Top 5 Best Hand Sanitizers
Best For Offices: PURELL Advanced Hand Sanitizer Refreshing Gel Best Spray Sanitizer: Everyone Hand Sanitizer Spray Largest Pack: Germ-X Hand Sanitizer Best Sanitizing Wipes: The Honest Company Sanitizing Alcohol Wipes Best Moisturizing Sanitizer: Hempz Triple-Moisture Herbal Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer
Best For Offices: PURELL Advanced Hand Sanitizer Refreshing Gel
With 36 one-ounce bottles, this hand sanitizer is ideal for office spaces, reception areas, or meeting rooms, as it allows each person to grab and use their own bottles. This PURELL sanitizer kills 99.9% of germs and keeps hands feeling soft.
Key Features
Gel formula 36 one-ounce bottles Free of triclosan, parabens, phthalates, and preservatives Display bowl included
What Customers Are Saying
Customers who were happy with this hand sanitizer said that it was easy to use, convenient for traveling, and effective. However, customers who didn’t like this product said that it leaked easily. Some customers also received fewer bottles than advertised.
Best Spray Sanitizer: Everyone Hand Sanitizer Spray
This hand sanitizer spray is GMO-, cruelty-, and gluten-free. Its bottle is also made from recyclable materials, making the product safe for you and the environment. With its formula that’s 62% alcohol, this spray is effective at killing 99.9% of common germs.
Key Features
Spray formula Six two-ounce bottles Lavender scent Available in other sizes, quantities, and scents Free of triclosan, parabens, gluten, GMOs, and synthetic fragrances
What Customers Are Saying
Those who left positive reviews of this spray sanitizer said that it had a pleasant smell and didn’t leave their hands feeling dry or sticky. However, some repeat customers said that it smelled differently than it had in previous purchases. Other dissatisfied customers said that it was packaged poorly.
Largest Pack: Germ-X Hand Sanitizer
This hand sanitizer kills germs and bacteria in as little as 15 seconds. It comes in a four-pack of 32-ounce bottles, though it’s available in other sizes and quantities, such as a 48-pack of two-ounce bottles.
Key Features
Gel formula Four 32-ounce bottles Available in other sizes and quantities
What Customers Are Saying
Those who were satisfied with this product liked its moisturizing effect, packaging, and portability. However, other customers said that the formula was overly watery and that the bottles came unsealed.
Best Sanitizing Wipes: The Honest Company Sanitizing Alcohol Wipes
These sanitizing wipes are made with 65% plant-derived alcohol to keep your hands clean without drying them out. These wipes are easy to store anywhere and can be safely used on anyone, including babies.
Key Features
Wipe formula 150 wipes Available in scented and unscented options Free of fragrances, parabens, and phenoxyethanol
What Customers Are Saying
Customers who left satisfactory reviews of these sanitizing wipes said that they were easy to use, worked well for wiping surfaces, and didn’t irritate sensitive skin. However, those who left negative reviews said that their smell could be overpowering.
Best Moisturizing Sanitizer: Hempz Triple-Moisture Herbal Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer
This moisturizing sanitizer uses a triple-moisture serum to nourish and hydrate skin while killing germs. It has an all-natural formula to protect you and the environment and comes in a pump bottle to make accessing it easier.
Key Features
Gel formula One 8.5-ounce bottle Available in other sizes Grapefruit and peach scent Free of parabens and gluten
What Customers Are Saying
Customers liked this product’s dual function as a sanitizer and lotion. They also said that it didn’t leave their skin feeling sticky or dry. Those who didn’t like this product said that the gel had an unpleasant smell and that the bottle leaked easily.
Buyer’s Guide
There are many factors to consider when determining which hand sanitizer is best for your needs. Here are some of them.
Form
Hand sanitizers are typically available in gel, wipe, foam, or spray form. All of them are effective, so it’s up to you to determine which type you prefer.
Portability
Hand sanitizers are often needed on the go when you don’t have access to hand soap and water. Your hand sanitizer should have a secure lid and a small size to fit in backpacks, purses, and other bags without leaking.
Safety
To ensure the hand sanitizer you’re using is safe, check to see that it meets health requirements from the CDC. The CDC recommends avoiding hand sanitizers that are less than 60% alcohol, labeled “alcohol-free,” and on the FDA’s do-not-use list.
Scent
Since hand sanitizers are made with alcohol, they typically have a strong smell. Scented hand sanitizers with aloe or essential oils can help mask that alcohol smell.
Can using hand sanitizer replace washing your hands?
While hand sanitizer can be an effective way to clean your hands when you’re not near a sink, it’s still recommended that you wash your hands frequently with soap and water if that option is available. Overall, washing your hands removes more germs than using hand sanitizer.
How do hand sanitizers work?
Hand sanitizer uses its active ingredient, typically alcohol or benzalkonium chloride, to eliminate disease-causing agents.
Does hand sanitizer expire?
Since it’s regulated by the FDA, hand sanitizer is required to list an expiration date on its bottle. The expiration date is usually two to three years from the date that it’s packaged. However, sanitizer that is past its expiration date won’t typically be dangerous, and it may still have some of its effectiveness.
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