What hand sanitiser is best for my business?
We are mid lockdown 3.0, and hand hygiene is still one of the quickest and easiest ways to prevent the transmission of Covid-19. Suppose you're feeling slightly overwhelmed with the large selection of hand sanitisers on the market, and you're not too sure which hand sanitiser solution will be best for your business? In that case, we hope to provide some clarity to help you choose the right one.
What hand sanitiser is best for my business?
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, hand sanitiser dispenser stands and hand sanitation areas have become a part of the norm. You can't even pop to your local corner shop without them offering a squirt of hand sanitiser to keep you and other customers protected.
In the current climate, choosing the best hand sanitiser can make a profound difference to your employee's and visitor's health. With so many different hand sanitiser solutions available on the market, and an array of misleading information on social media, it can be quite difficult and overwhelming to choose the best solution for your business.
When searching for the best hand sanitiser for your business, you need to consider its effects on minimising the risk of Covid-19.
You may have seen that you need at least 60% alcohol content for hand sanitiser to be effective. Dr. Primrose Freestone, associate professor in clinical microbiology at the University of Leicester, explains that 60-95% alcohol content is needed for hand sanitiser to work. Which Article
The coronavirus has a lipid envelope that protects its structure. By using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser, the alcohol affects this structure and can deactivate the virus, resulting in a safer working environment for your team and your customers.
Professor Sally Bloomfield, honorary professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, explains that alcohol hand rubs have been found to be effective within 20-30 seconds. In contrast, their non-alcohol counterparts can take longer to work.
"You do not want to have to stand outside the supermarket for two minutes [while it kicks in.]" Bloomfield added.
"If someone asked me to recommend a hand sanitiser, I would say: you should use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser which contains at least 60% or more of ethyl alcohol." Quote Source
Does hand sanitiser have an expiration date?
At Clearwater Hygiene, as we are using high alcohol content within our hand sanitising products, we advise that our products typically expire after 12 – 24 months. The product's alcohol content is likely to evaporate over time, causing the active ingredient to drop below the required alcohol level to be effective against bacteria and viruses. Despite it not being dangerous to use a hand sanitiser that has passed its expiration date, it is not as effective as 'non-expired' hand gel or high quality rub like ours. We advise that you take extra care and attention to preventing the spread of bacteria and viruses.
What are the advantages of using hand sanitisers?
While washing hands with soap and water is the ideal approach to get rid of dirt and germs, it isn't always a viable option. Alcohol-based hand sanitisers prevent the spread of germs and viruses. Also, hand sanitisers can promote healthy hygiene habits. Offering hand sanitiser to your team or visitors can encourage a more cohesive approach to personal hygiene and healthy habits, which will reduce sickness in the workplace. Hand sanitiser can break the chain of virus transmission.
How often should I be using hand sanitiser?
You should be washing your hands frequently throughout the day, now more than ever, you should be washing your hands after coming in contact with other people. Hand sanitiser is the best choice when handwashing facilities are not available.
It would help if you used hand sanitiser after:
- Visiting a public place
- Using public transport
- Preparing and eating food
- Touching an item or shared surface in a public setting
- Using the lavatory – if you want to supplement hand washing
In your business premises, you can add hand sanitising stations to your food court and staff breakout areas.
To find the best hand sanitiser for your business, take a look at our online store or contact a member of the ClearWater Hygiene team, and we can offer additional information.
