Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
To use hand sanitizer, apply enough alcohol-based product to cover every surface of both hands and rub until your hands feel dry, which CDC says should take around 20 seconds. Use a product with at least 60% alcohol, and wash with soap and water instead when your hands are visibly dirty or greasy.
This guide covers the general-use steps from FDA and CDC, a table for choosing between sanitizer and soap and water, and the safety points that matter most where sanitizer is stocked or dispensed: flammability, storage and contaminated products.
What you need
- An alcohol-based hand sanitizer. CDC recommends that alcohol-based hand sanitizer (ABHS) contain at least 60% alcohol, and advises checking the product label when soap and water are not readily available.
- Hands that are not visibly dirty or greasy. FDA says not to use hand sanitizer on visibly dirty or greasy hands.
- Enough product. CDC states that the efficacy of alcohol-based hand sanitizer depends on the volume applied to the hands.
For how alcohol antiseptics are classed and how they differ from surface disinfectants, see what an antiseptic is and types of disinfectants.
Steps
- Check that your hands are not visibly dirty or greasy. If they are, wash with soap and water instead (FDA).
- Apply enough sanitizer to cover all surfaces of your hands (CDC: efficacy depends on the volume applied).
- Rub the sanitizer all over your hands, getting between your fingers and onto the backs of your hands (FDA).
- Keep rubbing until your hands feel dry. CDC says this should take around 20 seconds.
- Let it dry completely. Do not wipe it off or rinse it off (FDA).
- Keep your hands away from heat, sparks and open flames until they are fully dry (FDA).
Sanitizer or soap and water?
| Situation | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hands visibly dirty or greasy | Do not use hand sanitizer; wash with soap and water. | FDA |
| Hands visibly soiled in a clinical setting | Wash with soap and water. | CDC |
| Caring for patients with suspected or confirmed C. difficile or norovirus outbreaks | Wash with soap and water. | CDC |
| Hands not visibly soiled in most clinical situations | Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is preferred over soap and water. | CDC |
| Soap and water not readily available | Use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. | CDC |
Where hand hygiene is audited or taught in a care setting, these rules sit alongside the WHO 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene and a hand hygiene audit tool.
What can go wrong
Using too little, or wiping it off
CDC states that efficacy depends on the volume applied, and FDA says to let sanitizer dry rather than wiping or rinsing it.
Using it on dirty or greasy hands
FDA says not to use hand sanitizer if hands are visibly dirty or greasy. Wash with soap and water first.
Fire
FDA states that hand sanitizer is flammable and should be kept away from heat and flames, and hands should be allowed to dry fully before any exposure to heat, sparks or open flames. CDC notes that the NFPA 101 limit for alcohol content in alcohol-based hand sanitizer is 95% by volume, a maximum rather than a target; the 60% figure is the minimum CDC recommends. For how that code applies to facilities, see the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code guide.
Swallowing and children
FDA says children should use hand sanitizer only with adult supervision, that adults should monitor young children because the smell and colorful bottles can attract them, and that sanitizer should be stored out of the reach of pets and children. Drinking even a small amount can cause alcohol poisoning in children.
Contaminated products
FDA warns that some hand sanitizers have been found contaminated with potentially toxic types of alcohol. FDA maintains a list of hand sanitizers consumers should not use; check it before relying on a product. Adverse events can be reported to FDA’s MedWatch program.
Related alcohol products
Single-use alcohol pads are a different product with their own uses; see what an alcohol swab is.
When to get professional help
FDA advises calling your doctor or the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222 if you have a serious reaction, including after a child has swallowed hand sanitizer. In a facility, report suspected product contamination or an adverse event to FDA MedWatch and follow your organization’s own reporting procedure.
FAQ
How much alcohol should hand sanitizer contain?
At least 60%. CDC recommends that alcohol-based hand sanitizer contain at least 60% alcohol, and FDA cites the same figure for when soap and water are not available.
How long should I rub hand sanitizer on my hands?
Until your hands feel dry. CDC says this should take around 20 seconds when enough product is used.
Does hand sanitizer replace handwashing?
No. Wash with soap and water when hands are visibly dirty or greasy, and, per CDC, when caring for patients with suspected or confirmed C. difficile or norovirus outbreaks. Otherwise, CDC prefers alcohol-based hand sanitizer over soap and water in most clinical situations.
Is hand sanitizer safe for children?
FDA says children should use it only with adult supervision, and that drinking even a small amount can cause alcohol poisoning in children.
Is hand sanitizer flammable?
Yes. FDA states that hand sanitizer is flammable; keep it away from heat and flames and let your hands dry fully before any exposure to them.
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Safely Using Hand Sanitizer (page content dated 04/12/2023; checked 2026-10-29).
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Clean Hands: clinical safety for healthcare providers (checked 2026-10-29).
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, About Clean Hands (checked 2026-10-29).
- World Health Organization, WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care (2009; checked 2026-10-29).
