Make a Quick Disinfectant for Minor Cuts and Abrasions

Minor accidents, abrasions and bruises will occur at the most inconvenient of times. It may be useful to know how you can help prevent infection if you don't have a medical disinfectant like rubbing alcohol handy. Here's a simple solution you can assemble from household ingredients if you're in a pinch.

Ingredients

 * Bottled water
 * 1 tablespoon salt
 * 1 teaspoon vinegar (alternatively, fresh lemon juice)

Steps

 * 1) Add bottled water into a glass cup until it is a little more than three-quarters full, making sure that the glass was clean beforehand.
 * 2)  Add salt into water. Salt can be iodized.  The salt used for regular cooking will be ideal. Salt is known to contain many bactericidal properties.
 * 3)  Mix well until all the salt dissolves in water.
 * 4)  Add vinegar and mix well. Any kind of vinegar (processed or natural), will do the trick. Vinegar contains a mild acetic acid, which can cleanse and disinfect wounds. If vinegar is unavailable, fresh lemon juice will also suffice.
 * 5)  Soak into cotton wool and apply to fresh cuts and abrasions on skin. It's preferable to open a sealed pack of cotton wool.
 * 6)  After use, dispose of this liquid. It's not suitable for storage either at room temperature or by refrigeration. Make a fresh preparation each time this procedure needs to be repeated.

Tips

 * Remember this is one time use only. It cannot be saved for later.
 * You could also apply mouthwash or aftershave.
 * Mild boric acid can be used as a weak disinfectant for the eyes.

Warnings

 * If wound or cut is deep seated or lacerated, seek medical help immediately.
 * If there is no evidence of healing, see a medical doctor as antibiotics may need to be administered.
 * Abrasions or cuts caused by rusty or metal objects have to be treated by a medical specialist. Do not try self healing in these instances.
 * Using this disinfectant may be painful to the person it is applied on.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Quickly Treat a Cut or Bleeding Scrape
 * How to Check out Cuts, Scratches and Abrasions
 * How to Remove a Splinter with Baking Soda
 * How to Treat a Burn