Some Hand Sanitizers Do Work For Up To 30 Minutes
Not all hand sanitizers are created equal.
It’s like most things in life, and there is no simple answer. Most Antibacterial hand sanitizers are marketed to the public as an effective way to “wash one’s hands” when traditional soap and water are not available. Most manufacturers of hand sanitizers claim that the sanitizers kill 99.9 percent of germs. The assumption is that 99.9 percent of harmful germs are killed by the sanitizers which is the same percentage as soap and water so it is an effective substitute. This is not necessarily the case.
Food and Drug Administration recommends Hand Sanitizers not to be used in Place of Soap and Water
Interestingly enough, the Food and Drug Administration, in regards to regulations concerning proper procedures for food services, recommends that hand sanitizers not be used in place of soap and water but only as an added cleansing. To properly sanitize the hands, soap and water should be used. A hand sanitizer can not and should not take the place of proper cleansing procedures with soap and water.
Sanitizer can not remove the dirt
The reason soap and water can not be replaced is because it removes the dirt and other large particles that hand sanitizer can not. The germs and bacteria on top of visible dirt would be killed but not the germs underneath.
Hand Sanitizer Does Work When Referring To Killing Germs
Here are the important facts you need to remember when using hand santizers:
- Not all hand sanitizers are created equal
Check the percentage of germs killed and amount of alcohol. Experts do not recommend using any alcohol-based sanitizers because of other dangers, but only ones with 60% alcohol or higher kill enough germs. With alcohol-free hand sanitizers, you need to check the kill rate. There are a wide variety ranging from 99% to 99.999% of germ killing power. - Be careful about re-contamination
Alcohol-based products and soap and water only protect you for a few seconds until they dry. So using hand sanitizer and the touching the door knob to leave the room will recontaminate your hands. Alcohol-free products can claim the work longer, but watch the kill rate again. Some claim as high as 6-8 hours but only kill 99% or less which is worse than soap and water. - Alcohol is dangerous.
Alcohol-based products with at least 60% will kill germs, however you are putting 120 Proof alcohol in the hands of your children. It is flammable and will dry out your skin leading to cracking and other problems.
The final answer is to use an Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizer which is 99.999% effective.
