DIY hand santizer gel - FAIL!

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

OK I scored me some aloe vera gel (not the a.v. juice). One part of that plus two parts of 91% isolopropyl alcohol = stinky liquid with clumps of white pus-like goop floating around. Nothing remotely gel like about it.

I nevertheless slathered my hands with it and I could feel some lubrication from the aloe, but not much. Hands felt like I got mild chemical burn from it, but I do have somewhat sensative skin. On the other hand I think since there is so much alcohol it just penetrates the skin, doesnt sit on surface like it should. I think the point of it being in a gel is you want it to sit on the surface more so that it kills the germs, and not absorb into the skin. So why is this recipe being promoted far and wide? I mean think about it - 3 parts alcohol is a LOT of liquid!

Im hunkered down, but thought Id like to have some in my car for wiping down car and my hands after going into store. Maye not worth the hassle!

[we can do it]

1. Exactly why it's been advised against.

Got my head bitten off a couple days ago about this.

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

2. Did the head biters have any constructive advice about how to make it so its more gel like? I mean

I'm totally open to suggestions here Did any of them actually try to make it?

In the meantime I do have a lot of unused aloe gel I can use to soothe the chemical burns - LOL!

[we can do it]

4. No. I replied with a link from a chemist who advised against doing it.

Basically said he would never do it because nearly impossible to mix properly and get correct ratio.🤦🏼‍♀️

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

5. "Impossible to mix properly" - yeah that actually was a question I had, what was the white goop in

my mixture, and wouldnt I want it to be dissolved witin the mixture? No amt of stirring dissolves it though.

Maybe Ill try it in my Vita Mix blender on turbo mode!

What else do I got to do today LOL.

[getagrip_already]

3. the aloe vera is meant to moisturize your skin... not create a gel

That recipe is for a liquid sanitizer, not the kind like purell gel.

It is stinky, but that's the perfume they put in iso so you won't drink it.

It's in accordance with cdc recommendations of greater than 60% alcohol.

There is another recipe that doesn't use aloe vera, does use glycerin, and also adds some hydrogen peroxide.

They do the job.

[we can do it]

6. Much easier to use soap.

[getagrip_already]

7. soap and water aren't always available - sure, it's better, unless it isn't there n/t

[we can do it]

8. Ziplock bag with soap, ziplock with paper towel. Bottle water. Not that hard.

Much easier that assuming you got proper ratio of goo.

[42bambi]

9. I always put a couple of very wet soapy washcloths in separate zip-lock bags and take them

with me wherever I go - which is nowhere for now. :&gt

[KY_EnviroGuy]

10. Some component(s) in the aloe did not like the alcohol.

Along with water.....

The ten main areas of chemical constituents of Aloe vera include: amino acids, anthraquinones, enzymes, minerals, vitamins, lignins, monosaccharide, polysaccharides, salicylic acid, saponins, and sterols.

It would be quite a complex task to figure out which constituients revolted against the isopropyl. I brew up a lot of mixes with essential oils and have to use polysorbate 20 surfactant for them to mix with water-based stuff like Witch Hazel.

I'm thinking of tinkering with an ethyl alcohol (PGA) and tea tree blend, which will neutralize just about anything, LOL. Those can also be mixed with a healthy seed carrier oil such as hemp seed, jojoba or argan oil. That would make it far more easy on the skin.

Ethyl (grain) alcohol is what WHO and the CDC say is most effective for neutralizing these viruses and it's available at most large liquor stores as PGA (95% alcohol or 190 proof). They recommend 70% ethanol, so the PGA can be thinned down with my other ingredients.

See: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/coronavirus-SARS-CoV-2-guidance-environmental-cleaning-non-healthcare-facilities.pdf

KY......