Does hand sanitizer kill COVID?
What the research shows about soap, sanitizer and the virus that causes COVID-19, and where hand hygiene fits now.
What the studies found
30 seconds
Both WHO hand rub formulas inactivated SARS-CoV-2 within a 30-second exposure in lab tests.
15 seconds
80% ethanol fully inactivated the virus on human skin samples within 15 seconds.
About 9 hours
How long SARS-CoV-2 stayed infectious on human skin in the lab, versus about 1.8 hours for flu.
How soap and sanitizer stop it
The virus that causes COVID-19 is wrapped in a fatty outer layer, called an envelope. That makes it one of the easier germs to deal with. Alcohol breaks the envelope apart. Soap lathered for 20 seconds lifts the virus off your skin and helps pull it apart, then rinsing washes it away.
That’s different from tougher germs like norovirus, which have no envelope and shrug off sanitizer. For those, soap and water is a must. See hand sanitizer vs. soap.
How COVID-19 actually spreads
Early in the pandemic, people wiped down groceries and mail. We now know COVID-19 spreads mainly through the air, when people breathe in droplets and smaller particles from someone who is infected. In 2021 CDC estimated that each contact with a contaminated surface has less than a 1 in 10,000 chance of causing an infection, and noted that hand hygiene can cut that risk further.
So hand hygiene still helps, especially before you eat or touch your face and after you cough or sneeze. But vaccination, staying home when sick and good ventilation do more of the heavy lifting.
When to clean your hands
- Before eating or touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- After coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
- Before and after caring for someone who is sick.
- After being in a crowded public place.
For flu and RSV too, see hand hygiene for flu, COVID-19 and RSV.
Quick questions
Does soap kill the COVID-19 virus?
Yes. Scrubbing with soap for 20 seconds breaks down the virus’s outer layer and rinses it away. Plain soap works; it doesn’t need to be antibacterial.
Is soap or hand sanitizer better for COVID-19?
Both work against this virus. Use soap when you’re near a sink or your hands are dirty, and sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol when you’re not.
How long does the COVID-19 virus live on hands?
In a lab study, it stayed infectious on human skin for about 9 hours, much longer than flu. Cleaning your hands inactivates it within seconds.
Do I need to disinfect my groceries?
No. CDC found the risk from touching surfaces is low. Wash your hands after unpacking and before eating, and wash fresh produce with water as usual.
Does alcohol-free hand sanitizer kill COVID-19?
CDC recommends alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-free products aren’t as well studied against this virus.
- Kratzel A, et al. Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 by WHO-recommended hand rub formulations and alcohols. Emerg Infect Dis. 2020;26(7):1592-1595.
- Hirose R, et al. Survival of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus on human skin: importance of hand hygiene in COVID-19. Clin Infect Dis. 2021;73(11):e4329-e4335.
- CDC. Science Brief: SARS-CoV-2 and Surface (Fomite) Transmission for Indoor Community Environments. Apr 5, 2021.
- CDC. About Hand Sanitizer.
- CDC. Hand Hygiene Frequently Asked Questions.