Whether you're planning a picnic or changing the baby's nappy, dry hand washes are quick, clean and effective. We review a few of the best.
In recent years, dry hand washes have become an essential addition to every handbag. The perfect alternative to soap and water, they quickly sanitize your hands without the need to towel-dry afterwards: perfect when eating on the run, handling animals or working with children.
There are a number of brands on the market, but all work in a similar way with germ neutralising properties suspended in an alcohol solution which quickly evaporates, leaving the skin dry and hygienic. Here we put three of the leading market brands to the test to see which one leaves you in safe hands.
Lifeventure – Antibacterial Cleaning Gel, £4.99
Lifeventure is available from most camping shops like Blacks; there is a store locator on their website. It comes in a little round 100ml bottle of watery green fluid. The smell is quite a powerful washing-up liquid scent that lets you know you’ve freshened up. The product itself is a good one but the packaging is a little tricky as it’s a screw-top, so once you’ve put the runny liquid in the palm of your hand, you then have to twist the top back on. However, it also contains aloe vera to help soften the skin and combat the drying effects of the alcohol.
Rating: * * * *
Cuticura – Original Hand Hygiene Gel, £2.79
As a company, Cuticura dates back to the 1860s, so arguably they’ve had enough time to perfect their products. It comes as a clear gel in an easy to carry 100ml bottle with a flip-cap, which makes it easier to apply than the Lifeventure screw-top. The smell is also a lot gentler and there is even a citrus version. Cuticura claims that it kills 99.9% of all germs within 15 seconds.
Rating: * * * * *
Spirigel – Alcohol Hand Gel, £2.40
Comes in a much smaller 60ml squirt-top bottle, which makes it super easy to apply. It has a practical look about it and claims to work in around 30 seconds. It is a clear gel, slightly thicker than Cuticura that smells of unscented alcohol. You can live in the added comfort of knowing that Spirigel, according to their website, is also effective against avian flue. They are also the winners of the National Alcohol Handrub Contract, which makes it the disinfectant of choice in many hospitals. 1% added glycerol helps to make it kinder on the skin.
Rating: * * *
Prices are guides only and may be available cheaper online.
