Flavor 101: NON-Edibles DIY Disinfectants and Sanitizers

By Eve Victory

National Park College Hospitality and Tourism Management classes are on hold, but that doesn’t mean we can’t share a recipe. Given the current state of the world, here are two great recipes you can post on your frig right now. Be safe everyone. The stores are mostly out of disinfectant sprays and hand sanitizer. BUT you can make your own!

BLEACH BASED

“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.

ALCOHOL BASED

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.

A native New Yorker, Eve Victory has called Hot Springs home since 2003. Working for years as an event and tradeshow planner and personal chef, Eve is currently the Hospitality and Tourism Instructor at National Park College. For information on how to turn your education into a career in the second largest industry in Hot Springs, contact Eve at evictory@np.edu.

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