Green Tip for virus precaution — Sanitizer DIY

What about producing our own homemade hand sanitizer so that we can be sure of the quality and use fewer plastic containers.

The formula below is adapted from the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, the University of Hong Kong and follows the standards of the World Health Organization.

Homemade Hand Sanitizer (100ml)

Ingredients:

• 80ml 96% Ethanol
• 1.45ml Glycerol
• 4ml 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
• 100ml distilled water or filtered water been boiled and cool off

Tools:

• Plastic spoon or syringe
• Measuring cup
• Stirring rod
• Clean container

Instructions:

Pour ethanol into a container. Add glycerin, hydrogen peroxide and a small amount of distilled water. Mix all ingredients well with the stirring rod until the glycerin is completely integrated with the rest of the ingredients. Store in a clean container and leave it for 72 hours before use.

Notes:

Use 96% Ethanol instead of 70% or 75%. 99% Isopropyl Alcohol is one substitute yet use no more than 75ml.

If either 96% Ethanol or 99 % Alcohol is unobtainable; mix 75% alcohol with glycerin and hydrogen peroxide without adding water.

If you measure the serving portion with a plastic spoon, 1.45ml of glycerin fills the bottom part of the spoon, and 4ml of hydrogen peroxide fills up half of a spoon.

Do not measure hydrogen peroxide with metal utensils. Add distilled water in the sanitizing container when it reaches 100ml.

Let the disinfectant sit for 72 hours; this is to ensure that the microorganisms in the container are killed.

Transfer the mix into smaller containers and label the ingredients. Keep out of the reach of children and away from fire.