Blogs

Hand Sanitiser DIY

By Ali Godden

In times like this, good hygiene is imperative, and nothing beats washing your hands. However, if water and soap aren’t available, the next best thing is an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. And, with the recent rise in demand – it’s a good thing that making hand sanitiser at home is easy, simple, and effective. This is definitely something to check out if you’re looking to sell scrap metal as you’ll be handling a lot of different surfaces.

Recipe

According to Dr Rishi Desai, a former epidemic intelligence service officer within the division of viral diseases at the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this hand sanitiser recipe will kill 99.9 per cent of germs after 60 seconds. 

For this handy DIY recipe, you will need: 

  • 3/4 cup of rubbing alcohol (with a 99 per cent alcohol volume);
  • 1/4 cup Aloe Vera gel;
  • 10 drops of an essential oil such as tea tree oil or lavender oil;
  • A medium-sized bowl;
  • A wooden spoon;
  • A whisk; and
  • An empty bottle (to store your sanitiser).

Method

Pour all the ingredients into your medium-sized bowl, ideally with a pouring spout. Then, mix with the spoon to combine all ingredients. To turn the drippy liquid into a gel – whisk for three minutes or until it thickens. Finally, pour the mixture into an empty bottle and enjoy!

When making hand sanitiser at home you must ensure that you

  • Wipe down the countertops; 
  • Wash your hands properly;
  • Use clean utensils;
  • Make sure the rubbing alcohol is not diluted;
  • Mix all ingredients thoroughly; and
  • Do not touch the mixture with your hands until it’s ready to be used.

The history of hand sanitiser

In 1875, Leonid Bucholz discovered a cleaning agent that was neither soap nor water at what is now the University of Tartu in Estonia. His discovery was the antiseptic properties of ethanol. Of course, with ethanol being a type of alcohol, research on the antiseptic properties of alcohol continued and in 1936 a slightly more complex type of alcohol called isopropyl was proven to be a more effective antiseptic than ethanol. After further research, a company called “Purell” was formed in 1998, which was one of the first companies to sell hand sanitiser.

How to use hand sanitiser

Squeeze out the liquid onto the palm of one hand and rub your hands together. Make sure you rub everywhere thoroughly including in between your fingers. Continue rubbing for 60 seconds or until your hands are dry. We recommend using hand sanitiser after you touch multiple surfaces outside of your home – especially when it comes to amassing all of your scrap metal to sell.

Benefits

  • Less time is required in comparison to soap and water hand washing.
  • It’s a fast-acting solution that works very quickly to kill microorganisms.
  • Generally more easily accessible.
  • Reduces the number of bacterial counts on your hands.
  • Does not promote antimicrobial resistance.
  • Can be less irritating to skin in some cases compared to washing your hands with soap and water.
  • There are some varieties available that can even improve the condition of your skin.
  • Ideal for group settings where you need to quickly clean your hands but don’t want to leave.
  • It helps combat the spread of disease.

Looking to sell scrap metal?

If you follow all the steps outlined above, then you’ll have yourself a highly-effective hand sanitiser solution that you can make at any time – and you’ll probably need it if you’re thinking of handling scrap metal. 

Metal Men Recycling is still open for business which means you can sell your scrap metal to us. We can purchase a wide variety of scrap metal materials as well as supply you with several bin sizes if you’re looking to move some large loads from your home or place of business.

Take advantage of our multiple state-of-the-art on-site weighbridges and ensure that your metal is sustainably recycled by passionate professionals. By utilising our services, you can actively impact the environment and also contribute to the growing metal recycling industry – as well as make some money on the side.

So, don’t hesitate, make the smart choice and recycle your scrap metal. If you would like to sell your scrap metal to us, then please contact us via the form on our website or call 03 5941 6677 to chat to one of our friendly staff members.

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