Is it possible that homemade sanitizer will ever be as effective as store-bought sanitiser?

The answer is, in a nutshell, no. Sanitiser is made up of a specific collection of substances that are subjected to rigorous testing to ensure that they are completely safe and protective.

1. The amount of alcohol consumed
When determining if hand sanitizer is effective, the alcohol level is the most critical thing to consider. Alcohol destroys bacteria on hands by denaturing their proteins and dissolving their lipid membranes.

2. Sanitizer that has been thoroughly tested
When a sanitiser is tested, the manufacturer can determine the proportion of microorganisms it will eliminate. This statement will be printed on the bottle of sanitisers that have gone through proper testing techniques, with good quality sanitiser eradicating 99.9% of bacteria.

The fact that a product's testing findings are publicized is also a good indication that it is both safe and effective.

3. Care

The final key factor to be aware of when looking at sanitiser is whether it has other protective factors. Excess hand washing or poor sanitiser quality can become uncomfortable on the hands and skin can react poorly, becoming dry, cracked and painful.

While it may be tempting to buy inexpensive sanitiser or attempt to create sanitiser at home, the quality required for adequate protection cannot be achieved. Always read the label to ensure that you are purchasing a reputable product, and keep an eye out for the components and messages listed above.

See our range of sanitisers here.