Peoples focus has been on personal hygiene more than normal of late, primarily because of the media coverage that the recent outbreaks of swine flu have been getting. Medical practitioners have been constantly reminding us how important it is to keep your hands clean to avoid becoming a victim of this outbreak, but regardless of there being a flu outbreak or not, personal hygiene is always very important, and hand wipes play an important role in your fight against germs and diseases.

Of course, nothing can replace the regular ritual of washing your hands. It goes without saying that trips to the toilet, after eating, or when performing certain tasks, it is imperative that you have a good wash afterwards, preferably with warm water and soap. I trick I recently heard is that you should be washing your hands for at least ten seconds, which is about as long as it takes to sing happy birthday. Get into the habit of singing happy birthday every time you wash your hands and you will be secure in the knowledge that you are hygienically clean. You may get a few funny looks, but at least you’ll know what you’re doing.


All joking aside though, there are many times when you just can’t get access to running water and soap, and it is these times when it is important to have a packet of handi wipes handy so that you can ensure the cleanliness of your hands. Take for example long car trips with your family. Quite often you will need to eat while on the move, and before eating you should always make sure that you are not transferring germs from your hands to your food (or your family’s food for that matter. Another good example is while you are out shopping. Shopping centres are a real breeding ground for germs and bacteria, and you should always try and ensure that you have some hand wipes available. Just because you can’t see the germs doesn’t mean they are not there. People are sneezing and coughing in shopping centres all day, and it has been proven that many flus are caught by people while shopping,

Workplaces are another extremely important place to consider when it comes to hygiene. Studies have proven that your average office desk actually contains more bacteria than a toilet seat, so it is of utmost importance that you keep both your work area and your own hands as hygienically clean as possible. Every cubicle should have a packet of antibacterial hand wipes on the desk, for both workers and visitors. The office environment is usually an enclosed area as well, so anyone with a hint of the flu will unwittingly pass their germs around very quickly. This spread of germs is made even worse in an office environment by air conditioners.

Another place that will benefit from the use of hand cleaning wipes is in factories and industrial settings. Although bacteria is not such a big issue in these settings, a person working with heavy machinery will quickly build up a lot of grease, oil and chemicals on their skin. Not only are these substances hard to get off if left unchecked, they can also be quite damaging to your skin. In these environments, industrial hand wipes are usually recommended in order to combat these stubborn stains.

Hospitals are an obvious place where sanitizing hand wipes are extremely important. Doctors and nurses are on the front line of bacteria and disease, and come into contact with all sorts of nasty bugs every hour of their working day. The use of hospital grade hand wipes will ensure that these medical professionals are kept safe, as well as their patients. Many patients in hospitals have a heightened sensitivity to these germs, and it is the doctors duty to ensure they are kept bacteria free while in their care.

Finally, the food industry is another place that must utilise hand wipes on a regular basis. The preparation of food must follow very strict FDA guidelines, and one of those guidelines is that hands must be sanitized before food handling takes place. In many restaurants customers are also offered hand wipes of their own to use after eating. This is quite common practice in fast food restaurants such as KFC, where the food can be quite greasy.

Depending on which of the categories above you fall into, you will find a wide range of hand wipes that are specifically designed for your situation. If bacteria is your main concern, then you will be best off looking for wipes that are treated with antibacterial and germicidal substances. These will kill viruses and microbes on contact, and are especially popular during the flu season. If you find that the wipes you are using are causing an irritation or redness on your skin, then you may be having an allergic reaction to the alcohol that is contained in some brands. If this is the case, you will want to source some alcohol free hand wipes, as prolonged use will not be good for you.

If you suffer from dry or cracked skin, you may benefit from using hand wipes that are specifically designed to replenish moisture in your skin. Too much contact with water will cause this dryness, and if your job involves a lot of water, for example washing dishes or clothes, then it’s a good idea to have some moisturising wipes on hand that you can use on a regular basis. Quite often these types of hand wipes will be impregnated with essential oils such as lavender and other natural healing properties like Aloe Vera.

Recently there has been a growing trend away from traditional hand wipes and towards the liquid soaps and sprays. They are becoming more and more popular, and although they claim to have many benefits, the basic principle is the same as hand wipes. The problem with these sprays and bottles is that they can be cumbersome to carry around, and as a result they often get forgotten and left behind. A packet of hand wipes, on the other hand, will easily fit inside your pocket and are always on hand. They remain an inexpensive and versatile solution to the constant fight against germs and bacteria.