Hand Sanitizer

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Washing your hands with soap is an effective way to kill germs and help stop the transmission of COVID. However, it is not always possible to wash your hands.  Alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at least 70% ethanol (ethyl alcohol) are effective in killing a wide range of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi, due to their ability to denature proteins and dissolve lipids.   Alcohol based sanitizer has been shown to be effective at neutralizing enveloped viruses like SARs-CoV2, the virus responsible for COVID.

Alcohol in hand sanitizer must be at a concentration greater than 60% to be effective. Alcohol is most effective in a 70-75% solution. Higher concentrations of alcohol do not have a greater antiseptic benefit because solutions need a certain amount of water to work correctly.  In laboratory testing, ethyl alcohol solutions at 70% are effective in killing 99.9% of bacteria and household germs within 30 seconds of contact.

To use hand sanitizer effectively: liberally apply to both hands; rub hands together for at least 20 seconds; and allow them to dry. Hand sanitizer should be stored at temperatures between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit to maintain its effectiveness. Alcohol based hand sanitizer is flammable, so keep it away from any open flame. However, hand sanitizer will not self combust if you accidentally leave it in your hot car; it requires an ignition source to catch fire. Your hand sanitizer should not contain methanol, a dangerous alcohol substitute, that has been found in some hand sanitizers produced in Mexico. The FDA maintains a list of potentially dangerous hand sanitizers.