Smart Shopping for Alcohol Hand Sanitizers

Next time you pack your bag for a day at the ball park or the zoo with the kids, remember to put a bottle of hand sanitizer in there. When you're some place where it can be difficult to find a restroom to wash your hands, alcohol sanitizers are a simple and effective way to protect yourself and your family from infection.

Although most hand gels or sanitizers claim to kill 99.9 percent of harmful germs and bacteria, hand sanitizers with less than 60 percent alcohol are not effective. In fact, using an alcohol sanitizer with a low concentration of alcohol might not reduce bacteria on your hands at all. For example, to kill Staph aureus, the bacteria responsible for MRSA (methicillin resistant staph aureus) infections, you should use a sanitizer with at least 62 percent alcohol.

Here are some tips on choosing and using an alcohol hand sanitizer:

What to Look for

Select a hand gel with between 62 percent and 95 percent ethyl alcohol (higher than 95 percent alcohol ironically might be less effective). The higher the concentration (up to 95 percent, that is) the more effective the sanitizer, so a 70 percent sanitizer is better than 60 percent.

Rub it vigorously into your hands, including in between your fingers and along your nails, until the gel has dried completely. You should use enough gel to keep rubbing for 20 seconds before it dries. If the alcohol evaporates in less than 15 seconds, then you're not using enough.

You should use a hand sanitizer after:
Sneezing, blowing your nose, or coughing
Using shopping carts
Going to the gym
Using public computers, telephones, or ATMs
Handling a baby diaper or toys
Playing with small children or attending places such as parks and jungle gyms
Coming in contact with animals, including your own beloved pet
before eating, especially at that picnic lunch

Common Pitfalls

One downside to using an alcohol sanitizer is that it does not work if your hands are visibly soiled. In that case, you'll just have to find the nearest sink, and do it the old fashioned way: Wash vigorously with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.