Which is better, hand sanitizer or alcohol wipes? The difference between hand sanitizer and alcohol wipes

During the epidemic, "washing hands" has become something that almost everyone has to do every day. When it comes to hand washing, some people like to carry hand sanitizer with them, some prefer antibacterial hand sanitizer, and some like disposable disinfectant wipes. So, which is better, hand sanitizer or alcohol wipes?

Which is better, hand sanitizer or alcohol wipes?

In terms of effectiveness, alcohol wipes are better. The main ingredient in alcohol is ethanol, while hand sanitizer contains a variety of chemical ingredients, so the bactericidal effect of alcohol is better than that of hand sanitizer. In terms of comfort, hand sanitizer is better. Alcohol has a certain irritating effect on human skin and is volatile. If you use alcohol directly to disinfect your hands, it will easily evaporate the moisture on the skin and make the skin of your hands dry. However, hand sanitizers contain moisturizers such as dipropylene glycol and glycerin to keep the skin moisturized.

The difference between hand sanitizer and alcohol wipes

1. Difference in ingredients

There are two types of hand sanitizers: alcohol-containing and non-alcoholic. The ingredients in them are different, but they generally contain isopropyl alcohol, chlorhexidine, dipropylene glycol, glycerin and other ingredients. While maintaining the bactericidal effect, skin care and other aspects have also been further optimized. The main ingredient of alcohol wipes is ethanol, but the concentration varies slightly. Common alcohol on the market has different concentrations such as 75% and 95%.

2. Morphological differences

Hand sanitizers are generally equipped with a gel matrix, so most of them are translucent gel-like; while alcohol wipes are mainly made of non-woven fabrics and contain water, ethanol, etc.

3. Difference in functions

Although hand sanitizer has a cleaning and disinfecting effect, the gel matrix in it will affect the disinfecting effect of ingredients such as ethanol, so the disinfecting effect of hand sanitizer is not as good as alcohol. As for alcohol, more than 75% alcohol can play a better disinfecting and sterilizing role, and it can not only be used for hand cleaning and disinfection, but also for wound disinfection. Alcohol with a concentration of about 75% can kill the new coronavirus, and the market for alcohol products such as alcohol wipes, alcohol spray, and alcohol hand sanitizer has exploded.

How to choose between hand sanitizer, alcohol wipes and hand sanitizer

1. When there is running water, it is better to use antibacterial (antibacterial) hand sanitizer. Antibacterial (inhibitory) hand sanitizer is suitable for use during the epidemic season of infectious diseases or after contact with public items that may contain germs, such as door handles and elevator buttons in public places such as hospitals, Internet cafes, supermarkets, and banks.

2. When it is inconvenient to wash hands, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes are recommended. It is mainly aimed at situations where the conditions for hand washing are not available or it is inconvenient to wash hands. For example, when taking public transportation, going out for fun, or eating, you can carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer or a small pack of disinfectant wipes with you.