuser can benefit from this type of natural non-invasive application. Real-talk here, let’s face it, high powered chemical cleaners might be harsh but they are by far the most effective method of maintaining the cleanliness of a surface. At the same time, rest well knowing that your nebulizing diffuser is also playing an active role in maintaining the purity and cleanliness of your environment.
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Richard Hannam
April 09, 2020
Great idea but would love to know the ideal mixing quantities. Apart from making the process easier, it would help avoid the danger of taking the final product below the, very necessary, 60% alcohol.