The only thing more popular than hand sanitiser

these days is a face mask.

The coronavirus pandemic has pushed us

towards a new way of living, one which takes some getting used to but which we

must follow for now if we are to contain its spread.

But even though we sanitise our hands

throughout the day – you can’t go into a building these days without seeing a

sign asking you to do so before entry – is it as effective as we would like to

think?

First off, not all hand sanitisers are

created equal. If you want one that is effective, ensure it has mostly alcohol

and few other ingredients.

The recommended alcohol content is at

least 60 per cent ethyl alcohol or 70 per cent isopropyl alcohol. Other

ingredients may include serile distilled water, hydrogen peroxide and glycerin,

according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Also, try to stay away from any that has

methanol or 1-propanot, which can be toxic. Additionally, the FDA said people

should be wary of those that are packaged in food and drink containers and

ingesting it could be dangerous.

What’s more, avoid any sanitizer that

replaces alcohol with banzalkonium chloride, which doesn’t do as good a job at

killing some bacteria and viruses.

And for all those people creating DIY

projects for it instead of just getting it at the store, one word – don’t. Some

chemical mixes can not only be ineffective but also cause skin burns.

But most importantly, sanitisers are not a

replacement for washing your hands. If you can, you should always choose to

wash your hands instead as this works better at removing germs.