Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol is effective at killing most germs on your hands when soap and water aren’t available. But using it correctly, knowing its limits, storing it safely, and disposing of it properly are all things worth getting right. Whether you’re trying to use up a stockpile, figure out if your old bottles still work, or just make sure you’re actually getting the germ-killing benefit, here’s what you need to know.
How to Apply It Correctly
The technique matters more than most people realize. Apply enough gel to cover all surfaces of both hands, including between your fingers and around your fingernails. Rub your hands together until they’re completely dry, which takes about 20 seconds. If the sanitizer dries in under 15 seconds, you probably didn’t use enough.
Wiping sanitizer off before it dries or applying it to visibly dirty or greasy hands significantly reduces its effectiveness. The alcohol needs contact time to break down germs, and dirt creates a physical barrier. If your hands are visibly soiled, soap and water is the better choice.
What Hand Sanitizer Can and Can’t Kill
Alcohol-based sanitizer works well against many common bacteria and viruses, but it has blind spots. It does not effectively eliminate norovirus (the most common cause of stomach bugs), Cryptosporidium (a waterborne parasite), or C. difficile (a bacteria that causes severe diarrhea). For all of these, soap and water is significantly more effective because the physical action of washing lifts these pathogens off the skin in a way alcohol can’t.
Sanitizer also won’t remove chemicals or pesticides from your hands. If you’ve been handling anything toxic, wash thoroughly with soap and water instead.
Can You Use It on Surfaces?
Hand sanitizer is regulated by the FDA as a product for skin, not surfaces. It is not a substitute for EPA-registered surface disinfectants, which must meet more rigorous testing standards for effectiveness. While rubbing some sanitizer on a shopping cart handle or phone screen isn’t harmful, it hasn’t been tested or approved for that purpose and may not work as well as a proper disinfectant spray or wipe. For surfaces, use a product specifically designed for that job.
Does Hand Sanitizer Expire?
Yes, but it degrades slowly. Most commercial hand sanitizers carry expiration dates of two years or more from production. The main concern is that the alcohol gradually evaporates over time, potentially dropping below the 60% threshold needed for effectiveness. In practice, a bottle that’s a few months past its printed date likely still works, since the alcohol content doesn’t plummet overnight. The Oregon Health Authority has noted it is “very likely” that potency remains above the CDC’s recommended 60% minimum well beyond the labeled expiration date.
That said, if a bottle has been sitting open or in a hot car for months, the alcohol may have evaporated faster. If the gel seems thinner or more watery than usual, it’s time to replace it.
How to Store It Safely
Hand sanitizer is a flammable liquid with a flash point below 100°F. Keep it in a cool, well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and open flames. In a car during summer, interior temperatures can easily exceed the flash point, so avoid leaving bottles on the dashboard or in a hot trunk for extended periods.
If you have children at home, store sanitizer out of reach. Small children who swallow hand sanitizer are at serious risk of alcohol poisoning, and some products have been found to contain methanol (wood alcohol), which is far more dangerous than the ethanol or isopropanol used in legitimate products.
Methanol Contamination: A Real Risk
During the pandemic, the FDA identified numerous hand sanitizer brands containing methanol, a toxic substance that should never be in these products. Methanol exposure, whether through skin absorption or accidental swallowing, can cause nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, seizures, permanent blindness, and death. Children who accidentally ingest contaminated products and adults who drink sanitizer as an alcohol substitute face the highest risk. In 2020, the CDC documented serious poisoning cases and deaths in Arizona and New Mexico linked to methanol-containing sanitizers.
If you have old or unfamiliar bottles, especially brands you don’t recognize, check the FDA’s updated list of hand sanitizers consumers should not use, available on fda.gov. If your product is on the list, stop using it immediately and do not pour it down the drain.
How to Dispose of Unwanted Hand Sanitizer
This is where most people get it wrong. You cannot throw hand sanitizer in the trash or pour it down the drain. The EPA classifies discarded alcohol-based hand sanitizer as an ignitable hazardous waste. Pouring it into a sink or sewer system violates Clean Water Act regulations, and tossing it in household garbage creates a fire risk.
For individuals with a few bottles at home, your best option is a local household hazardous waste collection event or drop-off site, which most municipalities run periodically. Check your city or county waste management website for dates and locations. Businesses and institutions face stricter rules and generally cannot use household hazardous waste sites. They must follow full hazardous waste management procedures, including proper labeling, manifesting, and working with a licensed hazardous waste hauler.
The EPA encourages recycling excess hand sanitizer when possible. Some facilities with permits from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau can reclaim the ethanol for reuse in other products, including fuel. This is the most environmentally sound option for large quantities.
Protecting Your Skin With Frequent Use
Frequent sanitizer use can dry out and irritate your skin by stripping its natural oils. Most commercial formulas include glycerin, a humectant that pulls moisture into the outer layer of skin. Interestingly, the amount of glycerin matters: concentrations between 0.5% and 0.73% appear to offer the best balance between protecting skin and maintaining the sanitizer’s germ-killing ability. Higher glycerin levels can reduce antimicrobial effectiveness by as much as 30%.
If your hands feel dry or cracked from regular sanitizer use, applying a separate moisturizer after the sanitizer has fully dried can help restore your skin barrier. Look for creams containing ingredients like petroleum or mineral oil, which form a protective layer over the skin. Avoid applying moisturizer at the same time as sanitizer, since that can interfere with the alcohol’s ability to work.