How to Select and Use Hand Sanitizer

To prevent the spread of germs, including COVID-19, CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water whenever possible. But if soap and water are not readily available, using a hand sanitizer made with at least 60% alcohol can help you avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry. Do not rinse or wipe off the sanitizer before it’s dry, or it may not work as well. Do not use alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean surfaces, and do not store alcohol-based hand sanitizer above 105°F (for example, it should not be stored in a car during the summer months). 

Overview

• Choose hand sanitizers that contain at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid alcohol-based hand sanitizers that are not approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• Properly apply alcohol-based sanitizer by rubbing the gel over all surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.
• Swallowing alcohol-based hand sanitizers can cause alcohol poisoning. Keep them out of reach of young children and supervise their use.

How to Select Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer:

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers come in all shapes and sizes with different ingredients. Which alcohol-based hand sanitizer do you choose? Check the product label and follow these do’s and don’ts.

DO

• DO: Choose hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol (often listed on the label as ethanol, ethyl alcohol, isopropanol, or 2-propanol).
• DO: Follow label directions for use.

DO NOT

• DO NOT: Choose hand sanitizers that contain less than 60% alcohol.
• DO NOT: Choose alcohol-based hand sanitizers on FDA’s Hand Sanitizer Do-Not-Use List.
• DO NOT: Choose hand sanitizers labeled as “alcohol-free.”
• DO NOT: Choose alcohol-based hand sanitizers packaged in a container that resembles a food or beverage container.

How to Use Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer:

DO

• DO: Rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.
• DO: Keep alcohol-based hand sanitizer out of your eyes.
• DO: Store alcohol-based hand sanitizer out of reach and sight of young children.
• DO: Supervise young children when they use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

DO NOT

• DO NOT: Rinse or wipe off the alcohol-based hand sanitizer before it’s dry; it may not work well against germs.
• DO NOT: Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean surfaces. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is not designed to clear or disinfect surfaces.
• DO NOT: Store alcohol-based hand sanitizer above 105°F (for example, it should not be stored in a car during the summer months).
• DO NOT: Swallow alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Swallowing alcohol-based hand sanitizers can cause alcohol poisoning.

Visit the CDC’s page on How to Select and Use Hand Sanitizer for more details.