Is surgical spirit the same as rubbing alcohol?!

[Flossie44]

I’m wanting to make my own hand sanitiser. Read rubbing alcohol and aloe Vera does the job.
Is surgical spirit ok for the job?!

I tried to get some in my local Boots yesterday. They had none left and said they wouldn't be getting any more.
I did manage to get some toilet rolls today though. Which is good as we only had one left.

Just seen this

https://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/GuidetooLocalProduction.pdf

Dr Hillary Jones said 75% surgical spirit and 25% you favourite moisturizer has anyone tried that?

Maybe he knows what he's talking about, but I'd have thought including anything oily might reduce its effectiveness.

Yes but moisturiser reduces the effectiveness!

I think the theory is surgical spirit is 95% proof moisturizer reduces that to 75% proof which is the % proof needed to be effective

But if the moisturiser contains oils then that may impair the effectiveness. Sanitisers don't work so well on greasy hands, and you're supposed to make sure it dries. I'd suggest it's better to keep the moisturiser to apply afterwards.

What about glycerin? That might dissolve better (although I have only the most basic knowledge of chemistry so I may be totally wrong!)

Mentions glycerin https://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/GuidetooLocalProduction.pdf

I tried to make some last night, and the aloe just solidified and dropped out.
So we are on isporopylalcohol with sone lavender oil in. Only for out and about, but think I will also need to take some handcream for afterwards.

We used surgical spirit and banana boat aloe vera gel. Looks like watered down snot and stinks when you first put it on, but them smells a bit like corsodal mouthwash. I added the aloe vera to get it down to between 75-70% alcohol level and to stop skin drying out, as surgical spirit is used to harden skin

For got to say got the branded banana boat aloe gel in Tesco. Was about £3, surgical spirit from the chemist was £2 . Once made up it was about 280 ml

I'm a chemist (though no expertise in disease control).

I think the theory is surgical spirit is 95% proof moisturizer reduces that to 75% proof

No such thing as % proof. 100 degrees proof is about 60% alcohol.

PPs are correct that you want some moisturiser in the booze but too much would make it ineffective. About 20% moisturiser by volume would seem a good bet to me. Glycerol/glycerin would work best with the alcohol.

Failing that, what Errol suggests above about separate moisturising will work best, but as long as the mix doesn't feel greasy and doesn't use too much, I can't see an issue with moisturiser in the alcohol.

A mix of ethanol or isopropyl alcohol will work fine.

Washing hands properly is still better than all of the above.