Commercial hand sanitizers may be great for killing germs when there is no water available for washing hands, but these products also pose a serious health risk to children.
Because of the potential dangers of the alcohol based sanitizers, many companies have put non-alcohol products on the market. However, these pose even greater problems. Due to the way they kill bacteria, they can actually cause bacteria to become stronger and more resistant to antibiotics. These products contain a highly toxic ingredient called Triclosan. A recent story in Parents magazine told of a young girl who rubbed a hand sanitizer gel on her face and ended up in the hospital with second degree burns due to the harsh effect of Triclosan.
Triclosan, which is considered a pesticide by the Environmental Protection Agency, can also lead to yeast overgrowth on the fingernails.
Natural Alternatives to Hand Sanitizers
It's quick and easy to make your own natural, waterless hand sanitizer.
Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer
Ingredients
1 cup aloe vera gel
2 tsp vegetable glycerin
8-10 drops tea tree essential oil or lavender essential oil
Simply blend all of the ingredients together and store.
The standard recipe calls for tea tree or lavender oil, but you can be creative and use other essential oils as well. Choose from oils that have antibacterial and/or antiviral properties and make a blend that suits the season. Citrus oils are a good choice. So is eucalyptus and pine. Choose oils that appeal to your senses and also add the cleansing properties appropriate for a hand sanitizer.
You can recycle old liquid soap or hand sanitizer dispensers to store your creations, or you can buy glass bottles with pumps.
Use Sparingly
Home made hand sanitizers don't dissolve into your hands as quickly or as well as the commercial hand sanitizers you buy in the store. Use a little at a time.
Have you made the hand sanitizer?
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