Almost everyone has come across hand sanitiser at one point or another in their lives, whether it’s in the toilet, at school, or perhaps you carry one for your commute on public transport. They help kill bacteria and reduce diseases and infection.
But what makes it so popular and what are the benefits of using hand sanitiser or hand antiseptic over more conventional methods and generally?
Is hand sanitiser better than soap water?
This is one of the most commonly asked questions, and the answer really depends on the situation at hand (..geddit?).
For example if you have particularly dirty hands then soap and water will be your best bet as the friction of washing your hands will remove the dirt and any accompanying microbes or bacteria effectively.
If you have been on public transport, work in retail or an office environment then it is nor always convenient or an option to wash your hands properly, and this is where the hand sanitiser really comes into its own, as alcohol based sanitisers will kill the majority of germs and bacteria you may have picked up.
It is also worth noting that if you have greasy, oily or grimey hands from gardening or gardening for example that the sanitiser will be less effective as the grease and oil creates a barrier.
Can hand sanitisers prevent colds and bugs?
There are a number of studies available which have shown that people who use hand sanitiser throughout the day (at least 5 times) were actually two thirds less likely to get ill or call in sick.
Using hand sanitisers in families also showed significantly less sicky and stomach bugs than those families that didn't
Using alcohol based sanitiser has also shown to reduce H1N1 flu virus on hands, preventing wider outbreaks.
Is there a right or wrong way to use hand sanitiser?
Whilst most people would think this is a bit of a silly question, you can actually reduce the effectiveness of the sanitiser by not using enough.
You should be using a 5p sized amount of gel and using it cover both palms, tops and in between fingers including your fingertips and nails (a lot of people touch their face without realising transferring bacteria to your face and mouth).
The whole process should take around 30 seconds.
Also remember to let your hands dry before you touch anything or eat anything. ESE Direct supply a 100ml sized bottle of hand sanitiser with aloe vera which will kill 99.9% of germs, and because alcohol-based sanitiser can be a bit harsh on your hands, this is alcohol-free and also contains Aloe Vera! (and I have a bottle of this sat on my desk as we speak).
So now, 6 years later, it's 2021
If you hadn't heard of hand sanitiser pre-2020 then you certainly will have done now. Thanks (?!) to a certain Coronavirus pandemic, hand sanitiser has become as staple a handbag or jacket pocket accessory as your smart phone and a pack of tissues.
As we saw an unprecedented sudden surge in the need for sanitiser, we worked hard to bring you a new and expansive range. There's large 5 litre bottles of alcohol hand gel, ideal for refilling your smaller sanitiser dispenser. There's also now a wide selection of bottles of sanitiser with an integral pump action dispenser or alcohol hand cleanser spray bottles, both of which are perfect for keeping on your desk or in your car, and we'll let you choose your favourite dispensing action.
As much as regularly applying hand sanitiser is crucial to help prevent the spread of Covid-19, it should not replace traditional hand hygiene but be used alongside it. Hands should of course be washed with soap and water following a trip to the bathroom or after a spot of gardening. We've probably all absorbed the advice that hands should be washed for a minimum of 20 seconds using hot water and a jolly good lathering of soap. If you don't happen to have a stopwatch handy, and lets face it, who does on a visit to the loo?, have a good old-fashioned sing-song instead. Just two verses of Happy Birthday and you're done, you can address your message to whoever you wish, even sing it to yourself, happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, and it doesn't even need to be your actual birthday.
Once you've washed your hands and wished yourself a very happy birthday, apply a generous helping of sanitiser gel, ensuring it goes in between your fingers and under your nails and you're all fresh and safe to go on your anti-bacteria way. If you have any questions about our range of hand sanitising gels and sanitising equipment, please call our friendly customer service team on 0808 163 3704