What would we do without hand sanitizer?

It is portable, easy to use, and efficient at removing many common pathogens.

Plus, not all hand sanitizers are equally effective.

woman using hand sanitizer

Read on for the truth about hand sanitizer.

How does hand sanitizer work?

Still, what is the actual science behind the efficacy of hand sanitizer?

woman using hand sanitizer

In response, these germs then, essentially, “spill their guts.”

TheCenters for Disease Controlrecommends finding a hand sanitizer that has a minimum alcohol concentration of 60 percent.

So be sure to do your due diligence and read product labels.

Purell hand sanitizer

After all, you might never betoocareful.

How does hand sanitizer stack up against hand washing?

Of course, it should be noted there is a potential flaw in this result.

woman using hand sanitizer pump

Still, thereareactually circumstances when a quick squirt of hand sanitizer is considered helpful.

According to theCenters for Disease Control, hand sanitizer is not as effective if your hands are visibly dirty.

Could hand sanitizer contribute to antibiotic resistance?

hand washing

Be cautious about choosing hand sanitizers made with triclosan.

This means that, over time, it could be harder to treat potential bacterial infections.

There’s too little human research to say whether triclosan would affect people in a similar way."

bottles of hand sanitizer

What happens when you swallow hand sanitizer

You will want to take caution with your hand sanitizer.

If accidentally (or purposely) consumed, hand sanitizer could lead to a case of alcohol poisoning.

Furthermore, the CDC shared that young kids might be drawn to more colorful and fragrant hand sanitizers.

woman putting hand sanitizer in hand

The moral of the story is to keep an eye on young children.

That is why you will want to have moisturizer at the ready after using hand sanitizer.

Some hand sanitizers are made with ingredients meant to prevent the unpleasant side effect of dry skin.

woman using hand sanitizer

This chemical also gives many hand sanitizers its “goopiness.”

Not one for recipes?

Don’t worry it’s rather simple.

dry hands

“This keeps the alcohol content around 60 percent.

This is the minimum amount needed to kill most germs.”

First, you should always make your hand sanitizer in a clean space with thoroughly washed hands.

hand sanitizer

Hand sanitizer can kill sperm

Sperm is extremely delicate.

Luckily, there is a hack for that!

According toPureWow,a dot of hand sanitizer for each arm pit will do the trick.

hand sanitizer

Just let it air dry.

The alcohol in hand sanitizer works to kill odor-causing bacteria and reduce sweat, as noted by the site.

It turns out that hand sanitizer has a few other nifty in-a-pinch purposes, too.

deodorant

you’ve got the option to dab a dot on a pimple or bug bite to reduce inflammation.

It can be used for lots of household needs when you are in a bind.

Consider it your pocket-size all-in-one multitasker.

cleaning eye glasses

Made with aloe vera gel and 95% ethanol."

hand sanitizer bottles