In your opinion, does hand sanitizer REALLY kill germs?

Question

And how about those Clorox or Lysol wipes?

Answer 1

Yes, they all kill germs. However, they don't kill all the germs. The strongest ones are left to reproduce, and every time you use a cleaner like that, you are increasing the resistance of the bacteria in your home. Sanitizers are good when you can't get to your sink, but good old soap and water is still the safest bet.

Answer 2

yes, hand sanitizers and antibacterial soaps really do kill germs. However, its not a great idea to use them religiously on a daily basis. Not only does the constant use of germ killling compounds increase the resistance of surviving bacteria, but by killing germs on your hands and surfaces in your home on a regular basis it also lessens your contact and your body's immunity to them. in fact a recent study (and i will try to find an article that i can link to in a bit) showed that allergies are occurring more often in children because they're immune systems are becoming hypersensitive from lack of exposure because of frivolous use of everyday cleaners that are now touting antibacterial properties. the rate of sickness is rising for the same reason too.

Answer 3

Yes ! But you must use it as directed and it will not kill everything! That may not even be a good idea anyway. Some scientists believe that we have more kids with asthma these days because we deprive them of being exposed to normal bacteria with the extensive use of all these cleaning agents. That doesn't mean you should live in filth though. Normal soap and water is good for most applications.

Check labels too -
bacteriocidal - kills bacteria
Virocidal - kills viruses
tuberculocidal - kills Mycobacterium spp. that cause TB
fungicidal - kills yeast and fungi

Answer 4

No...wash the hands! Use the lotion. Clorox/Lysol wipes you can get a rag and spritz bottle with clorox and water and go around spritzing...I do believe in a can of lysol because somethings just dont get clean with a rag and it covers more area...

Answer 5

Yeah, its been proved. I used to volunteer at a hospital and everytime the nurses entered the rooms/left, they had to use hand sanitizer.

I asked them why don't they always use hand sanitizer? And its actually because its better to wash after a while because it gets sticky, not that it doesnt do an adequate job. seriously. but yeah, it really works. To hospitals, hand sanitizer is basically a fast way to wash hands.. but they still use the old "soap and water" when doing surgery. go figure :P

Answer 6

I think it does kill germs. Put some on your hands about a nickle or dime's size worth, and rub it in your hands til it dries.
However, I believe that someday germs will become resistant to such things as hand sanitizer and other germ killing agents.

Answer 7

Antibacterial hand sanitizers are marketed to the public as an effective way to “kill germs on one’s hands”. They are not marketed by knowledgeable or responsible manufacturers as a way “to wash one’s hands”. Hand sanitizers are marketed as an addition to washing with soap and water or as a way to kill microorganisms on the hands, if soap and water are not available. Manufacturers of hand sanitizers containing alcohol claim that the sanitizers kill 99.9 percent of germs (microorganisms). This claim is understated. In several randomized, well-controlled, parallel, and blinded, clinical studies antiseptics (sanitizers) containing alcohol killed 99.99% of the microorganisms on human skin. The microorganisms killed included both “harmful” and “normal flora” bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Hand sanitizers containing alcohol do not “work” by stripping away the outer layer of oil on the skin. Alcohol containing hand sanitizers destroy the lipid (oil) containing cell membrane of bacteria and fungus and denatures (destroys) proteins and enzymes inside bacteria and fungus. Alcohol kills bacteria and fungus almost instantly upon contact. In addition, alcohol denatures (destroys) the protein or lipoprotein coat of many viruses destroying their ability to infect human cells. A review of several hundred references in the literature on the antimicrobial action of hand sanitizers and antiseptics revealed that hand sanitizers and antiseptics containing alcohol significantly reduce the numbers of microorganism on the skin when properly applied and tested.

Answer 8

You asked for my opinion not scientific facts... so...yes...I used them while on steroids for medical reasons that wrecked my immune system and I never caught a cold even tho I was at work using phones and computers that many others were using while coughing and hacking.... I also used the wipes on the phone immediately after anyone else used it so I think it helped...that was a bad year for colds and flu in our office but I did not get sick.

Answer 9

i comprehend for a certainty that cleansing soap kills and takes to the air the germs with water,yet germ-x in user-friendly terms kills the germs no longer take off,So once you utilize germ-x your arms nonetheless have lifeless micro organism on it.I was hoping I even have helped.

Answer 10

Never use anything that claims to be anti-bacterial. Soap and water, or alcolohol based gel like Purell will do the trick. Antibacterials strengthen bacteria, and pollute the water system.