As COVID-19 continues to spread, it’s more important now than ever to be extra diligent in keeping germs and bacteria away. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends washing hands with soap and water whenever possible because handwashing reduces the amounts of all types of germs and chemicals on hands. But if soap and water are not available, the CDC suggests using a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol to help prevent sickness and spreading germs to others. Because hand sanitizers are a good option when soap and water isn’t available, hand sanitizers are flying off shelves and extremely hard to find these days. Luckily, many businesses have put out their hand sanitizers for patrons and clients to use, and some companies are even thinking of creative ways to help people get their hands on some hand sanitizer.
Eco Lips founder and Cedar Rapids resident Steve Shriver teamed up with Dr. Ryan Sundermann and Cedar Ridge Distillery, to distribute free hand sanitizer to people in Eastern Iowa. They used a simple recipe to create 1,000 four-ounce bottles of hand sanitizer to distribute via drive-thru pickup at New Bo City Market. The sanitizer is made of 65 percent alcohol. The company plans to continue to provide sanitizer for as long as there is a shortage. Another company, Everyone, formed an exclusive partnership with Lyft in which a triclosan-free, Everyone Hand Sanitizer Spray will be given to Lyft drivers with the goal to assist riders and drivers in living a healthy and safe lifestyle.
With availability of Purell and other popular hand sanitizing brands sparse, consumers have turned to alternative companies for hand sanitizing options. Here are some of the options that are on the market today:
Sanitizing Mist
ATTN!
Hand Sanitizer Spray
EO Products
CBD-Infused Hand Sanitizer
Felix & Ambrosia
Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer
Jurlique
Aroma Hand Sanitizer Plus
KM Herbals
Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer
Touchland
These are just some of the many options available today, but hand sanitizer can also be formulated at home with the right ingredients and recipe. Alana Mitchell, esthetician, cosmetic formulator, and owner of Alana Mitchell Skincare, shared this recipe with us for a DIY eight-ounce hand sanitizer:
- One glass liquid measuring pitcher or cup (think baking, Pyrex glass pitcher, it is probably already in your kitchen cabinets).
- One eight-ounce empty clean bottle. Tip, if you choose to use aloe vera gel in your recipe, you will want a pump bottle. If you opt for water, you will want a bottle with a spray top.
- Two-third cup of 70 percent rubbing alcohol, or ethyl or isopropyl alcohol at 70 percent (at least 60 percent alcohol by volume).
- One-third cup of aloe vera gel or water.
Optional:
- Two to six drops of essential oil.
- One-fourth tablespoon of vitamin E oil.
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