Getting into the habit of using an instant hand sanitizer is a modern solution to avoid all the cold and flu germs that are easily spread by hand-to-hand contact. Washing our hands with soap is probably the best and simplest way to get rid of germs but it’s not always possible to be near a sink.

Anti-bacterial hand sanitizers are 99.9% effective in killing germs instantly on contact. If you use an alcohol based one, make sure it’s at least 60% alcohol because according to the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) that’s the necessary percentage to be effective. Alcohol-based hand rubs significantly reduce the number of germs on your skin and are fast acting.

Here’s the correct way to use a hand sanitizing gel:

• Apply the gel to the palm of one hand
• Rub your hands together
• Rub the gel over all surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry
• Make sure you get under and around your fingernails

Hand sanitizers are meant to be used for killing germs and aren’t a substitute for washing to remove dirt and grime off your hands. A good time to use one is:

• After blowing your nose or coughing
• After handling garbage
• After handling pets
• Before and after tending to someone who is sick
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After changing diapers
• After going to the bathroom
• Before eating or preparing food
• After shaking hands esp. with someone who has a cold or flu
• After touching an ATM, escalator handrails or elevator buttons
• After using a computer keyboard – especially if it belonged to someone else

There are different types of hand sanitizers.

Alcohol Hand Sanitizer

Most of us are familiar with the alcohol based kind. Purell is probably the most recognized name in this category. It’s an excellent product and does a thorough job of killing the bacteria and viruses that can make you sick.

Alcohol Free Hand Sanitizer

The products with alcohol can be very irritating to some people especially when you have to use them many times throughout the day. These non-alcohol gels are every bit as effective in eliminating germs and also have the 99.9% ability to instantly kill them. They are easy on your skin and won’t leave it feeling dry and irritated. They are gentler and safer to use on and around children and pets.

Some brand names of alcohol free hand sanitizers are:

• EO
• SkinWear
• CleanWell
• Hands2GO
• The Germinator
• Soapopular®

SkinWear is the most unique of all the hand sanitizers because not only does it kill instantly, but it creates a barrier on your skin that will continue to kill new germs for up to 8 hours. It’s like an invisible shield to keep your hands germ-free.

Remember – clean hands save lives. Keeping your hands clean is one of the best ways to keep from getting sick and spreading illnesses. An instant hand sanitizer is the next best thing to washing your hands and with the 1 oz bottles, it’s a lot easier to carry around than your bathrom sink!