Do we need to wash hands after using sanitizer

Germs are everywhere! They can get onto hands and items we touch during daily activities and make us sick. Cleaning hands at key times with soap and water or hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to those around you.

There are important differences between washing hands with soap and water and using hand sanitizer. Soap and water work to remove all types of germs from hands, while sanitizer acts by killing certain germs on the skin. Although alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs in many situations, they should be used in the right situations. Soap and water are more effective than hand sanitizers at removing certain kinds of germs like norovirus, Cryptosporidium, and Clostridioides difficile, as well as chemicals.

Hand sanitizers also may not remove harmful chemicals, such as pesticides and heavy metals like lead.

Handwashing reduces the amounts of all types of germs, pesticides, and metals on hands. Knowing when to clean your hands and which method to use will give you the best chance of preventing sickness.

Why? Many studies show that hand sanitizers work well in clinical settings like hospitals, where hands come into contact with germs but generally are not heavily soiled or greasy 16. Some data also show that hand sanitizers may work well against certain types of germs on slightly soiled hands 17,18. However, hands may become very greasy or soiled in community settings, such as after people handle food, play sports, work in the garden, or go camping or fishing. When hands are heavily soiled or greasy, hand sanitizers may not work well 3,7,16. Handwashing with soap and water is recommended in such circumstances.

Why? Although few studies have been conducted, hand sanitizers probably cannot remove or inactivate many types of harmful chemicals. In one study, people who reported using hand sanitizer to clean hands had increased levels of pesticides in their bodies 19. If hands have touched harmful chemicals, wash carefully with soap and water (or as directed by a poison control center).

Why? Many studies have found that sanitizers with an alcohol concentration between 60–95% are more effective at killing germs than those with a lower alcohol concentration or non-alcohol-based hand sanitizers 16,20. Hand sanitizers without 60-95% alcohol 1) may not work equally well for many types of germs; and 2) merely reduce the growth of germs rather than kill them outright.

Why? The steps for hand sanitizer use are based on a simplified procedure recommended by CDC 21. Instructing people to cover all surfaces of both hands with hand sanitizer has been found to provide similar disinfection effectiveness as providing detailed steps for rubbing-in hand sanitizer 22.

Why? Ethyl alcohol (ethanol)-based hand sanitizers are safe when used as directed, 23 but they can cause alcohol poisoning if a person swallows more than a couple of mouthfuls 24.

From 2011 – 2015, U.S. poison control centers received nearly 85,000 calls about hand sanitizer exposures among children  25. Children may be particularly likely to swallow hand sanitizers that are scented, brightly colored, or attractively packaged. Hand sanitizers should be stored out of the reach of young children and should be used with adult supervision. Child-resistant caps could also help reduce hand sanitizer-related poisonings among young children 24. Older children and adults might purposefully swallow hand sanitizers to become drunk 26.

Safely Using Hand Sanitizer

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Watch "Safely Using Hand Sanitizer" video below.

Some hand sanitizers have potentially toxic types of alcohol. Check FDA’s do-not-use list at www.fda.gov/handsanitizerlist to learn more. Need help now? Call 911 if the person is unconscious or has trouble breathing. Call the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222 to connect to your local poison center.

We can help stop the spread of COVID-19 by washing our hands regularly with soap and water for 20 seconds – especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing our nose. If soap and water are not available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend using alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol to help you avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.

Rub the hand sanitizer all over your hands, making sure to get between your fingers and on the back of your hands. Do not wipe or rinse off the hand sanitizer before it is dry. Do not use hand sanitizer if your hands are visibly dirty or greasy; wash your hands with soap and water instead.

If you use alcohol-based hand sanitizers, keep these safety tips in mind.

Hand Sanitizers Are Drugs

Hand sanitizers are regulated as over-the-counter (non-prescription) drugs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If you use alcohol-based hand sanitizers, read and follow the Drug Facts label, particularly the warnings section.

Store hand sanitizer out of the reach of pets and children, and kids should use it only with adult supervision. Call your doctor or the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222 if you experience a serious reaction to hand sanitizer.

Keep Hand Sanitizer Out of Your Eyes

Be especially careful not to get hand sanitizer in your eyes because it can cause burning and damage to the surface of the eye. Watch young children around dispensers containing hand sanitizer, which are often mounted at eye level and can splash.

If you get hand sanitizer in your eyes, rinse your eyes thoroughly with water as soon as possible, and call a health care provider or poison control center. 

Use Hand Sanitizer in a Well-Ventilated Area

If you are using hand sanitizer in a closed area, such as a car, open the windows to improve ventilation until the hand sanitizer is dry.

Supervise Children Using Hand Sanitizer

Do not drink hand sanitizer. This is particularly important for young children, especially toddlers, who may be attracted by the pleasant smell or brightly colored bottles of hand sanitizer. Drinking even a small amount of hand sanitizer can cause alcohol poisoning in children. (But there is no need to be concerned if your children eat with or lick their hands after using hand sanitizer.) 

During this coronavirus pandemic, poison control centers have had an increase in calls about accidental ingestion of hand sanitizer, so it is important that adults monitor young children’s use.

Beware of alcohol-based hand sanitizers that are packaged in containers that may appear as food or drinks, and of those that contain food flavors or fragrances. The FDA has discovered that some hand sanitizers are being packaged in children’s food pouches, water bottles, and adult beverage bottles, such as beer cans, and liquor and wine bottles.

We also found hand sanitizers that contain food flavors or fragrances, such as chocolate or raspberry. Eating or drinking these products can cause serious injury or death.

Do not allow pets to swallow hand sanitizer. If you think your pet has eaten something potentially dangerous, call your veterinarian or a pet poison control center right away.

Hand Sanitizer Is Flammable

Keep hand sanitizer away from heat and flames. When using hand sanitizer, rub your hands until they feel completely dry before performing activities that may involve heat, sparks, static electricity, or open flames.

Check FDA’s Do-Not-Use List

The FDA discovered serious safety concerns with some hand sanitizers during testing. This includes some hand sanitizers:

• contaminated with potentially toxic types of alcohol
• that do not contain enough active ingredient (ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol)
• with labels containing false, misleading, or unproven claims

Before you buy hand sanitizer or use hand sanitizer you have at home, check the FDA’s do-not-use list at www.fda.gov/handsanitizerlist. We update the list regularly as new information is released.

Health care professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA’s MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting program:

• Complete and submit the report online.
• Download the form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the form or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178.

Don’t Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer

The FDA doesn’t recommend that consumers make their own hand sanitizer. If made incorrectly, hand sanitizer can be ineffective – or worse. For example, there have been reports of skin burns from homemade hand sanitizer. 

Also, adding alcohol to non-alcohol hand sanitizer is unlikely to result in an effective product. And using disinfectant sprays or wipes on your skin may cause skin and eye irritation. Disinfectant sprays and wipes are intended to clean surfaces, not people or animals.

Hand sanitizers are a convenient alternative when handwashing with soap and water isn’t possible. You can help protect yourself and your family from coronavirus with simple hygiene. For more information, visit: Q&A for Consumers: Hand Sanitizers and COVID-19. Test your knowledge about hand sanitizer by taking our hand sanitizer quiz.

For the latest information on the coronavirus, visit:

• FDA: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• CDC: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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