According to Health Canada, homemade hand sanitizers do not have the proper alcohol content to be effective during COVID-19. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Homemade Hand Sanitizer

Homemade hand sanitizer not recommended by health professionals

Apr 10, 2020 | 8:00 AM

Homemade hand sanitizer has been gaining traction in the world, especially on social media, during the COVID-19 pandemic as regular sanitizer is difficult to find in stores.

However, Health Canada is warning against people making, and using their own hand sanitizer, according to Melfort Ambulance Manager Wayne Therres.

“The formulas that are there don’t provide a strong enough alcohol content to actually help with what’s going on,” he said.

Ingredients such as aloe vera gel as a thickening agent, and essential oils for a good scent are very common in homemade products. Therres said some of the homemade products can cause some bad skin irritation as well for the user.

Store-bought hand sanitizers must have a minimum alcohol content of 60 per cent, but most actually have about 80 per cent, and some even go as far to have 99.97 per cent alcohol content.

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Therres said washing your hands still is the best course of action.

“Wash your hands with soap and water,” he said. “Sing the alphabet song, sing happy birthday while you do it and make sure you wash at least past your wrists all the time with warm soap and water.”

While immediate hand washing is not always available, like before getting into your car after being at the grocery store, sanitizer is still a good alternative until you can wash your hands.

“In that situation that you don’t have access to soap and water is where hand sanitizer works the best,” he said.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6