Having healthy hand hygiene is a crucial method for eliminating germs from your hands. The reason handwashing is so important rests on the fact that your hands make constant contact with your face throughout the day, which can allow disease-carrying microbes to enter your system.
There are various methods for keeping your hands clean, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends washing with soap and water as the most effective method. Handwashing can remove many types of germs from your hands, but hand sanitizer is a good backup plan for reducing bacteria when you don’t have a sink nearby.
Here are 7 hand sanitizer do’s and don’ts:
- Do check the concentration is at least 60% alcohol
The CDC advises that hand sanitizer with a concentration between 60-95% will be the most effective at fighting germs on your hands.
Germ-X® Hand Sanitizer’s formulated-in-the-USA original formula has 62% alcohol, and its advanced formula contains 70%.
- Do not ingest hand sanitizer
Most hand sanitizers are ethanol-based. Ethyl alcohol is safe to use on the outside surfaces of your body as directed but can cause poisoning if ingested, even in small quantities.
- Do put enough on your hands to cover all surfaces
Properly washing your hands is the best way to remove germs. However, hand sanitizer works hard to reduce germs significantly. It’s important to use enough sanitizer to cover your hands evenly and rub your hands together until the sanitizer dries.
- Do use hand sanitizer in hospitals and medical offices
Always try to wash your hands with soap and water when in hospitals or doctors’ offices, and especially after leaving. When soap and water aren’t available, hand sanitizer is a good alternative. Many hospitals and doctors’ offices provide no-touch hand sanitizer dispensers for convenience.
- Do not use hand sanitizer to remove harmful chemicals
You should not use sanitizer to remove harmful chemicals from your skin. Handwashing eliminates chemicals from the surfaces of your hands, but hand sanitizer is not intended to remove chemicals from the skin.
- Do rub your hands together until they are dry
Rubbing the hand sanitizer onto your skin until you feel it is completely dry is the best way to ensure the product is sufficiently applied. Wiping off hand sanitizer before it completely dries can potentially reduce the amount of hand sanitizer on your hands.
- Do not store hand sanitizer in a hot and stuffy location
Because one of the core ingredients in many hand sanitizer brands is ethanol alcohol, this makes them flammable. Alcohol hand sanitizers should not be stored over 105 F. It’s best not to keep hand sanitizing products in hot and stuffy locations such as cars. Stay away from open flames while hand sanitizer is on your skin.
Germ-X® for Your Hand Sanitizing Needs 
With so many hand sanitizing options on the market, it can be challenging to choose the best product for your needs. At Germ-X®, we have three different products for use that can help reduce germs on your hands. Our original formula is 62% ethyl alcohol, which meets the CDC recommended guidelines of 60% or more ethanol. In comparison, Germ-X® advanced and advanced with aloe products feature 70% ethyl alcohol for a stronger clean.
Since 1997, Germ-X® has been the trusted choice for healthy living. Germ-X® works so well that it topped the list of the 10 best hand sanitizers meeting CDC guidance. Entire families choose Germ-X® as their go-to hand sanitizer because it is both effective and gentle.
With products formulated in the USA under rigorous testing to meet FDA and CDC guidelines, Germ-X® hand sanitizer stands apart by featuring special ingredients such as moisturizers that help reduce dry skin.
When you buy Germ-X® products, you can be sure that you are getting high-quality, effective hand sanitizers that will fight germs and help moisturize your skin. We are the trusted choice for healthy living.
