As we’ve talked about before and most people already know, washing your hands is the best way to stop the flow of germs and reduce your risk of sickness. Aside from soapy water, though, a popular alternative is hand sanitizer. It’s not necessarily used often in place of soap in the restroom, though sometimes it is, but it is used more commonly throughout the work day at someone’s desk or in the kitchen as well as other places.
So, what’s the deal? If we have hand sanitizer, which claims to kill 99.9% of germs, why don’t we use it more often? The question with this is whether or not hand sanitizer is really effective. That’s what this post will get at today. How effective is hand sanitizer and should it be implemented more regularly to help prevent the flow of germs? It’s time to understand your hand sanitizer.
Using hand sanitizer can actually be an acceptable substitute for soap and water depending on the situation. The best way to wash your hands is with plain soap and running water for about a minute, especially if they are visibly dirty with dirt and grime. The great thing about this is that the soap, along with the rubbing action, helps loosen the dirt and then the running water washes it away.
If you don’t have soap and running water, though, the next best thing is an alcohol based hand sanitizer. A hand sanitizer that is at least 60 percent alcohol will kill most bacteria and viruses on contact. They are effective at killing fungi but not bacterial spores. If hands are dirty or greasy from work like gardening or cooking, hand sanitizer will be much less effective because of the grime that creates a barrier between the skin and the product.
There is evidence that hand sanitizer does help prevent colds and other infections. In a study in BMC Infectious Diseases done in 2010, office workers who were encouraged to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer at least five times a day each workday were about two-thirds less likely to get sick than those who continued to just wash their hands.
A common mistake made when using hand sanitizer is not applying enough. The product should be applied with at least a dime size to the palms and rubbed together. Cover all surfaces including palms, back of hand, between fingers, around nails and wrists, just like you would wash your hands.
So in conclusion, hand sanitizer is effective. It kills most bacteria and viruses on contact, but be careful because it does not kill every type of invader. Hand washing after activities like using the restroom or outside work and before eating are still recommended. Regardless, hand sanitizer is a great addition to the hygiene routine and a great addition to the work space to ensure employee health.
If you are a business owner looking to own the hygiene of your company, contact a representative at Business Hygiene today to see what services we can provide you. We understand that sanitation can be a large and daunting task and we want to partner with you in your efforts.
