If you are in a rush and you want to disinfect your hands quickly then you may be tempted to reach for a bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
The main question that a lot of people have is how effective is this, and is it not better to use plain-old soap and water? When you look at what the CDC have to say, you will soon see that alcohol-based sanitiser is great for reducing the spread of germs and it can also limit the amount of bacteria that is on your hands. The problem is that it is not good for removing ALL types of germs.
They are also not as effective if you have grease, dirt or other substances on your hands either, and this is something that a lot of people overlook. If you choose to use a hand sanitiser then it’s a good idea for you to choose one that has an alcohol content of 60% or higher.
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How to Use Hand Sanitiser
So, it’s always better to wash your hands properly by using soap, but if you do not have access to soap and water then sanitiser is a very good way for you to keep your hands clean.
Most luxury toilet hire cubicles will provide you with both. If you are not sure how much sanitiser to use, then make sure that you use a minimal amount and squirt it into the palm of your hand.
Some luxury toilet hire hand sanitisers are runnier than others, so it helps to consult the back of the bottle if you aren’t quite sure. When you have applied the lotion, you then need to rub it all over your hands until dry. This will take around 20 seconds in total.
How to Use Soap and Water after Using a Portable Toilet Hire Bathroom
Washing your hands with soap and water is so important when you visit a luxury toilet hire cubicle or a portable toilet hire urinal. This is especially the case if your hands are dirty, or if you suspect that someone in your household has been exposed to germs, such as the norovirus.
The process here would be for you to wet your hands with some clean and running water. When you have done this, then apply the soap. Rub your hands together and lather up properly, before scrubbing the back of your hands to make sure that you are getting good coverage.
It’s helpful to wash your hand for a total of 20 seconds if possible. The main reason for this is because it takes this long for the germs to die off, after being in contact with the soap. If you’re thinking that it’s quite difficult to know how long 20 seconds is when you’re just washing your hands, but there’s a trick you can use, and that’s to:
Sing or hum “Happy Birthday” twice, from beginning to end after using a luxury toilet hire cubicle or portable toilet hire urinal.
When you have done this, it is then important for you to rinse your hands well under clean, running water. When you go through a luxury toilet hire service, you will soon find that they are able to provide you with hot water, but really, any portable toilet hire cubicle should at least give you access to cold water if they offer a good service. Contact your local portable toilet hire service to find out more.
How Often to Clean your Hands
If you’re not quite sure when to wash your hands, then you may be surprised at how often it’s recommended:
- Before preparing food
- During food preparation
- Before you eat
- After using a luxury toilet hire bathroom, or portable toilet hire urinal
- After you change a diaper
- After you’ve touched an animal, or cleaned up animal waste
- After you have taken the garbage out
- After sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose
- After working with someone who is sick
Of course, it’s highly recommended that you use soap and water whenever you wash your hands after visiting a portable toilet hire bathroom, as opposed to relying on hand sanitiser alone. This will help you to reduce the amount of germs and chemicals that are on your hands.
If you are not able to access soap and water, then you need to try and use hand sanitiser that has at least an alcohol volume of 60%. This will drastically reduce the chance of you getting sick in a community setting. If you go through a luxury toilet hire service then they should make sure that you have access to this, or at least soap and running water.
Luxury Toilet Hire-Studies regarding Hand Sanitiser and Soap
Hand sanitiser that is alcohol-based can easily reduce the amount of microbes that are on your hands, but you should know that they do not eliminate every type of germ you’ll find in a luxury toilet hire bathroom. Why? Because soap and water is much more effective against clostridium difficile 1-5, the norovirus and cryptosporidium.
Another surprising fact is that hand sanitisers that are alcohol-based can easily eliminate microbes, but only when they are used properly. So many people do not use enough for this to happen when they visit a luxury toilet hire bathroom, or they wipe off the sanitiser before it has had a chance to dry properly.
Studies have shown that hand sanitiser does work well in clinical settings, which can include hospitals. This is because your hands will come into contact with germs, but the skin is not normally heavily soiled or greasy. If you work on a construction site on the other hand then hand sanitiser would not nearly be as effective if you go to a portable toilet hire bathroom.
Harmful Chemicals and Hand Sanitiser
Hand sanitiser, when used after visiting a portable toilet hire bathroom, might not remove harmful chemicals, which can include heavy metals and pesticides. Why is this? Few studies have been done regarding this, but they have found that those who do use hand sanitiser and not soap do tend to have a much higher level of pesticide in their body.
Studies have also shown that hand sanitiser which has an alcohol by volume ratio of between 60-95% is the optimum amount. If you use hand sanitiser which has a lower amount, then you may find that it isn’t as effective and that it just slows the growth of germs as opposed to killing them outright. Take a look below to find out more about using hand sanitiser after visiting a portable toilet hire bathroom.
In short-
- Use hand sanitiser that is 60% alcohol or higher
- Hand sanitiser is not a substitute for soap
- Always use soap and running water if available
- Hand sanitiser is not as effective on dirty hands
Of course, if you need to hire some portable toilets then you may feel as though you have no control over the sanitiser that is available. This can cause some people a degree of anxiety. If you want to work around this then contact us at LetLoos, and we will work with you to make sure that your needs are met.
