Properly apply alcohol-based sanitizer by rubbing the gel over all surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry. The CDC recommends that hand sanitizer not be used if hands are visibly dirty or greasy. Store alcohol-based hand sanitizer out of reach and sight of young children. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers, which don't require water, are an acceptable alternative when soap and water aren't available. Supervise young children when they use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. If possible, rinse and remove all traces of visible organic matter, such as dirt, grease, and food, for the hand sanitizer to be most effective. Should the sanitizer contain alcohol or be alcohol free? But if soap and water are not readily available, using a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can help you avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. But if at home in isolation, wash your hands more often, using soap and warm water; save the hand sanitizer for when you out (the exception is if you are ill at home or recovering from surgery, then you will benefit from having hand sanitizer next to your recovery spot, to save you from having to visit the washing basins too often.) Take off all rings and other jewelry that may be covering the surfaces of your hands. Alternatively, perhaps don't eat the part of the food you held, to avoid tasting the hand sanitizer. Using hand sanitizer is a fast and effective way to clean your hands and get rid of lingering germs. Consistency Some situations in which use of a hand sanitizer may be appropriate include when you're riding public transportation, have shaken hands or touched an animal, after you've touched a grocery cart, and so on. If your pet gets alcohol-based hand sanitizer on their skin or fur, rinse or wipe down your pet with water immediately. 6 Rub each thumb clasped in opposite hand. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean surfaces. Hand sanitizer is recommended for when you cannot access soap and water, like when you're on-the-go or living in a refugee camp. 4 with palm of other 5 Rub fingertips of each hand in opposite palm. Proper technique 3. Which alcohol-based hand sanitizer do you choose? Like washing your hands at a sink, this process should take about 20 seconds. What are the do's and don'ts of using hand sanitizer at the moment? wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. To help stop the spread of COVID-19, we all need to "Do the 5". Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 137,560 times. Whether you are out playing a sport, gardening in your lawn, or just eating a snack, many daily activities require you to use your hands, which in turn can get dirty. Here are seven commonly found products you can use in … Choose hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol (often listed on the label as ethanol, ethyl alcohol, isopropanol, or 2-propanol). The CDC recommends using hand sanitizer with at least 60 per cent alcohol. hand. Swallowing alcohol-based hand sanitizers can cause alcohol poisoning. CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Alcohol-based Hand Sanitizer. 2 Rub hands together, palm to palm. Is Your Hand Sanitizer on FDA’s List of Products You Should Not Use? Use a little though, as you would not want to dry out your hands but use enough so it could fight off the bacteria and viruses that might be on your hands. How far away from another person's plate in the buffet line should one be? Before and after visiting a friend or loved one in a hospital or nursing home, unless the person is sick with Clostridioides difficile (if so, use soap and water to wash hands). By using our site, you agree to our. Rub the area with a cloth or clean toothbrush. Supervise young children when they use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. of Health and Human Services, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/34\/Use-Hand-Sanitizer-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Hand-Sanitizer-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/34\/Use-Hand-Sanitizer-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/aid124526-v4-728px-Use-Hand-Sanitizer-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"