The 16 Best Hand Sanitizers to Keep in Your Bag

Keeping your hands clean is never a bad idea, and—in light of recent public health news,—you might be wondering about the best hand sanitizers for sale right now.

Last week, the Biden administration declared the monkeypox outbreak a national emergency. And the country continues to see COVID-19 cases spike and COVID-19 variants emerge in the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that these illnesses are primarily spread through skin-to-skin and face-to-face contact, respectively, practicing good hand hygiene can be a valuable preventative measure, and using high-quality hand wash and hand sanitizer is part of that. (In fact, the WHO has stated that the same precautions taken against COVID-19 can help people avoid monkeypox transmission.)

How to shop for hand sanitizer

As SELF has previously reported, the CDC recommends using a hand sanitizer with an alcohol content of at least 60% (the most common active ingredients to look for are isopropyl alcohol and ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol). That minimum level of alcohol will effectively kill many types of germs that might be on your hands. And, for full disinfecting, you should rub the product all over your hands until it’s dried. If your hands are visibly dirty with grime or grease, you’re better off washing your hands with good old hand soap and water—use hand sanitizer if you don’t have any other option or if your hands aren’t heavily soiled.

READ RELATED: ‘Remarkable’ London-born Israeli, Gil Banks, 25, dies after fatal fall at Ecuador volcano

Following these guidelines can help you clean your hands in a pinch and potentially avoid coming into contact with illnesses. Read on to find our top picks for the best hand sanitizers of all forms, from gels to lotions to sprays, from major retailers like Amazon, Target, and more—all readily available to order online now.