How to Make Rehydration Drink at Home | Simple ORS Recipe

When dehydration drains your body’s fluids and electrolytes, a homemade rehydration drink made from water, sugar, and salt is the most direct way to restore what you’ve lost. The mixture works because sugar helps your intestines absorb the salt and water more efficiently than plain water alone. This is the same principle behind commercial oral rehydration solutions (ORS) sold at pharmacies, and you can mix it in about two minutes with kitchen staples.

The ratio matters more than you might expect. Too little salt and your body won’t retain the fluid; too much sugar can draw water out of your system and make diarrhea worse. Stick to the measurements below and you’ll have a drink that closely mirrors what health systems recommend.

The Basic Homemade Rehydration Drink Recipe

Measure them with proper measuring spoons, not silverware, since accuracy is what makes the drink effective.

• 1 liter of clean drinking water
• 6 level teaspoons of sugar
• 1/2 level teaspoon of salt

Combine the ingredients and stir or shake the container until every granule of sugar and salt has fully dissolved. Undissolved crystals can irritate the stomach and make the drink harder to tolerate. Drink it promptly after mixing. If you arent using it immediately, refrigerate it and use it within 24 hours, discarding any leftovers after that. At room temperature, aim to finish it within 12 hours.

For a smaller batch, the University of Virginia Health system offers an equivalent variant: mix 4 cups of water with 1/2 teaspoon of table salt and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Some people add a splash of lemon juice or a sugar-free flavoring like Crystal Light to improve the taste, though this is optional.

When to Use a Rehydration Drink

Homemade ORS is appropriate for mild to moderate dehydration caused by diarrhea, vomiting, fever, or heavy sweating. Sip it slowly rather than gulping it down, especially after stomach illness. Health guidance notes that WHO-style ORS is suitable for all ages, including infants, but babies and young children should be watched closely during any dehydrating illness.

Homemade rehydration drinks are not a replacement for medical care in serious situations. If the person has kidney disease, heart failure, or is on a sodium-restricted diet, check with a clinician before using salt-containing rehydration drinks, since the added salt can be harmful for these conditions.

Variations on the Standard Recipe

Health systems publish a handful of alternative bases for people who find plain water and sugar hard to stomach. The citrus flavor masks the saltiness considerably.

If you want to know which commercial drinks hold up best against stomach illness, our roundup of the best drinks for norovirus compares the options side by side.

Common Mistakes and Storage Rules

The most frequent error is guessing at measurements. A heaping spoonful of salt changes the safety of the drink, and a heaping spoonful of sugar changes the osmolarity, which can pull fluid the wrong direction. Level every spoonful and use a proper measuring cup for the water.

Water quality matters as much as proportions. Use clean, safe drinking water. Where tap water quality is uncertain, boil and cool the water first or use bottled water. The second most common mistake is storing the finished drink too long. Make only what you need, and refrigerate anything left over. When in doubt, make a fresh batch. If the drink develops an off smell or taste, throw it out.