To double-check it’s effective, you’ll need to use it correctly.
You’ll also need to know when it may not be the best choice.
Hand sanitizer kills many, but not all, microbes.
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It isn’t a good way to clean chemicals off your hands, though.
This article explains how hand sanitizer works.
It also describes how to use it properly and when washing with soap and water is better.
The CDC says you should wash your hands with soap and water whenever possible.
Hand sanitizer can be used after a soap and water wash.
It can also be used when washing isn’t an option.
Bacteria are one-celled living things.
A cell wall surrounds their genetic material.
Viruses aren’t considered living things because they need a host to survive.
Many viruses have an outer envelope made of fat and protein.
That layer protects their genetic material.
Alcohol dissolves the outer layer or cell wall.
Once they break down, microbes can’t reproduce or survive.
Hand sanitizers don’t kill everything.
For example, they are not as effective on viruses that don’t have an outer layer.
Still, there is some evidence that they can protect you from many infections.
For example:
Sometimes the results are mixed.
What to Look For
The CDC recommends products with at least 60% alcohol.
Most contain between 60% and 95%.
Higher alcohol content doesn’t make the product more effective.
To work well, these products also need to contain some water.
Some products claim to sanitize your hands but have little or no alcohol.
These products will not protect you as well.
Don’t use products that contain methanol.
Methanol is wood alcohol.
The FDA warns that hand sanitizers made with methanol can be toxic or deadly.
The alcohol can be fatal to a young child if it is swallowed.
You should also clean them before and after you prepare food.
Vigorouslywashing your handswith warm water andsoapfor 20 seconds is best.
Summary
Washing your hands is an excellent way to prevent the spread of infection.
These products work by damaging the protective layer around microbes so they can’t survive.
To use hand sanitizer, start with enough product to cover your whole hand.
Rub it in until your skin is totally dry.
For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
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