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I want to make a hand sanitizer using edible ingredients that i can carry around in a hip flask - anyone know what ingredients i could use? Thanks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_sanitizer

not sure if they would be as effective as the chemically-based "kills all bugs" sanitizers you can get in the shops but i would guess vinegar or lemon juice would be a good start

Thanks Marmalady. What about an alcohol like brandy or vodka? Or tea-tree oil?

if you want a gel mix calcium acetate with high ABV alcohol to make the gel. You could add some Tea-tree oil or similar for a extra kick/smell.
Calc. Acetate. can be made by baking crushing and mixing eggshells with vinegar. then decanting the liquid and drying it out to crystallize the powder.

Look up recipes for Four Thieves Vinegar - said to protect robbers during the Bubonic plague!

Thanks all of you - i will investigate the options raised. By the way, FrozenThunderBolt what is ABX alcohol... is it potentially edible in small traces? So i could be happy eating with my hands after washing with it?

Would Urine not do the trick?

ABV - is a measurement of the strength of the booze - Alcohol By Volume. std vodka is about 40% beer around 5% I would suggest getting something around the 70-80%+ mark if using it as a sanitizer. Rubbed onto the skin in a normal hand washing action it will kill many germs through its toxic (alcohol is a toxin) and desiccating effects. It will at this ABV vaporize off quickly leaving your hands feeling dry, if a little cold. There would be no issue with you eating immediately after using it.

Thanks Jed, i've had a quick look and doesn't look that easy to get but i'll have a proper look later. It sounds like what i want to use. Not sure why some people market non-alcohol handwashes though. Thank you.

I've got a little spray bottle from a bought-hand sanitizer. I just refill it with cheap gin.

southeast-isher wrote:Thanks Jed, i've had a quick look and doesn't look that easy to get but i'll have a proper look later. It sounds like what i want to use. Not sure why some people market non-alcohol handwashes though. Thank you.

You may be able to buy 'Everclear' or medical rubbing alcohol. They will both be ideal.

Thanks all.

Jed, thanks - so i'm thinking of when on holiday in Asia. I may only be able to get drinking alcohol... would something like vodka or brandy be strong enough to kill germs?

southeast-isher wrote:Thanks all.

Jed, thanks - so i'm thinking of when on holiday in Asia. I may only be able to get drinking alcohol... would something like vodka or brandy be strong enough to kill germs?

Yep, it should whack a fair number of them.

thank you :-)

What about Meths? Fairly cheap and alcoholic, although not the drinking variety Cheaper than gin or vodka.