Many people wonder in the last days if alcohol really disinfects hands. And it is that more and more people want to know for sure if using a disinfecting gel is enough to deal with the coronavirus. In this article, we want to clear some doubts about whether alcohol disinfects hands and we will talk about the use of disinfecting gels. We will also show you a step by step for proper disinfection and hand washing and we will give you a very simple recipe to make your own homemade hand sanitizer. Keep reading and don’t miss a thing.
Does alcohol kill germs?
To speak of solutions against the coronavirus in these times would not be prudent on our part. What we can assure you is that alcohol is a powerful antiseptic that has great bactericidal power and is capable of eliminating up to 90% of the bacteria found on the hands. Of course, its concentration must be 70% minimum.
Eliminating germs and bacteria that accumulate on the hands and between the fingers is not only recommended to prevent COVID-19, but it is also effective in preventing gastrointestinal infections, colds, flu and other viruses. To disinfect your hands, it is advisable to wash them with soap and water and use gel alcohol as a supplement or for when you are away from home.
How alcohol disinfects or clean?
Alcohol is an antiseptic; that is, it can destroy germs and prevent their existence. It is a product that inhibits the growth of bacteria and destroys the microorganisms that can be found on the skin and can endanger your health. Alcohol also has the power to act on a wide spectrum, such as bactericide or viricide, which is why it is one of the best options that we can use to disinfect.
Another reason that alcohol disinfects is that it contains ethanol, a component that has a higher viricidal activity than other types of alcohol. These are some of the elements that make antiseptic alcohol one of the best disinfectant products:
- Its performance is fast.
- It is totally harmless to the skin.
- The duration of its effect is long enough to allow its disinfecting action.
Make homemade hand sanitizer with alcohol
In recent days, stocks of hand sanitizing gels have been hit by an avalanche of people willing to buy one. Here, we offer you an alternative, why not make your own disinfectant gel? Here you have a very simple recipe with which you will be able to make homemade hand sanitizer in just a few steps. These are the ingredients you need:
- 8 tablespoons of aloe vera
- 90 milliliters of isopropyl alcohol with a minimum concentration of 70%
- 15 drops of tea tree oil
- 10 drops of lavender essential oil
- 5 drops of your preferred essential oil (it is to add smell to the mixture so it is an optional step)
Its preparation is very easy; just follow these simple steps:
- Put the aloe vera in a glass container and add the 90 milliliters of alcohol (about 6 tablespoons approximately).
- Add essential oils, no matter what order you do it in.
- Gently stir the mixture without stirring.
- Pour the mixture into a bottle with a dispenser and you can carry it in your bag or backpack anywhere.
Disinfect your hands well
To clean your hands, you can resort to washing with soap and water or applying an alcoholic solution such as antiseptic gels or hand sanitizers.
Hand washing is essential in the prevention of infections, including those caused by a coronavirus. Using disinfecting gels is not a bad option if we are away from home. Still, if you have the opportunity to wash your hands, leave the hydroalcoholic gels as a complement to hand washing since they do not remove dirt, they only disinfect.
When is it advisable to wash your hands? It is true that these days, we have all increased the frequency of handwashing. There are certain times when it is almost mandatory to wash your hands.
After sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose. If you are less than a meter from someone who has coughed, sneezed, or blew your nose. After using the bathroom, using public transport or coming from the street and before eating you should clean your hand with alcohol.
