Hand Hygiene And COVID: This Hand Sanitizer Is CDC-Approved And Strong Enough To Kill Viruses

The year is about to end and, while the global pandemic still rages in many part of the world, many have become lax in protecting themselves and their loved ones. And with today being the last day of National Handwashing Awareness Week, it's as good as time as any to remind you of one such area that you must continue being strict with: hand hygiene.

Remember that Covid-19 droplets can settle on tissues or handkerchiefs that you may use when you cough. Surfaces such as elevator buttons, door handles and stair rails may also have Covid-19 particles. Once the virus is on your hands, it can enter your nose or mouth when you touch your face. And we Americans touch our face often: A study conducted among students revealed that they touched their face about 23 times an hour.

Because of this, regular handwashing is still highly recommended by experts. Doctors and scientists have constantly reiterated that the simple, but often overlooked task of washing with soap and running water is probably the most effective way to curtail the spread of the coronavirus.

How Effective Is Soap Against Covid-19?

The structure of the coronavirus is such that it has two layers: an outer later that envelopes an inner layer. The virus’ fatty outer layer protects it from the elements and has a kind of structure that sticks on to surfaces. This helps the virus latch on to its host whenever it encounters them. It is in this outer layer that we also find the many protruding organs of the coronavirus. These protrusions are very sticky, making them perfect for the virus to hang on to any surface and stay there till it finds a host. The outer layer, therefore, is designed in such a way that it has a great affinity for anything it attaches on to.

The structure of soap also allows it to stick to molecules such as oil or dirt. This means when you wash off the soap, it simply drags away the particles it has stuck on to and cleans the surface. Since the coronavirus has an outer layer that is made with fat molecules, soap can stick to those molecules and can remove the virus from a surface when you wash it.

What About Alcohol-based Hand Sanitizers?

Alcohol has known anti-viral properties and can kill off viruses when it comes in contact with them immediately. However, alcohol needs to be strong enough to achieve this purpose. If you are using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, make sure that the sanitizer has at least 70% alcohol in it, otherwise it won’t be as effective.

One of the best hand sanitizers you can use to achieve this purpose is Super Sanitizer. This is an alcohol-based hand sanitizing solution that is made to meet CDC standards. The product effectively kills germs while keeping your hands feeling soft. Each spray bottle is travel size and conveniently fits in your pocket. You can always stay protected and you will never want to leave the house without it.

However, if your hands are already dirty, you may want to first wash them thoroughly before you sanitize them. Here’s the recommended way for how you do it.

1. Wet Your Hands with Either Hot or Cold Water

Cold water is just as effective as warm water in helping you kill germs. A study conducted on some forms of bacteria and viruses showed that there was no significant difference among subjects who used cold or warm water to kill the germs when they washed their hands.

2. Thoroughly Rub Your Hands with Soap

Once you have wet your hands, use either a bar or liquid soap to wash them. Don’t worry about sharing your soap, because research has shown that though germs can live on a bar of soap, they are usually washed away when you use it. This means you can share your soap with your friends or family too. Rub the soap all over your hands thoroughly, and make sure you pay attention to your thumbs, in between your fingers and on your fingertips too. You will only take about 20 to 30 seconds for the entire process before you are free from the coronavirus. The NHS even recommends that you sing a popular song such as "Happy Birthday" when you wash your hands, so you know for how long you have to do it.

3. Rinse, Dry and Sanitize

Once you have sung the "Happy Birthday" song and you have covered your hands in soap, you can rinse them with water and then use a clean towel to dry them. Use disposable towels, preferably because they can be thrown away and prevent your family member from getting infected because for using the same towel. After you have dried your hands, you can open your bottle of Super Sanitizer and kill off any remaining viruses that the soap may have missed.

Also remember to moisturize your hands because they can get pretty dry after you have washed them with soap.