Though the CDC recommends using a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol content, the development of alcohol-free sanitizers has created an option that is preferable for certain market sectors, such as education, where they are being touted as safer for school children as well as inmates in correctional facilities. They are also preferable for those with sensitive skin. Alcohol-free sanitizers are available in gel, foam, and spray formats. These formulas are water-based and odorless, and tend to be less sticky on the hands, and their active ingredients offer a germ kill rate comparable to alcohol-based formulas. Alcohol-free sanitizers are also available in biobased, environmentally friendly versions.


posted on 11/16/2009