How to make your own hand sanitiser as coronavirus crisis continues
Red tape has been cut for hand sanitiser production to try and feed high demand in the health care system, particularly in rural and regional Australia.
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Wineries and boutique distilleries are switching to hand sanitiser production as the federal government tries to shore up supplies during the coronavirus pandemic.
Red tape has been cut for hand sanitiser production to try and feed high demand in the health care system, particularly in rural and regional Australia.
Hand sanitiser can now be made without approval or notification to the Therapeutic Goods Administration, so long as producers follow one of two recipes developed by the World Health Organisation and endorsed by US authorities.
Recipes can now also use food grade alcohol, which is cheaper, rather than medical grade alcohol.
Producers using other recipes will still have to receive approval from the TGA.
Science Minister Karen Andrews has announced the changes on Monday after meeting industry figures.
Demand for hand sanitiser has been through the roof during the coronavirus crisis, with people told to wash their hands or use sanitiser to prevent the spread of the disease.
Some of the wineries and grape-growers now involved in hand sanitiser production were devastated by the summer’s bushfire crisis and a downturn in tourism.
Here’s one of the easiest recipes — and it’s been approved by two expert scientists.
Dr. Lifeng Kang and Dr. Hien Duong, pharmaceutical microbiologists at The University of Sydney’s School of Pharmacy, confirmed that you can use a combination of pharmacy-bought ingredients like rubbing alcohol (ethanol or isopropanol) and aloe vera gel, as long as you follow some simple rules — ensuring the rubbing alcohol content is at least 70 per cent, covering your gel and keeping it in the fridge.
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“The alcoholic gel should be kept in a covered container to prevent evaporation of the alcohol, because evaporation will reduce the concentration of the alcohol,” Dr. Kang told Taste.com.au.
“The commercial hand sanitisers may contain other ingredients, for example preservatives, to prolong shelf life. Homemade sanitiser contains only alcohol so it is better to keep it in a fridge for prolonged use.”
Here is the Taste-tested recipe, amended from one shared by US author Maryn McKenna:
Mix in a clean container:
170ml rubbing alcohol (70-99 per cent strength).
80ml aloe vera gel.
Optional few drops of essential oil for scent.
Decant into a clean covered container or dispenser and keep refrigerated.
More tips at Taste.com.au
Originally published as How to make your own hand sanitiser as coronavirus crisis continues