Tag: benefits

Categories
Hand Sanitizer

Hand Sanitizer vs Soap and Water

Hand Sanitizer vs Soap Water

There is an age old debate surrounding hand sanitizers and good old fashioned soap and water. A debate that recently has been thrust back into the spotlight! So we have decided to break it down for good and for all. Which is better between using hand sanitizer and washing our hands with soap and water? Which method will really help us stay healthy? The Signitizer presents: Hand Sanitizer vs. Soap and Water.

Pro Hand Sanitizer: It’s Portable!

One of the pros of using hand sanitizer is the portability of it. It’s extremely easy to find travel sized sanitizers at stores, and even easier to bring with you in public. What better, more convenient way is there to keep your hands germ free when you’re on the move? Hand sanitizers will instantly disinfect your hands, and they can effectively neutralize many types of bacteria, microbes, and viruses, including the coronavirus.

Pro Soap and Water: A Gentle and Thorough Clean.

Soap tends to effectively kill germs and viruses in a gentler manner than alcohol based sanitizers. Soap and water is also able to effectively destroy pathogens and parasites that hand sanitizers can’t – such as Giardia and C. difficile. Soap and water is also able to remove dirt; which hand sanitizers tend to rub around on the skin.

Con Hand Sanitizer: It’s Sticky.

While not all, some hand sanitizers leave users feeling residual stickiness on their hands. And for those of us with sensitive skin, hand sanitizer can be irritating, drying, and too harsh. 

Con Soap and Water: Not Always Accessible

While you could always carry a bottle of soap around with you, you may not always be near running water. Soap alone is not enough to kill germs and viruses; it must be lathered using warm water to be effective. An additional con of soap and water is that it takes a bit more time and diligence to work compared to hand sanitizer. You not only need to lather properly, but for the correct amount of time, followed by drying your hands enough to not easily pick up more bacteria.

What’s The Verdict?

Both hand sanitizer and soap and water get the job done when it comes to destroying bacteria and other pathogens. However, you should always opt for soap and warm water when available. It’ll be the best for your skin, microbiome, and overall health long term. But in those moments when soap and water are unavailable, hand sanitizer is an excellent choice.

Need clean hands in a pinch? A Signitizer, filled with moisturizing hand sanitizer, is your solution. Contact us at 416-640-4477 or info@thesignitizer.com for more information.

Categories
Hand Sanitizer

Is Hand Sanitizer Environmentally Friendly?

Environmentally Friendly Hand Sanitizer

The spike in hand sanitizer sales after the Covid-19 pandemic hit has many of us wondering… Just how environmentally friendly is hand sanitizer? In this article we will explore what makes hand sanitizer environmentally friendly, as well as what doesn’t.

What Makes Hand Sanitizer Green?

The ethanol or ethyl alcohol in hand sanitizer is derived from natural sources, such as corn or sugar cane. The other major ingredient in most hand sanitizers is water. Additionally, few sanitizers contain fragrances or dyes. Since both plant-based ethanol and water are considered renewable, the product can be considered green.

What Makes Hand Sanitizer Bad For The Environment?

Arguably the biggest reason hand sanitizer could be considered bad for the environment would be because of the packaging. Consider the vast number of people who are using individual size hand sanitizers. Now consider how long those bottles last before they are discarded and a new bottle is purchased. Now consider all these bottles, which are derived from plastic, biodegrading over thousands of years and eventually ending up in our oceans as microplastic. 

Is There A Certification For Environmentally Friendly Hand Sanitizer?

EcoLogo developed the standard for certifying hand sanitizers based on a combination of factors, including the use of less intrusive raw materials, a reduction of environmental hazards and an increase of product recyclability.  These include:

  • Cannot use raw materials like Quats and triclosan.
  • Must use biobased content.
  • Must be readily biodegradable.
  • Must be fragrance- and dye-free.
  • Bulk packaging is excluded.
  • Bottle size minimum is 8 fluid ounces.
  • Primary packaging must be recyclable.
  •  No secondary packaging.

Luckily our hand sanitizer kiosks feature a refillable tank! This allows managers to choose a green rated hand sanitizer to fill their kiosks with, and eliminates the need for staff members to carry a personal sized sanitizer.

Go green. Protect your people. Promote your brand. All with the Signitizer. Contact us at 416-640-4477 or info@thesignitizer.com for more information.

Categories
Hand Sanitizer

Making the Most of Hand Sanitizers

Flu season is officially upon us! Which means it’s a perfect time for a reminder on how to get the most out of your hand sanitizer. While washing your hands with soap and water is still the best defense against germs, hand sanitizer is a close second. Christmas shopping and holiday parties will be in full swing, making an on-the-go option more important than ever.

Use The Right Type of Hand Sanitizer

All hand sanitizers are not created equally. The CDC recommends using alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains a minimum of 60% alcohol. Studies have shown sanitizers with an alcohol concentration between 60% and 95% are more effective at destroying germs than ones with an alcohol concentration under 60% or those that are not alcohol-based. 

Rub The Hand Sanitizer Into Your Skin

When you apply hand sanitizer, you should make sure that the product is absorbed into the hands; there shouldn’t be any lingering wetness. It’s important to continue to rub it into your skin until it dries to get the most out of it’s germ destroying properties.

Use Enough Hand Sanitizer

Despite instructions on some hand sanitizers to apply a dime-sized amount, research indicates that is insufficient. A 2016 study demonstrated that in order to sufficiently cover the front and back of both hands, people need to use more than half a teaspoon of hand sanitizer. The World Health Organization also recommends applying a palmful of sanitizer into a cupped hand.

Store The Hand Sanitizer Properly

To maintain the effectiveness of hand sanitizer, it should be stored at a temperature of 45 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Don’t Use Sanitizer On Dirty Hands

Hand sanitizer can work in a pinch, but if you notice grease and grime on your fingers, you need to wash your hands. The CDC says hand sanitizer may not be as effective if hands are noticeably filthy. In these cases, it’s recommended to wash hands with soap and water.


Our Digital Hand Sanitizer Kiosks are ideal for high-traffic areas such as entry points, lobbies, offices, retail spaces, restaurants, and beyond. Upgrade your business with the Signitizer, featuring a 21.5″ HD screen today. Protect your people. Promote your brand. Contact us at 416-640-4477 or info@thesignitizer.com for more information.

Categories
Hand Sanitizer

Hand Sanitizer: Is It Still Protecting Us From COVID?

Hand Sanitizer Still Effective Against COVID

With the more transmissible Delta variant circulating widely, and coronavirus cases rising rapidly across the country, resisting pandemic fatigue is paramount. Many are even wondering if hand sanitizer is still protecting us from the novel Coronavirus. Renewing our commitments to common-sense public health strategies like hand-washing and hand sanitizer use will be necessary to stem this latest wave.

The Delta variant is a formidable foe, but it is still no match for good old soap and water. That being said, if you’re on the go and can’t get to a sink, hand sanitizer is still an excellent substitute. Sanitizer works by actually killing the bacteria and viruses that wind up on our hands. But as swiftly as sanitizer kills the bad bacteria, it also kills the good. So while sanitizer is still a strong alternative for protecting ourselves against COVID, it should not be overused.

For instance, vapors from the hand sanitizer can irritate those with a hyperreactive airway disease. The high concentration of alcohol also damages the outer layer of skin, causing dry hands that are prone to itching and cracking. This damage allows pathogens from the outside to get in, which increases the risk of other bacterial infections. Too much use can also lead to resistance by the other flora, bacteria or viruses that you regularly run into. That’s why there’s no reason to use hand sanitizer at home or in the bathroom. But if you’re out and about, it’s worthwhile.

While everything in life has risks, there are also numerous benefits of hand sanitizer use. Hand sanitizer is portable, convenient, and when not overused is extremely effective. Using this germ-battling item, especially in large group settings, can support your hygiene and your well being, regardless of where life takes you. 

Our Digital Hand Sanitizer Kiosks are ideal for high-traffic areas such as entry points, lobbies, offices, retail spaces, restaurants, and beyond. Upgrade your business with the Signitizer, featuring a 21.5″ HD screen today. Protect your people. Promote your brand. Contact us at 416-640-4477 or info@thesignitizer.com for more information.

Categories
Uncategorized

Top 5 Reasons To Use Portable Hand Sanitizers

Benefits of Portable Hand Sanitizer Dispenser

The Covid-19 pandemic has put us all to the test, however, bacteria and germs have been terrorizing the human population for centuries. Luckily technology has afforded us a revolutionary weapon in the war against bacteria and germs: the portable hand sanitizer dispenser! Perfect for public events, restaurants, stores, offices, and schools, this cutting edge mechanism comes with a plethora of benefits for all those who come across it. Let’s take a look at some of the top reasons to use a portable hand sanitizer dispenser.

1. You can’t run to the restroom and wash your hands after every cough or sneeze.

Portable hand sanitizer dispensers make disinfecting more accessible; eliminating 99.9% of germs that might not otherwise be destroyed! 

2. Hand sanitizers decrease the risk of cross infection between customers and employees.

Employees often hold open doors, shake hands, accept payments, arrange displays, and more throughout their day! Having an accessible source of disinfection can greatly reduce the risk of cross transmission after these activities.

3. Portable hand sanitizers promote company-wide health.

The last thing an employer wants is a sick employee…let alone an entire department! Portable hand sanitizers greatly reduce the risk of an entire department getting sick while simultaneously promoting healthy habits. They are also an excellent option for construction job sites that lack proper cleaning facilities.

4. Encourages healthy habits.

A portable hand sanitizer in plain view is a gentle reminder to take proper care of our health and wellness. Healthy hands save lives…especially during cold and flu season!

5. Gives peace of mind.

People are hesitant to venture out these days, and for good reason! But a portable hand sanitizer is a great way to bring peace of mind to your employees and customers, and show them that you care about their wellbeing.

With 80% of germs being transmitted by hands, portable hand sanitizer dispensers are critical in the fight against infection. You know the benefits these devices provide, now make sure you strategically place them around your business!