You want to keep your family safe during this global pandemic but staying in the house 24-7 is not always possible. Now we find ourselves grabbing all the gear before we leave on the simplest errands - Masks - Gloves- and of course Hand Sanitizer!
It’s important to know that the hand sanitizer you are using and supplying to your family is effective at actually killing those germs and helping prevent the spread of COVID-19.
To help you be certain that you have the right sanitizer and are using it properly we’ve put together this list of frequently asked questions and carefully researched the answers to bring them into one easy to read blog post.
The hand sanitizers we make smell amazing (thanks to essential oils!) & they’re beautifully packaged because who wants a cheap tacky looking thing to carry everywhere…. But MOST important to us the recipe is 80% Alcohol, formulated by following the CDC and WHO guidelines to a T because we want it to be safe and effective for controlling the spread of COVID-19 virus.
What is the Best Hand Sanitizer?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) The best hand hygiene is washing with soap and water.
If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Our Hand sanitizer contains 80% Alcohol which makes them appropriate substitutes when soap is not available.
Why?
Many studies have found that sanitizers with an alcohol concentration between 60–95% are more effective at killing germs than those with a lower alcohol concentration or non-alcohol-based hand sanitizers
Hand sanitizers without 60-95% alcohol 1) may not work equally well for many types of germs; and 2) merely reduce the growth of germs rather than kill them outright.
You can read more about the CDC recommendations on their website HERE
Where should hand sanitizer be stored?
According to the FDA Hand sanitizer should be stored out of reach, and sight, of children. It should not be stored above 105°F (for example, it should not be stored in a car during the summer months
What are the types of Hand sanitizer
To speed up hand sanitizing you can use a hand sanitizer spray like the one available on our website. Hand sanitizing sprays are alcohol-based sanitizers in liquid form that spritz from a spritz bottle rather than a squeeze bottle. These travel friendly hand sanitizers allow you to apply quickly on the go.
What is the difference between hand sanitizer and soap?
Soap is an effective way to cleanse your hands. A soap contains surfactants that produce a lather, allowing impurities to be washed away with water. Hand soaps are formulated specifically for hand washing and require water to create a sudsy lather. After you have washed your hands, you must rinse the hand soap away. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that using warm water and hand soap is the most effective way for people to wash their hands.
Does Hand Sanitizer Kill Coronavirus
Answer: YES!
According to this research study from 2020 The formula recommend for hand sanitizer by the World Health Organization (WHO) demonstrated efficient virus inactivation on coronavirus 2 disease (COVID-19)
Infection control instructions call for use of alcohol-based hand rub solutions to inactivate severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. We determined the virucidal activity of World Health Organization–recommended hand rub formulations, at full strength and multiple dilutions, and of the active ingredients. All disinfectants demonstrated efficient virus inactivation.
The authors noted that while 30 seconds is the recommended time to rub hand sanitizers into the skin and was the time used in this study, most people don't use them for that long. The study findings, however, support use of WHO sanitizer formulations in healthcare settings during viral outbreaks, they said.
"Our findings are crucial to minimize viral transmission and maximize virus inactivation in the current SARS-CoV-2 outbreak,"
A nice synopsis of the study that is easier to read than the study itself is available here on the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) site
The formula is this: 80% ethanol, 0.725% glycerol, and 0.125% hydrogen peroxide
This is the exact formula we use to produce The Little Flower Soap Co Hand Sanitizer Sprays HERE
The authors noted that while 30 seconds is the recommended time to rub hand sanitizers into the skin and was the time used in this study, most people don't use them for that long. The study findings, however, support use of WHO sanitizer formulations in healthcare settings during viral outbreaks, they said.
"Our findings are crucial to minimize viral transmission and maximize virus inactivation in the current SARS-CoV-2 outbreak,"
A nice synopsis of the study that is easier to read than the study itself is available here on the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) site
What is the best way to use sanitizer?
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Be sure to use a hand sanitizer that is at least 70% alcohol
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Cover all surfaces of both hands
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Store and use hand sanitizer carefully out of reach of children and not above 105°F
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Rub hand sanitizers around on your hands for at least 30 seconds.
The National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine evaluated the claim that Hand sanitizers destroys the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and found it to be true but how you use the hand sanitizer does matter.
“Cover all surfaces of both hands with the sanitizer.”
The previously sited study by Ms. Kratzel is a PhD candidate with the Institute of Virology and Immunology conclude that you should rub the sanitizer around on your hands for at least 30 seconds.
“One caveat of this study is the defined inactivation time of exactly 30s, which is the time recommended but not routinely performed in practice”
SHOP HAND SANITIZER!