Hand sanitizers are selling out amid coronavirus. Here’s how to make your own

Amid the spread of coronavirus, people are being advised to wash their hands and cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing to help prevent infection.

When soap and water aren’t available, hand sanitizer can be used as an alternative, according to health experts.

Following this, the germ-killing gel is selling out in stores – both real and virtual. Even when available, it is being sold at an inflated price.

The good news is if your store is out of stock, you can make your own hand sanitizer in just a few easy steps with some basic ingredients. Note that for a hand sanitizer to be effective at killing germs, it must contain 60 percent to 95 percent alcohol, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Here’s how to mix up DIY hand sanitizer, according to Real Simple.

The things you need:

1/3 cup aloe vera gel (available at most drugstores)

2/3 cup 99% rubbing alcohol ((isopropyl alcohol)

Container with watertight lid

Small funnel (optional)

Essential oils (optional)

Note: If you can’t find 99% rubbing alcohol, you may need to adjust the ratio above to make sure the mixture contains at least 60 percent alcohol.

Steps: 

1. Stir together the aloe vera gel and rubbing alcohol until fully incorporated.
2. If you’d like, you can add a couple drops of essential oil, such as lavender (just test your skin for sensitivity first).
3. Using a funnel, decant the mixture into a bottle or container with a secure lid. When you use the hand sanitizer, dispense it into the palm of one hand and rub all over the surface of both hands until completely dry. Keep the bottle out of reach of children.