Hand Sanitizers and Wipes
In many hospitals and doctors' offices, the frequent use of special paper towels saturated in a mild cleansing or antibacterial solution is strongly encouraged. These paper towels are known as hand wipes, and are especially popular whenever working around contagious or infected patients. The hand wipes should kill enough bacteria and remove enough contaminants to prevent transfers between patients and visitors. Hand wipes can also be used to clean a person's hands after handling dirty or unsterilized medical equipment as well.The use of hand wipes does not entirely replace the need for proper hand washing and decontamination, however. Visitors to a patient's room can use disposable wipes before touching the patient or handling his or her food. After the visit is over, visitors should once again used hand wipes to prevent the spreading of any harmful bacteria or viruses. Medical professionals will also use hand wipes after handling food trays or any waste materials.
Hand wipes are also popular outside of the medical community. Many parents carry waterless wipes in order to cleanse the hands of very young children, especially if a proper washroom is not immediately available. Waterless hand wipes contain a mild detergent solution, chemical fragrance and a fluid with a fast evaporation rate, such as rubbing alcohol or a product containing glycol. Once the package is opened, the solution on the hand wipes immediately begins to evaporate, which means no rinsing is required.
Because these hand wipes can dry out quickly when exposed to air, they are generally packaged in plastic dispensers with airtight lids or in single-use packs lined with a metallic foil. Some hand wipes are designed to allow one sheet to be dispensed as another sheet is drawn up to take its place, much like pop-up facial tissue dispensers.
Diners who order certain greasy or fried entrees such as fried chicken or barbecued ribs may also find individual hand wipes on their plates. These so-called "wet naps" allows diners to remove sticky or greasy residue from their fingers immediately after eating, making a formal trip to the washroom unnecessary. These hand wipes also employ a waterless detergent solution, which leaves a pleasant fragrance on the user's hands as it evaporates.
Certain grocery stores and other retail outlets may also present their customers with disposable hand wipes as they enter the building. These wipes can be used to sanitize the handle and child's seat of a grocery cart, or to clean off any potential contaminants picked up during shopping. Hand wipes can also be found in many classrooms, where communicable diseases and other biological hazards are common. Students and faculty members alike are encouraged to use antibacterial hand wipes after playing with communal toys or visiting the restroom.
A hand sanitizer or hand antiseptic is a alternative to hand washing with soap and water. Various preparations are available, including gel, foam, and liquid solutions. Hand antiseptic products, like hand sanitizer gels and hand sanitizer wipes, have become very popular. Individuals can use these products to disinfect their hands and kill germs when hand washing isn't possible. There are a few types of hand sanitizer wipes to fit just about everyone's wants and needs. Traditional hand wipes contain large amounts of alcohol as their main ingredient, but there are also wipes that are available without alcohol for people with sensitive skin. Wipes that moisturize as well as kill germs are also available.
Ethyl alcohol is the typical ingredient in most hand sanitizer wipes. Most brands have an alcohol content of between 60 and 75 percent. Alcohol has been proven to kill nearly all germs that can end up on the hands of an ordinary person by penetrating the micro organism's wall and breaking down its proteins. Alcohol is a drying agent, however, and many people find that traditional sanitizer wipes dry their hands, resulting in uncomfortable cracking of the skin.
There are a number of brands of alcohol-free hand sanitizers and sanitizing wipes on the market today. Many of these are natural hand sanitizers, and they don't typically dry out the skin as many traditional sanitizers do. Some of the active ingredients in these wipes include benzathonium chloride, benzalkonium chloride, and essential plant oils, including thyme oil. Although they usually cost a bit more than other types of hand sanitizer wipes, they work just as well as traditional wipes, without the risk of seriously dry hands.
When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:
• Apply product to the palm of one hand.
• Rub hands together.
• Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry.
For individuals with very dry skin, many companies produce hand sanitizer wipes with added hand moisturizers. These companies claim that their wipes help people maintain smooth, soft hands, as well as kill almost all of the germs that reside there. Moisturizers that are commonly added to these types of wipes are aloe, vitamin E, and lanolin.
Like many other products hand sanitizer wipes may not work as well as advertised unless they are used properly. To use them on very dirty hands, the surface grime must first be wiped off with one wipe or cleaned with soap and water. Afterward, a second wipe can be used to remove any germs that are not visible to the naked eye.
To kill the remaining germs, it is recommended that an individual first wipe off the areas of the hands that do not come in contact with many surfaces. These areas include the backs of the hands and between the fingers. When these have been wiped off, the area on and around the fingernails should be cleaned. Finally, the palms of the hands can be sanitized by rubbing the wipe between the palms of the hands.
Myotcstore Related Products:
EO Essential Oil hand sanitizing gel, Organic Lavender - 32 oz
Gold Bond ultimate hand sanitizer, moisturizer tube - 2.7 oz
HandClens Instant Sanitizing Foam, Alcohol Free - 1.7 OZ
Liquid Oxygen Hand Sanitizer by Neaclear - 8 Oz
Perfect purity hand sanitizer with rich moisture - 8 oz