The high demand for hand sanitiser is causing shortages in supermarkets across the country, but fear not – experts endorse home-made sanitisers as long as they’re made properly.

Dr. Lifeng Kang and Dr. Hien Duong of The University of Sydney’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Faculty of Medicine and Health, respectively, told taste.com.au that home-made sanitisers can be just as effective as the bought stuff as long as the concentration of the alcohol (ethanol or isopropanol) is around 70 per cent. It also has to be kept refrigerated in a covered container because it doesn’t contain the preservatives in the commercial versions.

It’s important to note that the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, says hand-washing with soap and water is the most effective way to get rid of chemicals and germs on your hands.

We have recipes here to tide you over if the supermarket stuff has been swept from the shelves.

The spray version here devised by Wired, is based on the mix recommended by the World Health Organization.

The Spruce has a recipe for a gel version here and below.

How to make a gel sanitiser solution

Mix 2/3 cup rubbing alcohol (99 per cent isopropyl alcohol) or ethanol and 1/3 cup aloe vera gel in a bowl. Transfer to a pump bottle. Include a few drops of essential oil for fragrance.

Use moisturiser after using sanitiser – the high alcohol content is very drying.

If you’d like to make your own aloe vera gel, you can use a fresh leaf, (cut off one of the outer leaves from the base of a plant), or you can use a store-bought leaf. Wash the leaf well, removing any dirt, and stand it upright in a cup or bowl for 10-15 minutes, allowing the resin to drain. Wash the leaf again, and peel off the thick skin using a small knife or vegetable peeler.

Scoop the aloe vera gel into a blender with a small spoon, and blend until it’s frothy and liquified. The gel will last a week without preservatives.