AUSTIN, Texas – While it can be hard to get your hands on hand sanitizer amid the coronavirus outbreak, you should do your homework before making your own.
One man said he was turning to Tito’s Handmade Vodka to make some sanitizer for his family, but the company quickly shot him down.
Per the CDC, hand sanitizer needs to contain at least 60% alcohol. Tito's Handmade Vodka is 40% alcohol, and therefore does not meet the current recommendation of the CDC. Please see attached for more information. pic.twitter.com/QNEFOXxYPQ
— TitosVodka (@TitosVodka) March 5, 2020
Citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tito's responded to the man on Twitter, saying that sanitizer needs to contain at least 60% alcohol.
“Tito's Handmade Vodka is 40% alcohol, and therefore does not meet the current recommendation of the CDC,” wrote Tito’s on Thursday.
And the man wasn't alone, the company responded to a dozen people who said they planned on making sanitizer out of the vodka.
You shouldn’t panic if your local stores are out of sanitizer. The CDC says washing your hand with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs in most situations.
The CDC recommends following these five steps to wash your hands correctly:
1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
Also on Thursday, the Environmental Protection Agency released a list of disinfectants that it has approved to use against COVID-19.
Note: Officials say there may be additional disinfectants added to the list. Click here for updates.
