COVID-19 has got all of us rushing to the store to buy handwash. Handwash has become the single most important commodity to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Because of this, handwash sales have skyrocketed the past few weeks and in many stores, handwash stocks are running out quickly too. So, why wait in line for hours to buy handwash, when you can make it yourself at home?
Making your own hand wash is not as complicated as it sounds. All you need is the right ingredients and the proper procedure to get started on your DIY handwash.
Here is a detailed guide on how to make a homemade handwash
- Choose a bar of soap: For precautions against COVID-19, it’s essential to use a soap which is antiseptic in nature. It should be made out of a material which can instantly kill germs. In India, you can use a bar of Dettol soap or Lifebuoy soap as the basic ingredient for your homemade handwash. Dettol and Lifebuoy are easily available in all departmental and medical stores. So the first step is to get your hand on an antiseptic soap.
If you want to make a handwash specifically to wash your face, you can use a soap which is used for the same purpose. Depending on the purpose of the homemade handwash, make sure that you choose your raw material accordingly and install the right bathroom technology, which is a soap dispenser in this case, for the final product.
- Grate soap into small pieces: Once you’ve chosen your soap, the next step of making your own handwash involves taking the soap apart and grating it into thin, fine pieces. This can be done with a simple cheese grater. The process can be time-consuming but unless the soap is nicely grated, it will not dissolve properly in the mixture. Thick soap pieces will affect the consistency of the final product, making the handwash thick and lumpy.
If the quantity of grated soap is less, you can use 2-3 more bars of soap, based on your requirements. The more soap you use, the longer the handwash will last. Make sure that your surroundings are clean so as to not get any dirt into the soap pieces.
- Add boiling water to soap: Once you have grated the soap into fine cheese-like slices, you need to add the pieces to boiling water to make handwash. The rationale behind doing is that soap readily and easily dissolves in hot boiling water, thereby giving rise to a nice liquid concentration of soap. Keep in mind that you can do this in a blender, on a stove and even a microwave. If you’re opting for the latter, heat the mixture in 30-second increments, not more than that. Use a microwave-safe water container to heat the soap in a microwave. Boiling water dissolution is an important step in the preparation of handwash.
- Add glycerin to the soap mixture: Glycerin is the major ingredient in all commercially produced soaps and liquid handwashes. Glycerin is the reason why soap melts so beautifully on the skin and gives a great lather while washing. Without glycerin, your DIY handwash will not have a smooth texture and will feel rough on the skin. Around 15-25% of the soap mixture should consist of glycerin.
It is also a safe ingredient to use and has no side effects on the skin. In fact, it only makes it more friendly towards the skin.
- Stir the mixture: Stirring is a very important step in the preparation of handwash. Once the soap is in the water along with glycerin, stir the mixture slowly until the ingredients get evenly distributed in the mixture. You need to patiently stir for 15-20 minutes until the mixture slowly gets thicker. Allow the mixture to cool for 15 minutes after which you need to resume stirring.
- Rest the soap mixture: Your handmade handwash is almost ready. Before you start bottling it, allow the mixture to cool for a good 24 hours. Once the soap has rested well, stir once again to check for the consistency. If it’s too thin, add more soap. If it’s too thick, reheat the mixture and repeat the process. If the consistency is perfect, your DIY handwash is ready to use!
- Add special ingredients: The beauty of making your own homemade handwash liquid is that you can customize it the way you want. You can add aromatic oils, honey and lotion to make it feel smooth and smell great after a long day’s work! Lavender oils are a great option to add to your DIY handwash too! These oils are easily available and you just need to add a small quantity to your soap mixture. You can also learn to make a bath bomb with a few simple ingredients to jazz up your bath time.
Now that you know how to make homemade handwash, there is no need to wait in line and spend so much money on commercial liquid soaps. It’s also a great way to get creative during this lockdown and ensure that you and your family stay safe and maintain hygiene during this pandemic. Check out Jaquar for a range of premium bathroom amenities to help keep your bathroom sanitary effortlessly.