Hand Sanitiser vs Surface Sanitiser: What You Need to Know

When it comes to keeping your workplace safe and hygienic, it’s important to understand the difference between hand sanitiser and surface sanitiser. While they may seem interchangeable, each product is designed for a specific purpose—and using the wrong one can have negative effects on both effectiveness and safety.

Can You Use Surface Sanitiser on Your Hands?

Technically, you can use a surface sanitiser on your hands, but it’s not recommended. Here’s why:

• Dry skin risk – Most surface sanitisers are alcohol-based and contain no moisturisers. Repeated use can quickly dry out your skin, causing irritation.

• Toxic ingredients – Some denaturing agents, such as methanol, can be harmful if absorbed through the skin. Always check the label to see what ingredients are in the product.

Coverage and Dwell Time Matter

Most surface sanitisers come in a spray form. This creates two issues when applied to hands:

• You need to use much more product to get proper coverage.

• The liquid often runs off too quickly, reducing the dwell time (the time the sanitiser needs to stay on the skin to be effective).

By comparison, hand sanitisers are formulated as gels or foams. This makes them easier to apply evenly, ensures you use less product, and allows the sanitiser to stay on your hands long enough to work properly.

When Surface Sanitiser Works for Hands

There is one area where using a surface sanitiser for hands makes sense—sanitising gloved hands. In food production or processing environments, spraying a surface sanitiser on gloves is often the fastest and most effective way to maintain hygiene standards. Since there’s no direct skin contact, the concerns around dryness and toxicity don’t apply.

The Bottom Line

• Use hand sanitiser on skin—especially when repeated applications are required.

• Reserve surface sanitiser for hard surfaces and sanitising gloves during production.

• Always check the product label to make sure you’re using the right sanitiser for the right purpose.

Keeping your team safe starts with using the right tools for the job.