Best Hand Sanitizers and Best Hand Soaps To Keep You Germ Free On The Go
You’ve probably heard from a young: Washing your hands for 20 seconds is the best way to prevent the spread of germs and viruses. You don’t actually need an anti-bacterial soap to kill germs. Generally, the warm water and soap manage to break down the fatty lipid protection around bacteria and viruses while also washing away other impurities on your hand.
Of course, you don’t always have the luxury of being near a sink, so the next best thing is hand sanitizer. When choosing a sanitizer you want to find one that contains at least 60% alcohol as it will kill germs. Whatever your germ-fighting needs, the list below can help you find an option that’s best suits your lifestyle and needs.
1. 100% Pure
Type of Sanitizer | Unscented Hand Wash Soap
Benefits | Eco-Friendly, Vegan Sulfate-Free, Gluten Free, Cruelty-Free, Made in USA, Give Back
Price | $16
Our first review is of 100% Pure’s unscented hand soap. The company prides itself on creating earth and human-friendly products and their hand soap is no exception.
The hand sanitizer comes in travel TSA friendly bottles for easy transportation and on the go lifestyle. Each hand sanitizer is 62% Ethyl antiseptic that fights 99.9% of commonly occurring germs.
It’s gentle enough for people with sensitive skin to use regularly as it is specifically designed to clean without drying. It’s also gluten-free so perfect for people with gluten sensitivity.
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2. Freedom
Type of Sanitizer | Natural Hand Soap
Benefits | Eco-Friendly, Natural, Plant Powered, Non-Toxic, Cruelty-Free, No Parabens, Corn-Derived Alcohol
Price | $6
Next up in our review is the Freedom Hand Sanitizer. Finally a natural hand sanitzier that should be - washes away dirt, grease, and impurities using mineral-based surfactants - while coconut-based conditioning agents leave skin baby soft and smooth.
This Freedom hand sanitizer has a light and subtle natural fresh bouquet, a touch of firewood, and luxury high end candle fragrance, making it a great option even for people who are sensitive to scents. There are also no parabens, phthalates, dyes, or artificial colors so it’s great for people with sensitive or non-sensitive skin alike.
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3. Durisan
Type of Sanitizer | Travel Hand Sanitizer
Benefits | Eco-Friendly, Fair Trade, Organic, Non-Toxic, Cruelty-Free, No Parabens, Vegan, Gluten Free, Fragrance Free, Unscented
Price |
Our next review is of Durisan’s hand sanitizers. Keeping your hands germ-free is super important, especially when traveling.
That’s why Durisan has made these convenient, travel-sized options. The packages come in a variety of bright colors so you can easily find it in your bag or house.
What sets the Durisan travel sanitizers apart from others is that it is completely alcohol-free. Instead, it uses Benzalkonium Chloride, which is a known antiseptic used widely in the healthcare industry. Since it doesn’t use alcohol, you don’t get that sticky residue on your hands and you don’t have to worry about dry, cracked skin from consistent use.
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4. Clearly Natural
Type of Sanitizer | Natural Hand Soap
Benefits | Eco-Friendly, Fair Trade, Organic, Non-Toxic, Cruelty-Free, No Parabens, Vegan, Gluten Free, Fragrance Free, Unscented
Price |
If you’re looking for a completely natural and unscented soap than our review of the Clearly Natural hand soap is definitely for you.
This glycerin-based soap is completely free of fragrance and dyes making it great for people with sensitive skin. It also contains Aloe and Vitamin E to keep your skin nice and soft even after repeated washes throughout the day.
The nice thing about the Clearly Natural soap is that a little bit goes a long way, which means your bottle lasts much longer. It lathers up quite nicely so you can be sure you’re getting your hands nice and clean. More importantly, it washes off clean as well so your hands are left feeling smooth.
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5. Puracy
Type of Sanitizer | Vegan Hand Soap
Benefits | Eco-Friendly, Fair Trade, Organic, Non-Toxic, Cruelty-Free, No Parabens, Vegan, Gluten Free, Fragrance Free, Unscented
Price |
Our next review is of Puracy’s natural gel hand soap. As the name suggests, the soap utilizes only natural ingredients for a more eco and hand-friendly option.
While not unscented, it does only use natural fragrance from French Lavender blossoms and vanilla beans. The light floral hints and sweet vanilla scent make you want to wash your hands more often.
Puracy provides a nice rich lather despite not containing any sulfates or other harsh chemicals. It only uses all-natural, plant-based ingredients, making it a great option for vegans. The use of aloe and Vitamin E gives the soap a moisturizing effect so even after multiple washes your hands will not only smell great but feel great as well.
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6. Purell
Type of Sanitizer | Fresh Botanicals Hand Soap
Benefits | Eco-Friendly, Fair Trade, Organic, Non-Toxic, Cruelty-Free, No Parabens, Vegan, Gluten Free, Fragrance Free, Unscented
Price |
Up next in our review is Purell’s Healthy Soap. Purell made a name for themselves with their hand sanitizers, but they’re also in the soap market.
This particular option is specially formulated with natural moisturizers so that it is soft on the hands while being tough on germs.
It does have a light botanical scent to it, so it might not be great for people who are sensitive to fragrances. With that said, it is non-toxic and does not contain irritating ingredients like triclosan, parabens, or phthalates. It is also a USDA certified biobased product, although not 100 percent vegan.
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7. Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day
Type of Sanitizer | Clean Day Hand Soap
Benefits | Eco-Friendly, Fair Trade, Organic, Non-Toxic, Cruelty-Free, No Parabens, Vegan, Gluten Free, Fragrance Free, Unscented
Price |
Our next review is of Mrs. Meyer’s Lliquid Hand Soap. The light honeysuckle scent offers a lovely floral and sweet fragrance without being too overpowering. You can also feel great using the soap as it’s cruelty-free and made without the use of parabens, phthalates, and animal-derived ingredients.
In addition to cleaning your hands, it also keeps your hands nice and moisturized. It uses a combination of olive oil, aloe vera, and other essential oils for ultimate cleaning without stripping your skin of its moisture. A little bit goes a long way so you won’t have to get another bottle for a long time.
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8. Soapbox
Type of Sanitizer | Moisturizing Hand Soap
Benefits | Eco-Friendly, Fair Trade, Organic, Non-Toxic, Cruelty-Free, No Parabens, Vegan, Gluten Free, Fragrance Free, Unscented
Price |
If you’re looking for an all-natural soap then you’ll want to check out Soapbox’s moisturizing hand soap. Made in the USA, this hand soap is perfect for people who want to make an impact while shopping. Whenever you purchase a 3-pack of the soap, the company also donates 3 bars of soap to someone in need.
Buying Soapbox’s hand soap does even more for the environment though. It’s cruelty-free and vegan so you can be sure no animals have been harmed in the making of this soap. It also contains no harsh chemicals and parabens so it’s perfect for people with sensitive skin. It does have a light sandalwood fragrance, but it’s not overpowering. You can use the soap as often as you want. The combination of coconut oil, shea butter, and aloe vera ensures your hands are clean without stripping your skin of moisture.
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9. Simplehuman
Type of Sanitizer | Moisturizing Liquid Hand Soap
Benefits | Eco-Friendly, Fair Trade, Organic, Non-Toxic, Cruelty-Free, No Parabens, Vegan, Gluten Free, Fragrance Free, Unscented
Price |
If you want to bulk refill your soap dispenser, you definitely want to continue reading our review of Simplehuman’s lavender moisturizing hand soap. Rather than throw out your old soap dispenser, you can use these refill pouches to reduce your plastic waste. The lavender soap option uses fresh lavender flowers and mixes it with rosewood and herbs for a refreshing and floral fragrance.
Simplehuman’s motto is to focus on products that are simple, sensible, and clean. As such, their soap and even packaging follow these rules. The soap’s formula is biodegradable, hypoallergenic, and free of parabens or DEAs. It’s sulfate-free, making it great for people with sensitive skin. The packaging is resealable so you don’t have to worry about accidentally spilling soap in your bathroom (unless you forget to cap it). More importantly, one pouch equals about 4.5 small plastic pumps, which means less plastic waste finding its way into a landfill.
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10. Muse Apothecary
Type of Sanitizer | Aromatic and Nourishing Hand Soap
Benefits | Eco-Friendly, Fair Trade, Organic, Non-Toxic, Cruelty-Free, No Parabens, Vegan, Gluten Free, Fragrance Free, Unscented
Price |
Our next review is of Muse Apothecary’s hand soap. These luxurious soaps use plant-based natural ingredients so you can rest assured knowing your soap is non-toxic. If that’s not enough, it’s also vegan and made in the USA so you can support your local business, which can reduce your overall environmental impact.
Of course, none of that matters if the soap is no good. Luckily, Muse Apothecary’s soap not only smells good thanks to its use of essential oils and fresh flowers, but it also works well. The formula is infused with anti-bacterial aloe and eucalyptus for a cleansing and moisturizing soap.
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11. Bath and Body Works
Type of Sanitizer | Foaming Hand Soap
Benefits | Eco-Friendly, Fair Trade, Organic, Non-Toxic, Cruelty-Free, No Parabens, Vegan, Gluten Free, Fragrance Free, Unscented
Price |
If you’re looking for variety in your soap fragrances, then check out our review of Bath and Body Works foaming hand soaps. You get five different scents so you’ll never get bored. There’s lemon, peach, mint, lavender, and cherry so you can mix-and-match depending on your mood or even assign particular scents to different rooms.
A little bit goes a long way in the case of foaming soaps so you’re definitely getting a good value for your money. The rich lather helps gently wash away dirt and germs and the inclusion of aloe, vitamin E and shea extract keep your hands nice and soft. It’s a perfect combination for anyone who wants to prevent illnesses but not get dry, cracked skin.
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12. Natural Solution
Type of Sanitizer | Liquid Hand Soap
Benefits | Eco-Friendly, Fair Trade, Organic, Non-Toxic, Cruelty-Free, No Parabens, Vegan, Gluten Free, Fragrance Free, Unscented
Price |
Our next review is of Natural Solution’s Himalayan pink sea salt soap. Yes, you heard right, salt in hand soap. So what’s the deal? If you’re thinking exfoliation, you would be wrong. Salt is actually antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, making it a great ingredient for hand soap.
Of course, the soap contains more than just sea salt. In order to keep your hands nice and soft, it also contains vitamin E extracts, natural coconut, Jojoba oil, and blood orange extract. Combined the soap helps fight off free radicals, keeps your hands moisturized, and can potentially get rid of skin irritation and itchiness.
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13. Beessential
Type of Sanitizer | Foaming Hand Soap
Benefits | Eco-Friendly, Fair Trade, Organic, Non-Toxic, Cruelty-Free, No Parabens, Vegan, Gluten Free, Fragrance Free, Unscented
Price |
Up next is our review of Beessential’s foaming hand soap. Not only does the soap contain honey, but it’s also actually made by Beekeepers in the USA. So why honey? Honey acts as both a moisturizer and antibacterial, so you get a nice 2-for-1 deal.
In addition to honey, Beessential also incorporates Shea Butter, Propolis, and Cupuacu for additional moisturizing. The use of grapefruit and lemongrass provides antioxidants to help fight off free radicals for younger, softer skin. As you would expect, the rest of the ingredients are from all-natural sources and free of paraben, SLS, and alcohol.
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14. Method Lights
Type of Sanitizer | Refill Foaming Hand Soap
Benefits | Eco-Friendly, Fair Trade, Organic, Non-Toxic, Cruelty-Free, No Parabens, Vegan, Gluten Free, Fragrance Free, Unscented
Price |
For an eco-friendly soap, you should read our review of Method Light’s foaming hand soap refills. Not only does the company offer refill pouches for your soap dispenser, but the company itself is also invested in the environment. Their factories are certified platinum LEED and platinum TRUE for its zero waste efforts. They take their commitment to sustainability seriously from the ground-up.
Their soap, as you would expect, uses naturally-derived ingredients such as aloe, sea minerals, and essential oils for the fragrance. It is also paraben-free and biodegradable so it’s perfect for people who have sensitive skin. More importantly, it leaves your hands feeling clean and soft.
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15. Live Clean
Type of Sanitizer | Hydrating Liquid Hand Soap
Benefits | Eco-Friendly, Fair Trade, Organic, Non-Toxic, Cruelty-Free, No Parabens, Vegan, Gluten Free, Fragrance Free, Unscented
Price |
Last but not least is our review is of Live Clean’s hydrating liquid hand soap. The soap lives up to its name as it is made with certified organic botanicals. In fact, 98 percent of its ingredients are plant-based, making this a completely vegan soap.
It’s very gentle as it is free of parabens, sulfates, and other harmful chemicals, making it a perfect option for those with sensitive skin. The use of vitamin E and panthenol provide a moisturizing effect after washing. Once you’re done, you can also recycle the packaging or refill it.
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Prevention and Keeping Your Hands Germ Free Through Safe Hand Sanitizers and Hand Soaps
There are plenty of eco-friendly and non-toxic hand soaps and sanitizers on the market so there’s no excuse not to have them on hand. The best part is that prices have gone down for many green products as consumers start demanding more environmentally-friendly options. The best part is that you don’t have to give up great fragrances or moisturizing soaps when you go green.
Prevention tends to be the best medicine when it comes to fighting off colds. Luckily, there are now dozens of options available to suit your needs whether you’re vegan, have sensitive skin, or don’t like fragrances. This means there are absolutely zero excuses to not wash your hands or at least keep some hand sanitizer handy.
Lisa Czachowski is a professional social blogger and has worked on several online publications including Citrus Sleep. Lisa is an experienced content writer and copyeditor. You will find many of her works throughout CitrusSleep.com that cover a wide array of subjects including sustainability, natural, sleep products, health, fashion and many more. She is passionate about what providing as much information as possible on products you bring in your home and what we wear.
Follow Lisa at Lisa Czachowski