Hand Sanitizer 101: Is 60%+ Alcohol Content Really Important?

Hand Sanitizer 101: Is 60%+ Alcohol Content Really Important?

Welcome to the Just Human blog, where we’ll answer your top hand hygiene questions, discuss how to adopt safer hygiene practices and more. Today let’s talk about hand sanitizer and whether alcohol content is critical. We’ll start with some basics:

Why do we use hand sanitizer?

When it comes to getting sick, hands play a key role. They are the main cause of the people-to-people transmission of what we call microbial pathogens (germs, bacteria, etc.). That’s why hand hygiene is the primary measure to prevent cross-infection at home, work, school and beyond. When hand hygiene practices improve, there is usually a reduction in health care-associated infection and the burden of disease in the community (yay!). However, the success of hand hygiene relies on multiple factors, including how you clean your hands. That’s where hand sanitizer comes in. Using hand sanitizer has many advantages over handwashing with soap and water: it requires less time, acts faster, and is more efficacious, more convenient, and better tolerated by the skin.

What’s inside hand sanitizer?

Hand sanitizer at its core is typically made up of two ingredients: alcohol and a carrier to deliver that alcohol onto your skin. From homemade to hospital-grade, most sanitizers are simply different delivery methods of alcohol disinfectant that takes care of the germs on your hands – more on that later (spoiler: our 24-hour hand sanitizer technology is alcohol-free!). 

What makes hand sanitizer effective?

Contrary to popular belief, hand sanitizer does not immediately kill germs upon contact. Instead, it happens over a period of time. Bacteria and viruses that cover your hands have an outer coat of protein that contains the agents that make you sick (ew…). The job of hand sanitizer is to break down this protein shell and , making them incapable of causing you any harm. This process takes a certain amount of time and can differ based on the composition of your hand sanitizer.

Does alcohol content in hand sanitizer really matter?

When picking a hand sanitizer, whether it be liquid, gel, fragranced, travel-sized or otherwise, you’ve probably been taught that the main factor to consider is the alcohol content. According to the CDC, if the alcohol content of your sanitizer isn’t above 60%, you can’t be certain it is killing every germ you carry around on your hands. And this is true. But alcohol-based hand sanitizers can leave your hands dry, itchy, or cracked, especially if you use it many times a day. Plus, alcohol-based products are highly flammable and may not always be manufactured by trustworthy sources. That’s where we come in.

Made completely in the United States, our 24-Hour Hand Sanitizer uses a specialized compound which works at a nano level to stay on your skin and keep protecting it for a period of up to 24 hours – and its alcohol FREE. It’s also safe and non-toxic for your kids and family. We achieved this with a smart molecule that creates a biological shield which stays on your hand even after regular day to day use. So you can get effective protection, without the alcohol content. And, since our products work for 24 hours, you can rest assured that you’re getting ongoing protection you can trust.

We’re excited to launch this revolutionary new product – and we’re even more excited to have you along for the journey. Stay tuned for more posts answering your top hand sanitizer questions and helping you live your life without limits.