Not all hand sanitizers are created equal. Is yours protecting you from coronavirus?
As fears surrounding coronavirus increase, stores across the country are facing hand sanitizer shortages.
Health officials have emphasized the importance of washing your hand regularly to avoid being infected with COVID-19, and many have been stocking up on hand sanitizer for instances where soap and water isn’t available.
But is hand sanitizer really protecting against the virus? Here’s what health experts say.
Washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds is best when possible, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It “reduces the amounts of all types of germs and chemicals” on your hands and is generally better at killing certain germs.
If you’re not in a place where washing your hand is possible, hand sanitizer can be used instead, the CDC says.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can “quickly reduce the number of microbes” but they won’t kill all types of germs, according to the CDC.
If you’re going to use hand sanitizer as a hand-washing alternative, it’s important to use it correctly and to use the right kind.
The CDC recommends only using hand sanitizers that are 60 to 95 percent alcohol.
If hand sanitizer has less than 60 percent, it may not work as well at killing many germs and may just “reduce the growth of germs” instead of killing them, the CDC says.
It’s important to rub the sanitizer all over your hands until they are dry, the CDC says. Don’t dry them with hand towels or dryers.
But getting any hand sanitizer might prove difficult right now.
Retailers across the country are facing shortages of some products, including hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies and toilet paper, due to a buying frenzy sparked by worries over coronavirus.
This has led some stores to place purchasing limits on products in high demand.
The good news is you can make your own hand sanitizer by mixing alcohol with aloe vera gel, McClatchy News reports. You can also add a few drops of essential oil.
The important thing: Make sure the solution is at least 60 percent alcohol.
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 11:02 AM with the headline "Not all hand sanitizers are created equal. Is yours protecting you from coronavirus?."
