Locations:
SearchAdvertisement
The short answer from an infectious disease specialist
A: There are a lot of different recipes out there for using alcohol to make your own homemade hand sanitizer, a trend that started when it was in short supply at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Some distilleries even provided their alcohol for the makers of hand sanitizer because of the high demand.
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
So, while it can be true that alcohol works as a substitute hand sanitizer, you have to understand that for hand sanitizer to be truly effective, it needs to be at least 70% alcohol by volume, in that particular construct. Just pouring alcohol onto your hands isn’t necessarily any good.
There are vodkas out there that go up to 95% alcohol, which would be effective, but most of the vodka you’ll see is only 20% or 30%, which won’t disinfect.
Now that hand sanitizer is widely available again for purchase, your better bet is the manufactured variety — and good old-fashioned handwashing.
– Pediatric infectious disease specialist Frank Esper, MD.
Advertisement
Learn more about our editorial process.
Advertisement
If you’re getting four or more colds a year, your immune system might not be in its best shape
The answer depends on both dosage and drinking habits
Wash your bath towels at least once a week, and washcloths at least twice a week
Forget the myth and answer nature’s call when your bladder feels full
Alcohol provides empty calories, heightens cravings and may slow down your metabolism
Lysol Disinfecting Wipes are just one of more than 500 products approved by the EPA for protection against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19
You’re putting your skin at risk of sunburn and even skin cancer when you pour on the beer
An occasional drink is OK, and you can safely nurse your baby after the alcohol has left your breast milk
When you get bogged down with mental tasks, you can experience mood changes, sleeplessness and more
You can alternate these OTCs to help with pain management and fever reduction
Non-exercise activity thermogenesis is all the activity we do that’s not technically exercise but is still important to your health and well-being
