Hand Sanitizer & Soap
Hand Washing
Keeping your hands clean can greatly reduce your risk of catching certain illnesses and lower the likelihood that you could spread germs to others. Experts recommend washing your hands frequently throughout the day, particularly before you handle food and after you use the bathroom. Hand sanitizers can help you thoroughly clean your hands at the sink and on the go. CVS stocks a diverse assortment of hand sanitizers, giving you the ability to shop for the cleansing solutions you need online.
Hand Cleaning Soaps
Soaps are 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.
Waterless Soap
It's not always convenient to use soap and water to wash your hands. For those occasions, alcohol-based liquid sanitizers can provide a convenient alternative to soap. These products are typically effective at killing a large number of germs when used according to the manufacturer's instructions. Due to the presence of alcohol in their formulas, the liquids evaporate quickly, so there is no need to rinse or dry your hands after use.
Hand Sanitizing Spray
To speed up hand sanitizing even more, you can use a hand sanitizer spray. These products typically have formulas similar to liquid alcohol-based hand sanitizers; however, they come in a spritz bottle rather than a squeeze bottle. This allows you to quickly apply the hand sanitizer on the go.
Hand Sanitizing Wipes
Hand sanitizing wipes are another convenient way to quickly clean your hands. These products are disposable single-use towelettes that are soaked in an antibacterial cleanser. To use one, you simply remove a wipe from the packaging, rub it over your skin and throw it away. Some wipes can be used to clean surfaces and objects as well as hands.
How to Keep Hands Clean
Keeping your hands clean is extremely important for a variety of reasons. The first is because clean hands look and feel great, and will help you to avoid transferring dirt and other debris to other areas. The second, and likely more important, is because keeping your hands clean is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs so that you do not get sick nearly as often. The best way to keep your hands clean is to make sure that you are washing your hands with soap frequently throughout the day. At a minimum, you should wash your hands prior to eating and after using the bathroom. The soap you use should be a high-quality soap that is able to wash away dirt and debris as well as any germs that may be present. Make sure to use plenty of soap and to rub your hands together vigorously while washing for 30-60 seconds to get the best results. When washing your hands, you will want to get them wet with warm water first, and then apply the soap. If you are using bar soap, you can rub the bar along your hands repeatedly until you have a good lather. It is best to not only wash your hands, but also at least several inches of your wrists as well to keep everything nice and clean. Of course, you will need to make sure that you take extra care to wash all around and in between each of your fingers for the best clean possible.
What Is Hand Sanitizer?
Hand sanitizer is a product that is used to remove germs from the skin of the hands. Although formulas vary, this is typically done with antibacterial ingredients, substances that kill bacteria, viruses and other microbes. This prevents the germs from entering your body through your eyes, mouth or nose or from contaminating foods or surfaces that you touch.