The Importance of Using a Quality Hand Sanitiser
Can homemade sanitiser ever be as effective manufactured sanitiser?
In short, the answer is no. Sanitiser is made up of a specific set of ingredients that then go through strict testing to ensure they are fully safe and protective.
There are three key things to look out for to ensure your sanitiser is fully effective:
1. Alcohol percentage
The most important factor to consider when looking at whether hand sanitiser is effective is alcohol content. Alcohol kills germs on hands through protein denaturation and dissolving the lipid membrane of germs.
For sanitiser to be fully anti-microbial (or effective on germs) it must contain at least 70 per cent ethyl alcohol, yet many off-the-shelf sanitisers that are currently being sold do not contain this. Manufacturers who ensure their products contain this volume will usually clearly print the alcohol volume on packaging, so be cautious if the alcohol percentage is difficult to find.
2. Fully tested sanitiser
When a sanitiser goes through testing, the manufacturer can find out what percentage of microbes it will kill. Sanitisers that have gone through correct testing methods will have this statement printed on the bottle, with good quality sanitiser killing 99.9% of germs.
Advertising a product’s testing results is also a good indication it is safe to use as well as effective and ensures authenticity.
3. Care
The final key factor to be aware of when looking at sanitiser is whether it has other protective factors. Excess hand washing or poor sanitiser quality can become uncomfortable on the hands and skin can react poorly, becoming dry, cracked and painful.
Zidac includes aloe vera and glycerine in its sanitisers, which soothes and moisturises the hands and reduces damage, making your friends and family more likely to use the product regularly.
While it is tempting to buy cheap sanitiser or try to make sanitiser at home, it is not possible to reach the quality that is needed for effective protection. Always make sure to read the label to ensure that you are buying a trusted formula and look out for the above ingredients and messages.