Keep Your Hands Clean

Antibacterial hand sanitizer may never replace good old fashioned soap and water as a means of preventing illness, but it is a handy and important back up method.  Public facilities sometimes don’t provide the basics, and a tube of sanitizing gel carried in a purse or backpack can  provide the protection you need.  It is also useful when there is no convenient access to a sink or running water.  A recent study showed that families using hand sanitizer and practicing basic good hygiene reduced the spread of stomach flu from one to another by as much as 59 per cent.  

Hand sanitizers are effective against a wide range of germs and viruses, including flu, the dreaded MRSA, hepatitis, HIV, tuberculosis, and E.coli, as well as the common cold and stomach bugs.  Some formulas contain emollients that soften the hands and prevent chapping and dry skin.  In the form of wipes or towelettes, the sanitizer can kill fungus and are as effective as bleach for cleaning hard surfaces.  These products are available as gel, spray, wipes, and foam and in a wide variety of price ranges.  Some are available fragrance free.  Others can be bought in bulk for use in hospitals, schools and the like.  

The active ingredient in most antibacterial hand sanitizers is alcohol, which has been recognized as a disinfectant for over 100 years.  The high concentration of alcohol in these products kills most bacteria and many viruses including those resistant to antibiotics.  But it is important that the product contain at least 60 percent alcohol.  Some products contain around 40 percent and are not effective.  Be sure to read labeling information.  It is also vital to keep in mind that hand sanitizers cannot remove visible dirt, blood, fecal matter, and the like.  These materials must be rinsed or wiped away.  Use a dollop of sanitizer at least the size of a dime and spread over your entire hand including between the fingers.  Keep rubbing until the gel or foam has evaporated.  If this only takes 10 or 15 seconds, you haven’t used enough.

Recipes for home made antibacterial hand sanitizer include grain alcohol, aloe vera gel, glycerin and the essential oils lavender and tea tree oil as ingredients.  It is important to keep the alcohol level high enough to kill the germs.  Various essential oils are considered  effective against germs, viruses, fungi and microbes.  Perfume oils should not be substituted for essential oils.

In summary, your first defense against disease causing agents should be hand washing with soap and water but everyone knows this is not always possible.  Antibacterial hand sanitizers are a handy supplement to handwashing and have been proven to reduce the incidence of disease.  An alcohol content of sixty percent is absolutely essential for efficacy.  Home made products are effective if the alcohol content is high enough.  Visible soil has to be removed before using gel or foam, but beyond that, antibacterial hand sanitizer  is an excellent way to add protection  in the battle against disease.