Can I make my own hand sanitizer to protect against Coronavirus?

Yes, you can make your own disinfectant if you’re trying to kill coronavirus on a non-porous surface.

“Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted,” the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The CDC’s recipe calls for diluting 5 tablespoons (or ⅓ cup) of bleach per gallon of water, or 4 teaspoons of bleach per quart of water.

You can also make your own hand sanitizer. The Nebraska Medical Center – famous for its biocontainment unit and treatment of Ebola patients – offers this recipe:

What you’ll need:

• 2/3 cup 91% isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)
• 1/3 cup aloe vera gel
• Mixing bowl
• Spoon or something for whisking
• Small container, such as a 3 oz. travel bottle
• Optional: essential oil to give your hand sanitizer a fragrance

Directions:

• In a mixing bowl, stir isopropyl alcohol and aloe vera gel together until well blended.
• Add 8-10 drops of scented essential oil (optional, but nice!). Stir to incorporate.
• Pour the homemade hand sanitizer into an empty container and seal.
• Write “hand sanitizer” on a piece of masking tape and affix to the bottle.