Virginia Tech® home

Covid-19 Preventable Measures: Homemade Hand Sanitizer

ID

FST-368-4CNP

Authors as Published

Authored by Renee Boyer, Professor and Extension Specialist, Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech; and Ben Chapman, Professor and Food Safety Extension Specialist, North Carolina State University

In the absence of the availability of commercial hand sanitizers, the World Health Organization recommends the following recipe for homemade hand sanitizer as part of their COVID-19 response. These ingredients can typically be found at drugstores and some supermarkets.

WHAT YOU NEED

  • Small spray bottle
  • 1 tablespoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide
  • 1 teaspoon of 98% glycerin
  • Isopropyl alcohol and sterile distilled or boiled cold water in ONE of the following combinations:
    • 1 cup + 2 tablespoons of 99% isopropyl alcohol PLUS 1/4 cup + 1 teaspoon water
    • 1 cup + 3 tablespoons of 91% isopropyl alcohol PLUS 2 tablespoons + 2 and 1/2 teaspoons water

USING HAND SANITIZER

To use, spray on all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.

WHAT TO DO

  1. Pour alcohol into a medium container, ideally with a pouring spout
  2. Add hydrogen peroxide, then glycerin and stir
  3. Measure and add water
  4. Sanitize spray bottles by adding in a small amount of leftover alcohol, swirling around and allowing to air dry
  5. Fill bottle with solution and label clearly with contents.
QR code link to foodsafety.ces.ncsu.edu

Stay informed: ext.vt.edu/covid-19updates
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov
Updated April 27, 2020

VT logo
NS state extension logo

Virginia Cooperative Extension materials are available for public use, reprint, or citation without further permission, provided the use includes credit to the author and to Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, and Virginia State University.

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or any other basis protected by law.

Publication Date

April 1, 2020