The Benefits of Using Hand Sanitizer

Differences Between Hand Sanitizer and Soap & Water

There’s no doubt the hand sanitizer industry took a swift turn in recent years, and justifiably so. There are germs everywhere! Potentially everything you touch has germs that can cling onto your hands, clothes, and anywhere else really.

Washing your hands is certainly the recommended action, however, that is not always the most practical solution. You might be out shopping, riding a bus, or someplace else where you can’t safely wash your hands, that’s where hand sanitizer comes in. Its mobility and size allow us to take it anywhere, and with just a few drops, your hands are clean and germ-free.

An effective hand sanitizer contains at least 60% alcohol to effectively kill the germs and bacteria needed to keep your hands sanitized. However, there are significant differences between cleaning your hands with soap and water and using hand sanitizer. And depending on the situation, hand sanitizer might be the better choice.

Soap and water are a great combination to remove all or most germs. On the other hand, sanitizer, containing at least 60% alcohol, kills up to 99% of all germs and bacteria – it doesn’t just wash them off. That said, while hand sanitizers might be great for killing germs, they don’t work as well when it comes to cleaning your hands from chemicals or even pesticides. Knowing when to use hand sanitizer and when to wash your hands can maximize your protection against germs and other components that might not be good for you.

The Hand Sanitizer Industry

During the past couple of years, the hand sanitizer industry has grown tremendously due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus. Revenues of hand sanitizer grew to $92.3 million in 2021 and are expected to grow another 6-7% in the following years. While the virus may seem to be leveling off, people are still hyper-vigilant about their health and protecting themselves and their families.

How does it Work?

Everyone knows the basics of using hand sanitizer correctly. But are you using it correctly to ensure its effectiveness?

With hand sanitizer, there’s no need to combine it with water as the gel is simply absorbed by your skin. The first step is to make sure there’s no organic matter in your hands, or at least visible matter, such as dirt. Be sure to clean off any visible dirt and grime with a clean cloth before applying the hand sanitizer.

You don’t need to use a lot of hand sanitizer, just squeeze a small amount about the size of a nickel to a quarter into the palm of your hand, depending on the size of your hands. Then rub your hands together repeatedly, making sure you cover your entire hand and fingers up to about 2 inches of your wrist. Continue until you don’t feel any gel remaining and your hands feel dry.

One of the best things about hand sanitizer is that you can use it anywhere! It doesn’t require water, takes less time than soap and water, and doesn’t require a towel to dry afterward. Hand sanitizer works quickly and kills most germs and bacteria leaving your hands clean and germ-free.