In the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic, hand sanitisers can be seen everywhere to prevent more cases, as it does successfully kill a lot of germs and microbes that could make you sick. For healthcare workers, in particular, hand sanitisers can prevent a lot of illnesses that would otherwise spread between patients and workers. 

Thanks to its inventors, it’s easy and inexpensive to install hand sanitiser dispensers throughout high-traffic areas, such as hospitals and stores. This means you have more physical spaces where people can clean their hands quickly and effectively, without needing to install hand washing stations or additional sinks. Carrying a small bottle of sanitizer is convenient for busy families and individuals who want to quickly clean their hands without tracking down a hand washing space like a bathroom or kitchen.

According to docshultz.com, although the gel-based hand sanitiser was first invented in 1966, it was originally only used in hospital and medical settings. The product didn’t become popularized for home and personal use until the 1980s and 1990s.

While it has been used throughout history, actual scientific evidence for the antimicrobial properties of alcohol did not come until 1875. At this point, it was a widely debated topic, as sanitiser would kill bacteria, but not spores. This continued, though alcohol’s introduction into surgical procedure began with multiple well-known physicians recommending alcohol for pre-surgery hand and surface disinfection in 1888. By 1930’s ethanol was the preferred skin antiseptic in hospitals. 

By this time, it was no secret that alcohol killed germs - but there was no real way to apply it on the go, and at home. In 1966 however, a nursing student named Lupe Hernandez from Bakersfield, California, found out that alcohol could be delivered in a gel - thus discovering hand sanitizer. Originally it was only used in hospital settings, until it became commercialized by companies like Purell and Gojo in 1988. 

According to prezi.com, hand sanitizers Hernandez, while studying to become a nurse, learned that cleaning alcohol can be delivered via a gel so that cleaning could occur without a soap and water. The alcohol in hand sanitisers kills germs and bacteria found on hands.

Today, hand sanitiser is everywhere. Not only is it in every hospital room and doctor’s office, but it’s also in bathrooms, moms’ purses, kids’ backpacks, grocery store entrances, and even the portable restrooms. Hand sanitizer has become a staple for many people, thanks to its usefulness, effectiveness, and accessibility.