Why Hand Gel is just as effective as soap – if not more

Over the past months, hand gel has become very popular in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19. Supermarkets have sold out and some shops have even rationed their stock to try and ensure stocks last.

Amidst the panic and the stockpiling, has anyone questioned whether hand gel is effective against the virus?

To put a long story short, yes – specific antibacterial hand gels are effective at killing COVID-19 but only when used properly.

History of antibacterial hand gel

Antibacterial hand gel is a liquid, gel or foam substance that contains a high level of alcohol to fight off and decrease bacteria or infectious agents on the skin or surface where it has been placed.

The origin of hand gel points to a nursing student from California in 1966, Lupe Hernandez. She patented the idea of alcohol-based gel to be used by doctors in situations where there is no access to soap and warm water or washing facilities before treating patients.

It was not until 2009 that hand gel was used among the public when the H1N1 swine flu pandemic hit. The sales of antibacterial hand gels and wipes increased by 70% in the US alone in the six months from the pandemic. Fast forward to 2010 and antibacterial hand gel was being sold everywhere from in-person to online retailers and found in handbags, coat pockets, cars and travel bags to name but a few locations.

Why it is useful when soap is not available

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that in the fight to prevent COVID-19 “If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.”

Any alcohol-based hand gels that are below 60% can reduce the growth of germs but will not completely eliminate them, so it is important to pay attention to the percentage of alcohol in the antibacterial hand gel.

Soap is a detergent that washes away microbes whereas alcohol in antibacterial hand gel directly kills microbes and bacteria. It is recommended that antibacterial hand gel should not be used in replacement of soap and water if washing facilities are available and if an individual’s hands are visibly soiled with dirt or grease or if an individual has touched chemicals.

However, it isn’t always as easy or as straightforward as that. The use of hand gel is beneficial when an individual is on public transport, has shaken hands with someone, when they are out shopping, and even to be used in bathrooms and restrooms where the handwashing facilities are available but look less than inviting.

The reason that hand gel can be considered as effective, if not more effective than soap is because of its ease of use and the fact that it is portable and available for all events and situations.

How to get the most out of hand gel

For it to work effectively, it has to be applied correctly – just like then handwashing.

To use hand gel correctly make sure that the hands are free from organic matter like dirt and grease. Apply 2-3 pea-sized amounts to the palm or follow the recommended instructions directed on the bottle. Rub both hands together and cover all surfaces on both of the hands. This includes in between the fingers, around the top of the fingertips and around the nails as well as up to the wrists. The hands should be rubbed together for at least 30 seconds to make sure that the hands completely absorb the product and the antibacterial gel is dry. Nothing should be touched until the hands are dry.