Dirty hands but nowhere to wash them? We rate the hand sanitisers that will help you...
Clean up your ACT
WAshING your hands isn’t always possible and many of us rely on hand sanitisers — gels, foams, sprays and wipes that contain antiseptic or disinfectant chemicals, some ‘natural’, such as lavender.
sales of these products are rising significantly every year and the global market is expected to reach £1.4bn by 2024. But how good are they?
We asked Nigel Brown, a professor of molecular microbiology and former president of the Microbiology society, to assess a selection. We then rated them.
NO-GERMS INSTANT HAND SANITISER
210ml, £8.20, amazon.co.uk
CLAIM: This white foam sanitiser is said to kill 99.9 per cent of all germs in less than 15 seconds. It contains the antibacterial chemicals polyhexamethylene biguanide and benzethonium chloride as well as aloe vera, chamomile and lavender.
VERDICT: I have no reason to doubt that this works in less than 15 seconds, as most hand sanitisers do — the majority of active chemicals work by breaking through the protective membranes around germs which effectively kills them, and this is a very rapid process.
The active ingredients named here, polyhexamethylene biguanide and benzethonium chloride, are powerful antimicrobials. The added essential oil extracts also have properties to slow the growth of microbes. however, I routinely avoid anything with benzethonium chloride in as it is what’s known as a quaternary ammonium (QA) — these are salts thought to contribute to antibiotic resistance.
studies suggest that bacteria can develop resistance to these chemicals and in doing so also become resistant to some commonly-prescribed antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin.
The foam feels smooth on the skin but dries slightly sticky. 100ml, £1.30, most supermarkets CLAIM:
MILTON ANTIBACTERIAL HAND GEL
This contains two types of alcohol — 60 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent propanol. As with most antibacterials, you put a thumbnail-sized amount in your palm and rub your hands together until dry.
VERDICT: Like many sanitisers this apparently kills 99.9 per cent of germs — though there may be some bacteria that are particularly resilient to sanitisers, including Bacillus cereus, which is a cause of food poisoning.
It is wise in the wider context to use soap and water when we can, as it avoids long-term exposure to certain active ingredients that could pose health risks, such as bacterial resistance as well as drying out skin. But using products such as a sanitiser from time to time is fine, particularly alcohol-based products like this that are well-established.
The alcohols in this are very effective antiseptics; together they break down the fatty membrane around the bacteria before killing them. Alcohol will dry the hands out, so try to moisturise afterwards.
DR BRONNER’S LAVENDER ORGANIC HAND SANITISER
59ml, £4.99, ocado.com CLAIM:
This organic spray contains ‘none of the nasty chemicals you find in conventional sanitisers but is just as effective’. It’s made of lavender oil, glycerin and 62 per cent alcohol.
VERDICT: We don’t have a lot of data on natural ingredients and their ability to kill the vast majority of common bacteria and viruses, but lavender is thought to have some ability to kill bacteria.
Certainly the alcohol content in this is enough to kill bacteria by destroying the membrane around them. Alcohol will dry the hands but other ingredients such as glycerin will counteract this so your hands won’t feel too tough after repeated use. This is heavily scented, so might not be to everyone’s taste, nor work for sensitive skin.
SANI-HANDS ANTIBACTERIAL HAND WIPES
Pack of 12 for 90p, most supermarkets CLAIM: These wipes are said to be ‘the most effective and hygienic alternative to soap and water’. Their textured surface is impregnated with alcohol and antimicrobial benzalkonium chloride. VERDICT: Wipes may have the advantage over gels and foams as they make it easier to clean in between fingers and all over the hand to physically remove dirt and bacteria, and they have active chemicals working on them, too.
There’s little point in putting sanitiser on grubby hands as bacteria or viruses may be protected by a lump of dirt which chemicals won’t penetrate. If your hands are visibly dirty, scrub them clean.
I use these after using public toilets or transport (though I tend to wear gloves on trains and buses to avoid germs), as they contain effective antimicrobial chemicals and 60 per cent alcohol which kills bacteria. Benzalkonium chloride lingers on hands so would be effective for several hours after use. however, wipes are not good for the environment as they’re slow to biodegrade.
VITAL BABY AQUAINT SANITISING WATER
50ml, £1.99, ocado.com CLAIM:
This is a mix of water and hypochlorous acid, a natural acid based on a substance that the body produces to kill bacteria. It is said to be safe to use for everything from cleaning surfaces to babies’ skin — you could even drink it, the manufacturer says. VERDICT: This is essentially chlorine dissolved in water — the same principle used to clean swimming pools, though this is more diluted. hypochlorous acid kills bacteria using mechanisms that are not entirely clear but probably involve damaging specific proteins — but I have not seen evidence that it works in the very diluted form used here.
ECOHYDRA ANTIBACTERIAL HAND SANITISER
50ml, £2.49, Boots CLAIM:
Instead of alcohol this contains benzalkonium chloride and didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride which ‘kill 99.9999 per cent of bacteria’ and protects for four hours. It also claims to maintain the skin’s natural ph level.
VERDICT: This product contains two QA salts that attack bacteria but increase bacterial resistance, particularly with overuse.
As for killing 99.9999 per cent of bacteria, this is probably a marketing ploy and in practice wouldn’t provide significantly more protection than other products that kill 99 per cent.
Most antimicrobials work by destroying the membrane of germs but will not be successful against norovirus — you need alcohol for this, and so this is a downside to alcohol-free sanitisers. The claim to maintain the skin’s natural ph is irrelevant. It felt quite soapy and left my hands feeling sticky.
HIBISCRUB SKIN CLEANSER
250ml, £5.99, Boots CLAIM: Made with chlorhexidine gluconate, an antiseptic, that ‘binds to the skin and offers persistent protection for six hours’. You apply a few drops, rub in to skin and then rinse off with water. VERDICT: This is commonly used in hospitals before and after operations to prevent infections around wounds, but it is suitable for day-to-day use at home, too.
It is a clinically effective antiseptic and chlorhexidine is proven to disrupt cell membranes of bacteria and fungi, and can inactivate many viruses.
It also contains glycerol, an odourless liquid that keeps hands soft. It might not be practical to use on the go, you must rinse it off as it can dry skin out if left on.
BOOTS ANTI-VIRAL HAND FOAM
50ml, £3.19 CLAIM: The active ingredients in this alcohol-free foam are didecyldimonium chloride and chlorhexidine digluconate. It is said to kill 99.9 per cent of harmful viruses including swine flu and bacteria such as e. coli, which can cause food poisoning. VERDICT: There’s no obvious benefit of foam over a gel, but some might find it easier to rub in all over their hands and between fingers. This contains two different QA salts that effectively kill bacteria and viruses but also contribute to antibiotic resistance, so it may in effect worsen the incidence of these exact infections if they become resistant.
It claims to protect against e.coli for eight hours, but that would only be possible if the chemical stayed on that long, i.e. you didn’t wash or rub it off accidentally in the course of using your hands.
NEAL’S YARD REMEDIES ORGANIC DEFENCE HAND SPRAY
50ml, £6.50, ocado.com CLAIM: Another all- organic option, this contains alcohol and a number of essential oils including thyme and witch hazel, said to protect hands from germs and viruses. VERDICT: The packaging is vague about what concentrations of essential oils are used, so how effective they are is unclear. I’m not sure why witch hazel is used here as there’s no evidence of it killing bacteria. The alcohol is an effective antibacterial that also helps the product dry on the skin quickly; while the essential oils will keep hands soft.