No hand sanitizer? You can make your own

BOSTON — Hand sanitizer is flying off the shelves in local stores. You can’t even pick it up in certain drug stores right now.

So if supplies run low, would you consider making your own sanitizer? It’s an option, if you do it right.

We learned it’s pretty simple to make homemade hand sanitizer. You’ll likely already have these products in your home.

The key is making sure you have measuring tools to create your concoction, or else the gel won't be effective.

With coronavirus “and influenza, alcohol gels work well and unfortunately, there is a run on these and shortage of supplies,” said Dr. Todd Ellerin, head of infectious diseases at South Shore Health.

But locally, drugstores and grocery stores have empty shelves where alcohol gels used to be.

So we wanted to know: If the worst-case scenario happened, and these necessary supplies that keep us healthy run out entirely, could you rely on products you already have at home?

“I don’t know if it would work the same, I don’t know what you would use to even make it,” said Doug Woodhouse.

Well, we learned from medical professionals you can certainly make your own bacteria-fighting product right in your own kitchen.

Doctors say making your own hand sanitizer would be a last resort option.

But you can do it, with products you might already have at home.

No hand sanitizer? You can make your own We learned it's pretty simple to make homemade hand sanitizer. You likely already have these products in your home.

The important thing is to do it right, and follow a specific recipe.

You’ll want to pour 2/3 cup rubbing alcohol and 1/3 cup aloe vera.

Mix the two together, and you’ll have your homemade hand sanitizer.

“I can see people making it, just because they didn’t want to go to the store and get sick and it’s stuff they already have at home,” Woodhouse said.

Dr. Ellerin said the rubbing alcohol is the necessary component needed to fight the bacteria. The aloe vera makes the mix easy on the skin.

“Because the alcohol works on the viral envelope and this covid 19 is an envelope virus, that’s really important. Because the alcohol will disrupt the envelope and kill the virus,” Ellerin said.

But not everyone thinks the last resort method is necessary knowledge.

“I personally would probably not go through the work of making my own hand sanitizer when you can use soap and avoid contact as much as possible,” said Stephanie Simeon of Canton.

Again, doctors stress normal handwashing then keep hand sanitizer on you for times you’ll be away from a sink.

But if it calls for this last-resort method, you can also add essential oils for a better smell.

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