As long as people plan to keep freaking out about swine flu for months, now seems an appropriate time to find a favorite hand sanitizer and pledge our undying loyalty. All brands tested have at least 60 percent alcohol (recommended by the Food and Drug Administration for the “greatest germicidal efficacy”). Testers ranked each sanitizer on smell, how it felt on their hands and whether they would buy it. The top three:
Method
Highest marks, with all testers indicating a willingness to buy. Method’s products are biodegradable and never tested on animals. $5 for 12 ounces at .
Smell: “good, clean,” “kind of sweet, pleasant”
Feel: “thin,” “clean” and “light”
Purell
High ranks for being forgettable. We like the lack of stickiness or residue. $2.99 for 8 ounces at most drugstores.
Smell: “minimal” and “inoffensive”
Feel: “clean” and “nice”
Germ
Divided our testers into fiercely opposing camps. But we like the price. $4 for 32 ounces at most drugstores.
Smell: “nice,” “sickly sweet” Feel: It leaves a slight residue
Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune
