As per the guide of CDC, they recommended alcohol-based hand sanitizers with an alcohol content of 60% or greater (70% or more) for use in fighting Covid-19. But from market, you’ll see that there’s 2 kinds hand sanitiser: alcohol based and alcohol-free hand sanitiser, which one will you choose? Is the non-alcohol hand sanitiser as effective as alcohol based to kill germs? Hope this article will give you some idea, and get the right products for you.

Touchless hand sanitiser in hospital

The Benefits and Concerns About Gel Alcohol Hand Sanitizers

The active ingredient in hand sanitizers that are alcohol-based is usually either alcohol or isopropanol. Both are effective antiseptic ingredients that help these alcohol sanitizers kill germs and bacteria. They share many of the same properties. Their main difference is on a molecular level. One distinct property that both of these hand sanitizer ingredients share is that they are highly flammable. The FDA recommends that hand sanitizers should contain 60%-95% alcohol for maximum efficacy. This high concentration of alcohol in hand sanitizers has long raised concerns in both the media and the health care community. Hospitals and other facilities need to consult their local fire authorities when planning the installation of alcohol-based hand sanitizer dispensers. Facilities must adhere to local regulations and codes when dealing with such flammable compounds.

Another concern with alcohol-based hand sanitizers is the potential toxicity hazards upon ingestion. Most dispensing mechanisms for hand sanitizers are easy to open. They are also placed in accessible locations to encourage use. Caution must be exercised whenever children and chemicals share the same environment. With the high levels of alcohol concentration these hand sanitizers contain, consumption can lead to acute alcohol poisoning in children and adults.

A common side-effect often associated with the repeated use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers is the dryness and cracking that it can cause on hands. This occurs because the high concentration of alcohol in the hand sanitizer strips away oils in your skin that retain moisture. The temporary absence of these oils can lead to increased skin irritation on the hands. It can even lead to symptoms of dermatitis. Another complaint is that the alcohol found in these products are damaging to floors and walls. The alcohol can stain the areas where dispensers may drip or leak.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizer products have long been the recommended course of action (second to hand washing) by leading global health organizations such as the CDC, WHO, and the FDA. It is still the most used hand sanitizer in hospitals and other health care facilities. Its effectiveness has been proven time and time again, withstanding the test of time.

using hand sanitiser to do sanitzing

What’s the Pros and Cons of Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizers?

Most non alcohol hand sanitizer products available today come in a water-based foam. The no alcohol hand sanitizers contain the active ingredient Benzalkonium Chloride, a quaternary ammonium. Unlike alcohol-based products, alcohol-free hand sanitizers often contain less than a 0.1% concentration of Benzalkonium. No alcohol hand sanitizers still provide the same level of protection as alcohol-based products. The rest of the solution is mainly water and will often be enhanced with skin conditioners such as vitamin E and green tea extract. It’s non-flammable, and the low concentrations of Benzalkonium make it relatively non-toxic. However, these products are all recommended for external use only.

Alcohol-free hand sanitizers entered the market to address the concerns and complaints of gels. In many ways, they have succeeded. Typically, these solutions are much easier on the hands. They also pose much less of a threat in cases of accidental ingestion. Hand sanitizers without alcohol are a low fire hazard and are non-damaging to surfaces. One other clear benefit is the extended protection that occurs. Alcohol-based product’s ability to kill bacteria ends once the product has dried on the skin, but benzalkonium-based products continue to provide protection well after the solution has dried.

One possible drawback with the non alcohol solutions is that they most often come in the form of a foam. While this usually results in a more pleasing experience for the user, it does require a special foaming mechanism in the dispenser. This can make converting from a non-foaming system cost prohibitive as it would need new hardware to be installed.

Despite some clear benefits, alcohol-free based products have yet to gain real traction in the health market. Alcohol-based gels continue to be favored by health organizations, and therefore seen as a more credible solution by many in the field. It’s not that these organizations don’t recognize the effectiveness of benzalkonium based solutions. The term “alcohol-free” could apply to any number of products on the market. It’s a broad term that makes it impossible for agencies like the CDC and WHO to endorse.

Portal floor stand dispenser, automatic sanitiser dispenser

What Kind of Hand Sanitizer is suitable to you?

Both types of products do more or less the same job in killing harmful microbes. Choosing the right product by weighing your needs against your environment, budget, and personal preference.

For example, if you work in school, correctional facility, rehab center or manufacturing facility, an alcohol-free system would most likely provide you the most peace of mind and protection from ingestion or fire. If you work in a hospital that requires you to follow strict guidelines set by the FDA, you may need to go with an alcohol-based gel. You may also wish to go with a gel if you are looking for a personal solution to carry in a handbag or backpack. Alcohol-based dispensers are often smaller and more compact than the foaming mechanisms required with alcohol-free products. This can be ideal for travel and portability.

In terms of budget, alcohol-free hand sanitizers are less expensive with more applications per gallon. A gallon of each may cost the same, but you will usually get 2,000 to 3,000 more applications out of the foaming hand sanitizers. This is because the dispensing mechanism adds air to the solution during application, making the product go much further before running out.

Whatever your needs, use an effective hand sanitizer as part of your preventative defense against illness and disease. This is a crucial part of a healthy environment.

The post Is alcohol-free hand sanitizer as Effective as Alcohol-Based? appeared first on Doctorclean.

Why should you have hand sanitizer dispensers in your home?

Even though there are many hygiene myths that you shouldn’t believe, washing hands is definitely not one of them. Quite the opposite, if COVID-19 taught us anything, it is the importance of handwashing. However, since hand washing isn’t always a viable and quickest option, hand sanitizers are the next best weapon for fighting germs.

Sanitize hands with alcohol hand rub

Caption: Although washing hands with warm water and soap is the best way to stay protected, sometimes it’s not avao;able. Therefore, make sure to always have a hand sanitizer close to you, regardless of where you are.

Alt: using automatic hand sanitiser dispenser to get hand sanitizer

Here are just some of the reasons to have them in your home:

• If you invest in contactless hand sanitizer dispensers, everyone in your home will be able to use them without risk of cross-contamination.
• Although it might be a more significant investment initially, they are cost-effective and will help you save money in the long run.
• Whether you use a manual or automatic hand sanitizer dispenser, it will always doze the sanitizer just right.
• By placing them all over your home, you’ll raise awareness, and your family members, as well as your guests, are more likely to use them.
• Most importantly, they are the best and easiest way to ensure you and your family are safe and prevent germs from entering and spreading through your home.

Ideal places for hand sanitizer dispensers in your new home

First of all, congratulations on moving into your new place. It’s an exciting new chapter for you and your family. Whether you are about to remodel or you are moving into a fully furnished place, you get to make it into a home that’s perfect for you.

However, don’t forget to transfer your hygiene habits with you and make sure to place hand sanitizer dispensers in strategic locations around your place. That way, you’ll ensure your family stays healthy and safe not only from COVID-19 but from any other contagious virus or infection.

Entrance

Did you know that a single doorknob could potentially be the cause of widespread disease in your home? Therefore, make sure to have a hand sanitizer dispenser at the entrance point to your new home.

That way, all the household members, your guests, and anyone else coming to your home can make sure not to potentially bring any germs or viruses inside. Make sure to place your hand sanitizer dispenser somewhere everyone can see it. You can also print out a witty note to place above it to remind them to use it.

The kitchen

Your kitchen is also one of the places where a hand sanitizer dispenser is a must. You’ll be bringing groceries you don’t know who touched before you, and you need to make sure any member of your household can disinfect their hands quickly after touching them.

A woman using automatic hand sanitiser dispenser to get the sanitiser

Caption: After you’re done remodeling your new kitchen, make sure to strategically place hand sanitizer dispensers.

Alt: A woman using autoatic hand sanitiser dispenser

If you plan on remodeling your kitchen before you move in, make sure to do it in an affordable way. There are simple ways to refresh things without replacing them. If you plan on hiring contractors to do parts of the work, ensure they’re safe, too, by leaving hand sanitizer dispensers for them.

Bathroom

You might think that washing hands after using the bathroom is a normal part of everyone’s hygiene. However, in a survey done in 2016 on 1,000 adults, 67% admitted to not using the soap but just rinsing with water. Also, around 82% of people said they’ve seen people skipping handwashing in total.

Therefore, as you can never know what kind of hygiene habits your guests might have, leave a hand sanitizer dispenser in your bathroom, too. As well as at the entrance point, you can leave a witty poster to remind everyone how critical clean hands are.

Living room and bedrooms

The living room and bedrooms in your new home are also where you should place hand sanitizer dispensers to enforce good hand hygiene. However, it’s more important to have them accessible to your kids as they are more likely to forget to wash their hands.

By placing hand sanitizer dispensers in your kids’ room, you’ll be showing them the importance of good hygiene. However, remember that you’ll need to explain to them how to properly use hand sanitizers as ingestion can be very dangerous.

If you have toddlers, it would be better to keep them out of their reach. You don’t want them left unsupervised as they could potentially harm themselves.

Home office

Regardless of whether you are the only person using your home office, it’s crucial to have a hand sanitizer at your arms reach. Your desk, phone, computer keyboard, and computer mouse can be a suitable ground for bacteria and germs to grow.

Using hand sanitiser in home office

Caption: If you have a home office, it’s imperative to add hand sanitizer. Keyboard, mouse, and other office supplies are great places for germs to collect and multiply.

Alt: A home office is where to place hand sanitizer dispensers

For instance, if you just dropped your kids at school, picked up groceries, and came back home but didn’t disinfect your hands, you could potentially transfer harmful microorganisms to your home office. From there, they could quickly spread to other parts of your home and endanger the rest of your family.

The bottom line

Now that you know where to place hand sanitizer dispensers in your new home, you can ensure your family and guests are always germ-free. We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Stay safe!

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Now more than ever, clean and disinfected hands are our priority. Find out where to place hand sanitizer dispensers around your new home.

The post Where to place hand sanitizer dispensers in your new home appeared first on Doctorclean.