Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, more attention has been given to hand washing than ever before.  During the early days of the pandemic, hand sanitizers flew off the shelves.  Stores couldn’t keep them in stock as people were buying them in bulk.  Many distilleries that historically made alcohol and spirits for consumption shifted operations to sanitizers to help keep up with demand and take advantage of a new business opportunity. In this article, we will discuss sanitizers versus hand washing and what you should know.

What Is Hand Sanitizer?

According to the United States Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hand sanitizers are an antiseptic substance. Sanitizers have between 60% to 95% alcohol content. The alcohol used in hand sanitizers is either ethyl and/or isopropyl alcohol.

Positives of Hand Sanitizers

There are many positives to hand sanitizers.  Hand sanitizers do not require water and therefore the portability of it makes it a convenient choice.  Hand sanitizer can come in large amounts that are suitable for multiple people to use or it can come in small amounts designed to be able to take for travel, including air travel.  Additionally, hand sanitizer can be stored for up to three years without expiration.

Negatives of Hand Sanitizers

The biggest drawback to hand sanitizer is that it only kills surface bacteria on the and but does not eliminate germs or microbes.  Furthermore, due to the overuse of hand sanitizer, many forms of bacteria have evolved to become more resistant to the effects of the sanitizer.

Hand Washing

Hand washing has shown to be the most effective way to kill germs and bacteria.  It is important to wash hands until you get soapy lather on both sides.  Special care should be taken to wash between fingers and under nails where dirt, bacteria, and germs may accumulate.

Challenges to Hand Washing

Hand washing is only effective when there is clean water and adequate soap available.  Without access to a clean reliable water source, then hand washing is not possible.  If there is water but no soap available, then the rinsing of the hands will not do anything to kills the germs and bacteria.

Sanitizers Versus Hand Washing: Which is Better?

According to the CDC and medical professionals, hand washing is the most effective form of killing bacteria and germs.  When handwashing is not an option, due to lack of available resources then hand sanitizers should be used as an alternative.  One who uses hand sanitizer should keep in mind that it is not 100% effective and should wash their hands with soap at the first available option.

The Green Bee Maid Standard

At Green Bee Maid, we take hygiene very seriously.  It is standard practice in our company for our employees to clean their hands with soap and water and use hand sanitizer as an additional backup.  This is not only to protect the health and safety of our employees but also our customers as well.