What You Can Use Hand Sanitizer to Clean
You typically use hand sanitizer to clean your hands, but this disinfectant is also a great way to remove germs from many other items you use every day. Just put on rubber gloves and get to cleaning*!
Sanitizer works on any of the following surfaces:
Door Handles
A study found that there could be as many as 5 different bacteria living on your front door’s handle. People are in and out all day, and who knows where their hands have been?! Wipe down handles and doorknobs with sanitizer before opening a door.
Smartphones
It’s tough to imagine a world without cell phones. We use them to watch TV shows, text our friends, and post updates on our social media accounts. With all that action, is it any surprise that there are over 25,000 bacteria per square inch on your smartphone? Put a little bit of sanitizer on your screen to ward off germs.
Keyboards & Computer Mice
EHS Today, a magazine focused on health and workplace safety, found that the average desk harbors about 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat. Set a reminder on your phone to sanitize your desk at least once every work day. This should include wiping down your table, the keyboard, and the mouse.
Pens
Before COVID-19, we used to borrow pens all the time, whether it was to sign the receipt at a restaurant, jot down a quick note, or fill out paperwork at a dentist appointment. All of that sharing has resulted in about 200 bacteria per square inch on the average pen. If you’re a business, make sure you’re frequently wiping yours down with sanitizer.
Faucets
Restaurants, stores, and other public places usually have a cleaning checklist hanging on the wall in their restrooms. It would be a good idea to add “sanitizing the faucets” on that list since up to 229,000 bacteria per square inch can be living on the handles. People are turning the knobs for cold or hot water right after they’ve done their business, which makes this area a hotbed for germs!
Tables & Countertops
You can wipe down your desk, kitchen table, and other surfaces using sanitizer. Just make sure you’re not using the solution on authentic wood as that may stain or cause damage. Everything else is fair game, which is good since your bathroom countertop is home to about 452 bacteria per square inch and E. Coli can be hiding on your kitchen counters.
Metal Kitchen Utensils
Cooking at home is a great way to save money and eat more nutritiously. If meal planning is part of your routine, be sure to periodically sanitize your metal kitchen utensils. E. Coli, yeast, salmonella, and even mold can be hiding on your spatulas, tongs, pizza cutters, can openers, and other kitchenware.
Eyeglasses
Smudges on your eyeglasses can be a huge pain in the butt! Luckily, you can get rid of them using hand sanitizer and a microfiber cloth. The U.S. National Library of Medicine published a study in 2018 that also showed traces of microbial contamination on the frames and lenses of spectacles. For that reason, it’s also a good idea to use the sanitizer as a disinfectant.
Flat Irons & Curling Irons
Make sure your flat iron and curling iron is off, and then you can use hand sanitizer to wipe them both down. Try to incorporate this into your routine at least once a month since hair oil can cause bacteria to grow and breed. Gross.
Makeup Brushes
Dirty makeup brushes can cause your pores to clog up and may even lead to a staph infection or pink eye. Keep them nice, clean, and sanitized to avoid any health issues in the future! It’s worth the effort, and it’s pretty simple to do. Just pour the hand sanitizer into a cup, and leave the handles inside overnight.
Diamond Rings
Polish your gemstone and make it shine by dipping a Q-tip into sanitizer and wiping it on the top. Avoid getting the sanitizer on any gold or silver-plated rings since it can tarnish the metal. Healthcare professionals at Georgia State University recommend removing your rings while washing your hands since they can be an area where bacteria can flourish. You should then take it the extra step by sanitizing them before you put them back on your finger
Exercise Equipment
Do everyone a courtesy and wipe down exercise machines, dumbbells, and yoga mats after you’ve worked out. Why? Studies have found that more than 1 million bacteria per square inch exist on exercise equipment. Gyms and fitness centers usually make this easy by having sanitizer sprays nearby, but if they don’t, bring your own from home.
Sanitizer in bottles works more or less the same as antibacterial wipes. You just need to pour some of the solution on a clean towel, and you can go about disinfecting a variety of items and surfaces.
*DISCLAIMER: DJB Specialties® is not responsible for any damage caused by using hand sanitizer on these surfaces. If you’re at all unsure, contact the product’s manufacturer and ask if sanitizer is a safe cleaning solution to use.