Do you think hand sanitizer really is effective if it only kills 99.99% of germs?

Question

Would you only use it as a last resort if you don't have soap and water to wash your hands with?

Massageman · Accepted Answer

Depending on the source, the "average" human hand has from 2,000,000 to 10,000,000 "germs". So, just for the heck of it, let's say 5,000,000. Multiply by.9999 and we get a surviving germ count of 500. Not insignificant, but a heck of a lot better. When I had to take a Food Service Handlers course for a new job, the first thing the class members had to do was rub a red dye on their hands. Then, we were supposed to wash it off. Even after TEN washings with various soaps, rags, brushes, etc. we still had up to about 25% of our hands still bearing the dye. Doing the math again, all that hand washing PLUS using a disinfectant would pull that 500 down to 125 germs missed. Of course, we don't really know what they mean by "germs": the definition can be very general (including sporous and viral loads) , or it could be very specific, meaning only "bacteria" per se, and omitting viruses such as the Wuhan COVid.

So, even modeled against very complete soap and water washing, a disinfectant still gets rid of far bigger bacterial load. Now we know why surgeons scrub for 10 minutes with germicidal soap, and still use a disinfectant in many cases.

A new soap/brush pack is use for each and every scrubbing.

NathanDavis · Accepted Answer

it is quite effective, yes... when you use it correctly

however that's just a marketing slogan they use for products... for starters, "germs" is not even an actual scientific term, germ is just a word we use for little creatures... and the 99.99% figure is not accurate either, because no product can be 100% effective, and if it were... it would be quite dangerous for humans to use anyway

they just go with that figure because when they're tested in laboratory conditions, which are very specific... they do meet the high standards under LAB conditions, it does not mean that it will actually happen in real life scenarios

in fact... the norovirus is one that won't be stopped by standard sanitization, cruises for example or restaurants, whenever you see in the news that there was an outbreak, a norovirus is usually the culprit

if I remember correctly... the real figure is around 60% as to how "effective" hand sanitizers are going to be when used by the average person and 60% is better than nothing... lol

Flower7 · Accepted Answer

I doubt that soap and water is 100% effective either. Especially due to user error, such as not getting every surface and every crevice…or not scrubbing for long enough, or with hot enough water. There’s a lot of factors that go into the effectiveness of hand washing.

I’d have to say, sanitizer actually seems a bit better standardized compared to that. At least a predictable amount of cleanliness results from sanitizer, no matter how the product is used. No “skill” is involved with it. There’s less things that affect the results.

Buntyp · Accepted Answer

Use it. Forget about the last resort. That idea from the last century about only crazy people wash their hands 15 times a day? That was then--your soap and water AND hand sanitizer are now, and will be for a couple of years, at least.

Kaneki05 · Answer

It's effective. Not by the amount it say's though and trust me you wouldn't want that anyway because surprise ourselves would then die.
Also what I find fun there is a lot of things that will tell you that Bactria does not become resistance to hand sanitizers or a super bug as the term goes. This is simply not true, no matter how many say it's a myth or not true they become resistant. Bactira is always evolving and does indeed do so. Enterococcus faecium just as example was discussed quite a lot in 2018 as doing so, and of course with covid became a point again and overall it's just always talked about.
Telling you it kills them too fast for them to become so is just a really easy to find lie on the internet. It don't really matter the speed, it more matters on the length of usage.

A good anecdote for it, a lion eats a horse the horse is killed quickly lions proceed to do this for years upon years eventually horse now has strips that can act as defence to confuse the lion. Aka a Zebra. It does not matter how fast the lion eats the horses in the first place and that the horse just died with no ability to come back to warn the rest or adapt it's self, it matters that the lions have been doing this for over a long period of time that lead to a defence been made for a future generation.
So what happens if humans use hand sanitizer for a proceeding time on Bactria? same thing. Even more so since Bactria is the fastest evolver.

The whole it's a myth thing is clearly just said not to scare people from using it. One could easy picture a Flat earther mentally of "It's just gonna make them all immune anyway and kill us! So no I will never use hand sanitizer." which isn't helpful.
Myself however wouldn't say to use it every day. But you should also not just say never to it.

Phoenix-gb · Answer

Yes, because it's down to bogus legal claims that that statement has to be made. There are bacteria so small that they cannot be effectively measured, as such a definitive 100% effective claim cannot be made.

There was a brand of bleach here in the UK that used to claim it killed all known germs dead because in their lab tests, those they could test for were effectively wiped out, and they were pulled up by the advertising standards authority because it could not definitively back up that their testing covered every known bacteria, so that too now goes by the 99.9% standard to avoid legal challenges.

Anonymous · Answer

It is essentially 100% effective against ordinary household germs, you just can't say 100% because it is possible or even likely that some may remain, however there are always germs around and that tiny amount that remain are not a threat to you.

Washing your hands with that will bring the level of germs on your hands down well below a normal sort of background level of germs.

Does this mean that all those people you see in hazmat suits during outbreaks of Ebola are just messing around in some sort of pantomime?

No, clearly not.

It is not intended for use against weapons grade anthrax, so if you have a specific problem then you should check with the manufacturer or use a specialist product.

But it is presumably better than nothing in any event and worth a try if an alternative is not available while you seek specialist help.

Prevention is better than cure though so I would advise against rubbing weapons grade anthrax into your eyes.

Calixar · Answer

I dislike hand sanitizer/antibacterials.
For starters, not all bacteria are bad. That’s why overuse of them makes your hands get dry and nasty. It’s killing the good bacteria that keep your skin moist and healthy.
Next, that.01 it doesn’t kill… we’re talking the deadly stuff, like flesh-eating viruses.
It gives a false sense of security. Have you really gotten the dirt off your hands, like soap and water would do? Or have you just got dead dirt on your hands now?

DonkeyDan · Answer

I only ever use hand sanitizer as a last resort if I have no way of washing my hands, but I also use the stuff we have at work in the lab as additional protection which is has antimicrobial and anti viral agents in them. We apply it after washing our hands entering and exiting the lab. Id always rather wash my hands, and only use this stuff ehen I'm out and there is nowhere to hand wash.

Static_In_The_Attic · Answer

Like a lot of things you have to read the fine print & when you see an asterisk * BEWARE because you’ll be surprised.

CoffeeBeanBlack · Answer

Killing 100% of germs also means killing 100% of positive bacteria. Additionally, consider that bacteria do adapt. They swap genetics with others they encounter habitually. Yes, I prefer to just wash my hands. I find hand sanitzer weird but useful as a last resort

t-8900 · Answer

It's definitely effective... At damaging and drying out your skin which can lean to further problems fighting bacteria
The other issue is it also kills the good bacteria which you have all over the inside and out side of your body. Your skin is also an organ and your first defense against illnesses and infections. Be sure to treat it well!

caring__1 · Answer

That's more effective than birth control, and look at all the people using birth control. Yes, soap and water is more effective, but that doesn't mean alcohol is ineffective.

Godsvengeance · Answer

Germs are good for you. The only way to have a robust and fully functioning immune system is to be exposed to germs. High hand sanitizer use actually long term increases your likelihood of illness and it has other damaging effects depending on the formulation

Mark987 · Answer

100% it is effective. Hand sanitizer got a huge boost with Covid happening.. that being said.. it should be always be readily available, and even with masks I know a lot of beauticians that will continue to use make post Covid... especially when you're close to someones face

TheorionMage · Answer

In a similar metaphor,
would you refuse to employ a device which shielded you from only 99.99% of injury from firearm projectiles? That DAMNABLE 0.01% !

Ever hear that expression: "... dodged THAT bullet!" (SIGH!)

jennifer_bloom · Answer

It might kill more than 99.99 but it would require too much verbiage to give an exact number higher than that and marketing must be made with short sound bytes people can quickly register and understand.

HighlyVolatile · Answer

To my limited understanding, we can never completely remove harmful bacteria. They're present on our hands, in our foods, etc. It's removing the bulk of them that tends to be important to prevent our immune systems from losing the battle.

devilish-cutie · Answer

do you know most contraception is also about 99% effectivness. would you not cosider them doing their job? Point is there is no 100% guarantee but chances are very slim

jshm2 · Answer

Yes. Also, contraceptive is only 90% effective, yet here you are.

silkjames · Answer

I don't know but I stay washing and sanitizer my hands I got those really tiny bottles on me all the time lol if they made squirt guns out of this I would of blasted this foo down on the train the other day lol

lrina · Answer

soap is better, but hand sanitizer is better than nothing. the only problem i have with it is because of the high amount of alcohol, it dries your hands out if used frequently.

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

I only use it as a last resort my cousin bought some here and it smells like s**t

virtue2332 · Answer

Considering that condoms are 98 Percent effective and that seems to be ok I would say it's pretty good

josephinelcajon · Answer

EVERYONE'S using it inappropriately! First it is not a replacement or better than soap and water. Second you should use enough to wet both hands and rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds.

Crepe_tart · Answer

Yes, it is effective. The reason why it says 99.99% is not to get sued because they can't never promise something works at it's 100%

dustybiker · Answer

It does nothing to Norovirus. Which is really really awful. Like food poisoning on steroids. Had it twice.

MountAverage · Answer

I don't understand what you're saying. 99.9% is as good as it gets, if ANYTHING is 99.9% effective, that's the most effective you will get. For anything, includind medication and vaccinations. So what are you even talking about?

TheMajesticKing777 · Answer

A little too effective considering most germs are actually beneficial so killing them is probably not good

Razp_Sorbet · Answer

My water is currently out so I've been using hand sanitizer. They don't say 100% just incase, it's not something they can guarantee.

RebeccaBI2000 · Answer

It has a lot if alcohol in it. I use it when ever I get back in my car from the stores and before I eat, if I don’t have access to a bathroom to wash my hands before eating.

OddBeMe · Answer

Yeah. It’s evident. Like birth control. But legally, they can’t say 100%. Also, can’t foresee weird circumstances. Like this chick got preggers after taking antibiotics. Had to vacuum suck the little fcker.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

Have you considered how many "germs" are killed with soap and water?

Redhead999 · Answer

It's effective but it doesn't clean the dirt off your hands

thistle4 · Answer

Yeah it is I drink a glass of it every day and I don’t have any more nasty germs in my body

OneNineZero · Answer

Not it don't kill much germs  It's just for fools like us  It's placebo

Tiptoetamm · Answer

I prefer soap and water but will use sanitizer if nothing else is available

Better_off_here · Answer

well a lot of things only are 99 percent effective but does that mean we need to stop using condoms? i am not sure, but washing with soap and using birth controls pills may work best too :) and so have a nice day :)

crossdressingrihno · Answer

The remaining 1% of germs are not likely to be able to get you sick so yeah you should be fine

boobliker · Answer

yes it kills germs on your hands and most people don't wash there hands correctly any how, so it good to use

Grape-Soda · Answer

Its a sanitizer so it reduces bioburden but does not kill all pathogens. You would need a germicide or even a sporicidal to kill viruses and spores.

TheAfrikan · Answer

I would trust is if it would come in hand with a bar of soap lol. Hate being left at 99% yet if am to use the soap I can clock at 💯 if am to use both of them. Lol @cherry234

LaFerrari · Answer

Yes, but I think Area 51 has a hand sanitizer that is effective that kills 100% of Bacteria lol

genericname85 · Answer

Yeah but it doesn't remove dirt or toxic chemicals tho.

anton_dee · Answer

When the ads say 99.99% they mean 100%. But no one can give guarantee for anything in this world. So they write 99.99%.

Shamalien · Answer

This is a PSA, STOP USING HAND SANITIZER UNNECESSARILY! If you aren’t handling raw meat or human waste YOU DON’T NEED IT!!! You’re destroying our immune systems with this over sanitization.

Anonymous · Answer

It's great at eradicating all of the beneficial bacteria on your hands that help protect you...

Likes2drive · Answer

Yeah I have to if I use a porta potty because that’s all they have in their

sirderpsalot123 · Answer

I'm not opposed to using hand sanitizer but I prefer soap and water.

Still-alive · Answer

Yeah id say so but yeah soaps obviously better though

Xtendable · Answer

Thats like when Diet Coke used to be advertised, ‘just one calorie’. You wanna impress me, get rid of that last one

Eleni1989 · Answer

On moves yes plus siblings in Public Bathrooms not always Sanitize. Plus I use lotion kind better.

Waldoe · Answer

yes, better than only killing 50% or 10% or zero... nothing in life is 100%

Mr_T_R_Climbs · Answer

Soap also states it only kills 99.9% of germs and bacteria so , both are just as efective

RandomGuy1030 · Answer

The Calculus they do on that will never say 100%. It only approaches 99.999999999%.

Tstrbrainer · Answer

Maybe they are just playing safe not to give false advertisement

JesseJayNeak · Answer

The remaining 0.01% witnesses what will happen to them if they keep on disrupting the peace

WhitneySnow · Answer

That’s still a lot of germs it kills

Ninania · Answer

Yeah, cause not all germs are harmful.

exitseven · Answer

I keep a bottle of it in my truck for emergencies.

Wise4myage · Answer

Yes, its worked for me so far.

TexasRed95 · Answer

Soap doesn't kill all germs either.

jasco · Answer

Yea some germs are good

Twalli · Answer

Soap and water isn't 100% effective

Do you think hand sanitizer really is effective if it only kills 99.99% of germs?

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Does hand sanitizer still kill germs (covid especially) months after it expires?

Do you think hand sanitizer really is effective if it only kills 99.99% of germs?

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Does hand sanitizer still kill germs (covid especially) months after it expires?

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