Things to Know About Hand Sanitizers

The main concern of everyone in the world right now is how to tackle the novel coronavirus. Safety has become a priority. Gone are the days when you could hug and greet. COVID-19 has made everyone cautious. Practicing social distancing brings you more respect now. Masks have become a clothing accessory. And hand sanitizer can be found in every household. The sales of sanitizer have reached the peak. It's surprising how many people don’t even know the correct usage of hand sanitizer.

Know about Hand Sanitizers

The first misconception that must be cleared is that hand sanitizer is not a replacement for water and soap and must not be regarded as the primary shield. Water and soap are the most effective form of cleaning your hands. But they might not always be available, and so public health experts have told that hand sanitizer is the next best alternative. 

The mechanism of soap and water is that the scrubbing of palms creates friction, and that breaks down the structure of bacteria and loosens the germs, which are then washed down the drain along with water. Hand sanitizer, on the other hand, kills the bacteria and germs, and also the trending coronavirus. However, it is not effective in removing grease and visible dirt particles from the hands.

Hand sanitizer does have an upper hand when it comes to time consumption. When you enter a shopping mall, grocery store, hospitals or any other place, you can see that sanitizer dispensers are installed at the entrance. With a lot of people visiting and leaving those places, it is not possible for them all to wash hands. Hand sanitizer is convenient to use in these situations. 

For maximum results, sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol must be used. More than 60% would kill the germs more efficiently. And if the alcohol content is less than 60%, then it may not work that well against many germs, and would merely control the growth of the germs and not kill them. Non-alcoholic hand sanitizer is gentler on the hands as it doesn’t dry or irritate the skin. 

For proper working, proper usage is also important. Take enough sanitizer in the palm, and rub it between both hands. Make sure you entirely cover both hands, including fingertips. Rub in for 20 seconds till the sanitizer dries out. In this case, foam sanitizer is better, as the foam clings to the hand, and all the spots that have been covered with the hand sanitizer foam can be seen. This ensures more appropriate application and sanitizes more effectively. 

Do not use any cleaning product in place of hand sanitizer. Using cleaning spray or anti-bacterial cleaning wipes on hands and skin is very harmful. These products are made to clean hard non-porous surfaces such as plastic, glass, granite etc. and must not be used on skin. 

Making sanitizer at home, instead of buying them from shops is proven to be ineffective. Killing germs is a serious issue as it revolves around your safety and the safety of those around you. It requires professionalism and must be left to the professionals. Also, adding rubbing alcohol to an alcohol-free sanitizer will not make it work the same as an alcohol-based sanitizer.

Sanitizer can become harmful if not kept in a safe, dry environment, and away from direct sunlight. They are highly flammable, and must be kept away from fire or electric wires. It is also toxic if consumed. Keep away from the reach of children, and consult a doctor if ingested. 

Hygiene Labs India