The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advocates the use of alcohol-based sanitizers to prevent viruses, such as H1N1, when you're unable to wash your hands. In the case of small children whose hands are not visibly soiled, hand sanitizers are sometimes more effective because kids don’t always thoroughly wash their hands, according to the Ohio Department of Health. Hand sanitizers contain proprties that make them effective.
Ethanol
Some alcohol-based hand sanitizers include ethanol alcohol. The alcohol kills most viruses as well as bacteria. Alcohol won’t cut through grime, though. So, dirt, feces, blood and other body fluids should be wiped off or washed away.
Isopropanol and Ethyl
Other alcohol-based hand sanitizers contain isopropanol alcohol or a combination of ethanol and isopropanol. Both of these types of alcohol are equally effective and work the same way as ethyl alcohol. Alcohol gels strip the outer layer of oil on your skin, destroying any microorganisms on your hands. After using an alcohol-based sanitizer, re-growth of bacteria occurs slowly. For effectiveness, you should use a dime-size dollop of alcohol gel and rub it into your hands for 30 seconds. If your hands are dry after 15 seconds, you did not use enough sanitizer.
Water and Moisturizer
Hand sanitizers do have some water in them. While hand sanitizers with 60 to 95 percent alcohol are the most effective, increasing the concentration of alcohol higher than that decreases the potency of the sanitizer. This is because proteins are not easily broken down without water. On the other hand, sanitizers that are less than 60 percent alcohol will not kill most harmful bacteria and viruses. Most brands of hand sanitizer also include a moisturizer to minimize skin irritation.
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