Hand sanitizers are a great way to keep bacteria and germs at bay, but they're not the only way to keep your hands clean. There are other options, and here are a few suggestions for keeping your hands clean without using hand sanitizers (particularly useful when hand sanitizers aren't readily available):
Soaps are a great addition to hand sanitizer.
Soap and water aren't enough for washing your hands in the shower; they're also perfect for cleaning your body.
About any soap is intended to be a disinfectant. So, if you're looking for an alternative to hand sanitizer, this is a simple one. Also, hand washing is particularly necessary right now, but even though you use hand sanitizers, you can wash your hands.
True, soaps aren't as easy as hand sanitizers, but they do the job.
In reality, soaps could be more effective than hand sanitizers in the fight against Coronavirus (according to the CDC). So, why do soaps work so well against Coronavirus? It's because the virus has a fat-based skin, which the soap dissolves, rendering the virus inactive.
More information on soaps and why they are so successful against Coronavirus can be found here.
Alternative #2 of hand sanitizer is rubbing alcohol.
Isopropyl alcohol, also known as rubbing alcohol, can be a powerful disinfectant (source). There's an explanation hospitals and health providers have been disinfecting with it for millennia.
They're available at most pharmacies. It is important, though, to check the contents of the bottle you get to ensure that it contains at least 60% alcohol, as otherwise it will not be very successful.
Alternative #3 of hand sanitizers is antiseptic liquids.
Hand sanitizers may be replaced by antiseptic liquids like Dettol (and other related products) (source). You should dilute them in water to weaken them and make them more gentle on the skin.
While the majority of them are now fairly skin-friendly, double-check before using.
Gloves are an alternative to hand sanitizer # 4.
Wearing gloves is an alternative to hand sanitizers. Wearing gloves in the summer can sound strange, but they reduce the risk of coming into contact with pathogens. Since your skin does not come into contact with bacteria when you use gloves to clean objects, you don't need to use hand sanitizers. After all, the aim of hand sanitizers is to destroy germs that come into contact with your hands, so if you aren't actually touching something, you shouldn't need to use/sanitize them.
Since woollen or cloth gloves have pores, plastic or rubber gloves are preferable to woollen or fabric gloves.
Gloves have long been used by doctors and other health workers to minimise their exposure to viruses and germs, so this is obviously a safe way to do so.
However, don't use it all the time, and don't use the gloves to touch your face or any other uncovered body part – it will serve the purpose. If you brush your skin with gloved hands, you won't be able to reduce your skin's exposure to pathogens. So wearing gloves will help you minimise your sensitivity, but only if you don't use them to touch your face or skin. Consider the options carefully.
Alternative # 5 of hand sanitizer is plastic containers.
What if you need to go to the store for any necessities but don't have some hand sanitizers or even gloves? Perhaps you've found yourself in a store and are looking for a way to reduce the chance of being exposed... Try using a plastic shopping bag as a mask, or at the very least to touch objects. This is exactly what I did lately when I forgot my gloves at the store. So, if you're in a hurry, these can come in handy, particularly because they're available in most supermarkets.
Ziplock bags will work as well.
Plastic bags are safer than nothing if you're in a pinch because they reduce your susceptibility to surfaces and viruses. Hand sanitizers are used to disinfect your hands after touching something. Since the touch would be limited by plastic bags, you won't need to sanitise your palms. Nonetheless, you can. Often wash your hands after returning home, particularly during this period of increased risk.
Why not use vinegar to clean your home?
Here's a bonus tip: don't use vinegar as a substitute for hand sanitizer.
Vinegar has long been used as a disinfectant, but our study revealed that, although it has many applications, vinegar isn't very effective as a virus disinfectant.
If you're going to mess with viruses with chlorine, you're best off doing something safer like bleach or proper disinfectants. It's much better to be safe than sorry.
Make sure you don't have any sensory issues with the choice you want. After all, different people are open to different things. Consult the doctor if you're confused.
