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Alcohol has been used as a disinfectant for centuries. The most common sterilizing products used today – rubbing alcohol and alcohol-based hand sanitizers – are both made from solutions of alcohol, most often isopropyl or ethyl alcohol. In Ancient Egypt, circa 3000 B.C,, palm wine was used both to clean wounds and embalm bodies. Alcohol is incredibly effective in the fight against single-celled microorganisms like bacteria, but commercials and other advertisements for household disinfectants don’t often explain the fascinating process of how alcohol kills bacteria. Alcohol kills bacteria through a process known as denaturation. Alcohol molecules are amphiphile chemical compounds, which means that they have both water and fat-loving properties. Because bacterial cell membranes have a fat-based side as well as a...

If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. 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. When using hand sanitizer, apply the product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount) and rub the product all over the surfaces of your hands until your hands are dry. Why? The steps for hand sanitizer use are...