Hand Sanitizer Formula Generator

To help address shortages, this webpage generates a formula for hand sanitizer based on WHO guidelines. Unlike most formulas, it adjusts for the type, strength, and volume of alcohol you have on hand.

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Inspiration

Once hand sanitizer shortages became widespread due to COVID-19, I saw many recipes published for how to make your own. However, many of them had shortcomings:

  • Many are designed for the minimum recommendation 60% alcohol
  • Some use no alcohol or too little, e.g. standard vodka at 40%
  • Most don't provide adjustments for different types and strengths of alcohol. For example, the original WHO formula uses 99.8% isopropyl or 96% ethanol - what if I have 91% or 95%?

I wanted to make it easier for the average person to make an effective sanitizer based on the ingredients they have.

What it does

This webpage generates a formula for hand sanitizer based on WHO guidelines. It adjusts for the type, strength, and volume of alcohol you have on hand.

How I built it

I built it by hand using HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript.

Challenges I ran into

Ideally it would be available in metric and US measurements, but converting metric into US volumes that would work for most people is complicated. One option would be to manually round to the closest common US measurement for common volumes.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

What I learned

I learned the disinfecting properties of alcohol vs. hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide can kill bacterial spores while alcohol does not.

What's next for Hand Sanitizer Formula Generator

  • Get feedback to continue improving it
  • Find ways for it to reach a wide audience
  • Translation?
  • Consider adjusting common volumes and strengths for other countries

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