Hand Sanitisers & Hand Hygiene

Hand hygiene is more important now than ever before. We all know that soap and water are the best way to keep your hands sanitised, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, as we go about our business, we always need to be able to maintain our hygiene standards.

When we don’t have access to a bathroom, soap, and water, some excellent alternative products can be used for disinfecting our hands. Alternatives include hand sanitiser liquid, hand sanitiser gels, and disinfectant hand wipes. These products are now outselling all other disinfecting products across the UK. However, choosing the right product is more important now than it has ever been before.

Scientists and microbiologists agree that the key ingredients in these products are important if they are to be effective.

What Can Kill Coronavirus?

The coronavirus is known as an enveloped virus, and its viral genetic material is coated in a fatty layer. This needs to be dissolved so that the virus can be killed. The most effective way to dissolve the fatty layer is with soap or alcohol.

The ingredients in soap help to dissolve the fatty layer and immediately disperses its nucleic acid. When the virus falls apart, it cannot bind to our cells.

Alcohol has the same effect on the virus. The alcohol breaks down the lipid layer, and the virus immediately falls apart, leaving it inactive. Alcohol-based hand sanitisers break down the virus on contact, ensuring that you are safe.

How To Choose A Hand Sanitiser?

If you want an effective hand sanitiser there are several things you will need to consider. First, hand sanitizers can only inactivate viruses if their alcohol content is at least 60%.

Sanitisers that contain very little or no alcohol are not effective at deactivating any viruses like COVID-19. These are hardly even suited to killing simpler bacteria and enveloped viruses.

Repeated use of an alcohol-based sanitiser gel or liquid can dry out and irritate the skin, especially if it is used often. Also, when the hands are visibly dirty, sweaty, or greasy, far more sanitiser is required to clean the hands effectively.

Why Buy A Trusted Hand Sanitiser UK?

APT is the leading UK manufacturer of hand sanitizing gel and liquid with over 30 years of experience. Their sanitising products are manufactured with ethical supplies sourced within the UK, and the products are all developed with a team of consultant chemist to ensure that they meet all the safety and disinfecting requirements.

In this article, APT has helped us understand why it is important to buy approved hand sanitisers. They also explained the difference between their Hand Sanitiser Gel and Hand Sanitiser Liquid.

Differences Between Gel And Liquid Sanitiser

Liquid hand sanitiser is more fluid and doesn’t easily get stuck in the nozzles of dispenser bottles and machines. That is why it is preferred for use with hand dispensers in public places, and liquid also dries faster than gel.

On the other hand, gel hand sanitiser allows for a controlled amount of sanitiser to be dispelled. Its consistency allows it to spread across the surface of the hands evenly. Once it is dry, the hands are disinfected.

Even though both gel and liquid sanitsers can be used to effectively wipe down other surfaces and equipment, liquid hand sanitiser is essential as the first line of defense against bacteria and viruses for all front-line staff.

EN Certification

Gel and liquid disinfectants need to be compliant with BS EN1276 and EN1500. These are the European and British standards for the antibacterial activity of chemical disinfectants. These standards are tested by independent laboratories to ensure they fight all harmful micro-organisms.

The disinfectants only receive a certification if they are proven to kill 99.99% of all these harmful viruses and microorganisms in 5 minutes or less. Liquid hand sanitiser is fast drying, and the minute it has dried, the hands or surface is disinfected.

Alcohol Content

Alarmingly, it has been found that most hand sanitisers have very little or no alcohol in them. This means that they are not capable of killing off any viruses, and they are unsafe to use.

Others again have a very high percentage of alcohol, in some cases 80% plus. This makes the disinfectants too strong for use on human hands.

Even though a minimum of 60% alcohol content is enough to kill harmful viruses, APT follows the guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the British Health Organization. Their medical-grade Alcohol Liquid Hand Sanitiser and Steri Gel both contain solutions of 70% surgical grade alcohol.

Hand sanitising gel and liquid should also never smell of pure alcohol. This can be very unpleasant and irritating for the user. APT ensures a consistent formulation in both their products, making them safe to use in all environments.

Both gel and liquid can be used safely in all environments, including hospitals, schools, care homes, transport, and food packaging and processing industries.

Protecting The Hands And Skin

A good disinfectant gel or liquid needs to protect the skin because for most of us we need to use them frequently throughout the day. If the formula of the disinfectant is harsh the hands dry out and the skin can break. This can lead to infections or dermatitis.

APT Hand Sanitiser Gel and Hand Sanitiser Liquid both have added skin conditioners and emollients to both products. This ensures the user’s skin is protected from the drying effects of the alcohol.

Final Word

Even though many people have taken to wearing gloves in public to protect their health, Public Health England and the NHS don’t recommend this measure. The reason is that even though these provide a barrier between the hands and dirty surfaces, they do give people a false sense of security.

Additionally, their use is harmful to the environment and wasteful, and if they are worn for long periods, they also can irritate the skin. Disposable gloves need to be disposed of properly after every use.

Even though frequent hand washing with soap and water is the best way to avoid germs on our hands, alcohol-based hand sanitisers are highly beneficial for keeping them clean in-between handwashing in every type of environment.