HabiTalk

We know we need to sanitize our hands often with soap and water and wipe down surfaces with disinfectant to combat Corona virus. But outside of your home, soap and water may not be available. And your store may be out of commercial hand sanitizers and surface disinfectants. If you already have commercial hand sanitizers at home, check the expiration date on the bottle. Once expired, they may become less effective. In case you need them, here are DIY recipes for hand sanitizers and surface disinfectants.

DIY Hand Sanitizer

Experts say the Corona virus is often spread when people get it on their hands, then touch their face, where it gets into the respiratory system. That’s why washing your hands with soap and water is so important. But if you’re away from home and can’t use soap and water, hand sanitizers are the next best thing. On the way back into your home, use surface disinfectant (see below) to wipe down anything you touch, like doorknobs or the mailbox. Then head straight to the sink for a soap and water scrub down.

What you’ll need:

• Small pump or squeeze bottles
• Isopropyl or rubbing alcohol (99%)
• 1/4 cup aloe vera gel
• 10 drops essential oil such as lavender oil, or  lemon juice

Directions:

You’ll find the directions here. Check the label on the rubbing alcohol for the percentage of alcohol contained. The final mixture needs at least 60% alcohol to be effective. Adjust quantities of other ingredients if needed.

DIY Surface Disinfectant

Reports indicate the virus can survive as long as three days on surfaces, especially metal and plastic. I keep a large spray bottle of disinfectant in the kitchen and a small one in my purse with tissues to wipe down hard surfaces when I’m out. Upon returning home, I disinfect anything I touch on the way in, like doorknobs or the mailbox. Then I head straight to the sink for a soap and water scrub down. The recipe and directions below are from an article by NPR, one of the most useful reports the I’ve read since the Corona virus crisis surfaced.

What you’ll need:

• Large and small spray, pump or squeeze bottles. (Make sure the bottles you take with you are tightly sealed, to avoid bleach accidents.)
• 4 teaspoons bleach
• 1 quart water

Directions:

Combine bleach and water. Spray and wipe down hard surfaces as needed, avoiding anything that might be damaged by bleach.

Wishing you and yours safe passage through this precarious time,

Jackie Pettus
Founder
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