DogMaster Distillery producing hand sanitizer during COVID-19 pandemic

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

DogMaster Distillery is working to produce hand sanitizer for the Columbia Police Department, Columbia/Boone County Health Department and City of Columbia during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

"Someone from the police department called, asked if we could make some hand sanitizer for the police department," said Dan Batliner with DogMaster. "It's an alcohol product, we like making alcohol that people like to drink, but if they can clean their hands with it too then that sounds great to us."

For hand sanitizer to be effective, it needs to be at least 60 percent alcohol. Batliner said their final product is about 70 percent alcohol.

"We actually start with 96 percent alcohol. We add water, we add xanthan gum as a thickener, we add some essential oils to make it smell nice to get to a final alcohol percentage of about 70," he said.

Batliner said it's always better to use soap and water, but if you have to use hand sanitizer it's important to make sure you're using it effectively.

"You need to get a good amount on your hands and rub it all over," he said. "Get between your fingers, all over your fingernails and then you need to let it dry for it to do its job."

DogMaster Distillery is currently providing hand sanitizer for the city, but it hopes to soon have the product available for residents.