Reasons to Use a Hand Sanitizer

You don’t have to be a germophobe like TV detective Adrian Monk to know the importance of hygiene, particularly the necessity to wash hands. In a time such as this when we’re faced with a pandemic, we realize the great importance of hygiene in helping prevent viruses from spreading.

Still, it’s not always possible to wash your hands with soap and water, especially when we’re out and about. This is where a hand sanitizer comes in helpful. Sanitizers are gel-like products that contain alcohol and were created to effectively kill germs.

Reasons to Use Antibacterial Sanitizers

Portability – Coronavirus pandemic or not, having an antibacterial hand sanitizer at hand can be a lifesaver in various situations. And since they come in a wide range of options, you can easily find one that’s compact enough to fit in your pocket or bag. They can be your best pal when you’re travelling and can’t find a bathroom to wash your hands before you have a snack, for example.

Decreasing Illness-Related Absenteeism in Schools – The longer kids are absent from school, the more problems they’re going to have when it comes to their learning. With the help of instructions on how to properly wash with water and soap, and how to use hand sanitizer, scientists have shown that it’s possible to cut down on student absenteeism due to gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses, even during seasons of influenza. It’s needless to say that when both kids and parents maintain their hand hygiene, wash up and use sanitizers properly before eating, after being in public places and using the bathroom, there are going to be fewer illnesses spreading among families too.

Moisturizing – As mentioned, the gels, i.e. sanitizers, contain alcohol and that’s why they may not be everyone’s favourites, considering how it’s an ingredient that dries the skin. Luckily though, there are endless options nowadays that you can choose from to curb this issue, like in the instances when you decide to get a sanitizer that also contains moisturizing ingredients such as essential oil extracts.

Additional Uses

You’d be surprised to know there are various other ways you can use an alcohol-based gel, apart from keeping your hands squeaky clean.

Clean Makeup Brushes and Sponges – If you regularly use makeup, you know how difficult it can be to maintain makeup brushes and sponges clean. This daunting process might be the reason you skip cleaning them so often. This, in turn, is a big no-no since they come in contact with your skin and pose a danger to your health. If you feel that it’s too time-consuming, just wash them a bit and rub some sanitizer on them. Finish up by letting them air-dry – you’d be amazed by the outcome.

Clean Heat Styling Hair Tools – Same as with makeup tools, you have to keep your hair styling tools clean as well so that they’re free of both hair products and bacteria. When not in use and not heated, wipe them with some antibacterial sanitizer on a cloth, let them dry for a bit, wipe them again with a dry cloth, and they’ll be ready for use again.

Clean Glasses – One of the major struggles of wearing glasses daily is keeping them clean at all times. In this case, you’d find sanitizers to be your best ally. All you need to do is just apply a bit of sanitizer on both lenses and wipe them with a cloth or a paper towel gently to make them spotless.

Dry Shampoo Substitute – Sometimes you don’t have the time to wash your hair, other times you’re just lazy. Luckily, we live in an era of dry shampooing. But even if you don’t have one at hand, you can use a gel sanitizer instead. Apply a bit of it on your hand and run it through your hair roots. Then, finish up by combing your hair so that it looks refreshed.

Things to Note

As versatile as sanitizers can be, they aren’t magic solutions that simply clean any dirt, all types of germs, or chemicals from your hands. To make the most of them when your hands are particularly greasy or when you’ve been handling any pesticides and other chemicals, for example, it’s still recommended to wash with water and soap first before applying the alcohol gel.

As for germs, there are some like the Clostridium difficile and Cryptosporidium that can’t be killed by sanitizers – you have to wash your hands with soap instead. In other words, resort to using sanitizers only when you don’t have other alternatives, and make sure they have enough alcohol in them to be effective (about 60%).