Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Better Life

How to tell if your hand sanitiser kills COVID-19

According to a scientist, immunology graduate & chemist. - by Laura Barry
  • 07 Apr 2020

WATCH: Gordon Ramsey demonstrate how to wash your hands correctly while in self-isolation 

In the time of COVID-19, there’s nothing more important than hand-washing, hand-sanitiser, social distancing and self-isolation to combat the spread of coronavirus. However, how do you know if the hand sanitiser you have at home even kills the virus?

Terri Vinson is a scientist, immunology graduate  and a chemist, and she has some insights to help educate people on what makes an effective sanitizer, and the best ways to use them to protect yourself and your family from coronavirus.

hand sanitiser
Getty

Your hand sanitiser should:

  • To be effective against COVID-19, hand sanitisers must be at least 60% alcohol. 
  • For optimum protection, 70% alcohol hospital grade sanitisers should be used to provide the best barrier from disease. 
  • Sanitisers with a 70% alcohol content interfere with the coating of the virus, preventing its ability to attack and penetrate living cells and infect the body.  

What about your average supermarket/pharmacy sanitisers?

“Many sanitisers on the market use questionable ingredients which can be toxic if accidentally consumed into the blood stream, so do be careful to read the ingredients on labels,” says Terri. “Bacteria and viruses can survive on non-organic surfaces, and a recent report by The New England Journal of Medicine has stated that COVID-19 can be alive on plastic and steel surfaces for up to 72 hours. It’s important to make sure you are not only cleaning your hands, but sanitising anything else you may have touched while exposed to harmful microbes.”

You might also like:

7 germy places in your home that need to be disinfected right now 

  • Health
  • Better Life
Laura Barry
Laura Barry
Laura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes, travel and lifestyle. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores.

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Recommended to you

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

How to tell the difference between a cold and the flu

How to tell the difference between a cold and the flu

This is the $5 Ikea product that keeps cut fruit and veg fresh for weeks

This is the $5 Ikea product that keeps cut fruit and veg fresh for weeks

Professional cleaner reveals grout cleaning hack

Professional cleaner reveals grout cleaning hack

Hot cross bun zuccotto

Hot cross bun zuccotto

{headline}

{headline}

We’ve found the strongest umbrella in the world

We’ve found the strongest umbrella in the world

Your old Pokémon cards are now worth hundreds of dollars

Your old Pokémon cards are now worth hundreds of dollars

16 of the best Christmas crackers in Australia

16 of the best Christmas crackers in Australia

{headline}

{headline}

Get a real-life mini Christmas tree delivered to your door

Get a real-life mini Christmas tree delivered to your door

What is the correct date to put up your Christmas tree?

What is the correct date to put up your Christmas tree?

Adairs teams up with Indigenous artist Brad Turner for a new collection

Adairs teams up with Indigenous artist Brad Turner for a new collection

Kmart's fabulous new homewares have arrived

Kmart's fabulous new homewares have arrived

A physiotherapist's guide to working from home

A physiotherapist's guide to working from home

The massive Ikea mid-year clearance sale is here

The massive Ikea mid-year clearance sale is here

A 'Strawberry' supermoon will appear in the sky this week

A 'Strawberry' supermoon will appear in the sky this week

Bhg
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • All Recipes
  • BHG Shop
  • Girlfriend
  • Home Beautiful
  • New Idea
  • New Idea Food
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • 7mate
  • 7NEWS
  • 7Sport
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from Better Homes and Gardens

Magazine Subscription Offer

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Shop This Offer
Treat yourself to a subscription