As with hand sanitiser, you may be happy to go with whatever soap you can find on the shelf. And it turns out, there's no need to be too discriminating. If it foams, it will do the job.

Antibacterial Hand Creams are a range of skincare products designed to keep hands moisturized and clean. These creams are formulated with antibacterial agents that help to kill germs and bacteria while keeping the skin hydrated and soft. They are particularly useful for those who work in healthcare, food preparation, or other industries where hand hygiene is essential. The creams come in a variety of scents and textures, making them suitable for different preferences. With regular use, these hand creams can help to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria and keep hands feeling smooth and healthy. Like with surgical masks, Public Health England and the NHS have not recommended the use of surgical or latex gloves as a protective measure for the general public against COVID-19.Alcohol-based hand sanitisers work in a similar way, inactivating the virus by breaking down the lipid layer. As you may know there has been an exceptional increased demand of hand gels over the last year. We are doing everything we can to help retailers keep our products on shelf for as long as possible and avoid empty shelves. You should also exercise caution when using online marketplaces - previous Which? investigations have uncovered a high number of products that don't pass safety standards Alcohol Denat, Aqua, Propylene Glycol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Mannitol, Parfum, Cellulose, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Persea Gratissima Oil, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Benzophenone-3, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Limonene, Citronellol, Citral, CI 77288, CI 15985, CI 42090.

COVID-19 is an enveloped virus. This means that the RNA (nucleic acid - the viral genetic material) is coated in a lipid (fatty) layer. The pitfalls of hand sanitiser are that it doesn't work as well on sweaty, greasy or visibly dirty hands, and you need to use a lot to completely cover the entire surface of your hands.

Repeated use of alcohol-based hand sanitiser can irritate your skin, too, despite many containing moisturising agents.

We're all now hyper aware of hand hygiene due to the coronavirus pandemic, but confusion remains about exactly what works best and why. These types of wipes, along with antiseptic creams such as Savlon or Germolene, tend to be more antibacterial than antiviral, as they're designed to work on the skin where bacteria are (usually) the main skin pathogens. But does it matter what kind of hand gel or soap you buy? And what can you do if you're struggling to get hold of these products?You've probably seen that you need at least 60% alcohol content for hand sanitiser to work properly. Hospitals and medical environments understandably need protection that has been certified for high-risk environments, so it's best to leave this for those who really need it. It's important to remember that hand sanitiser isn't the be all and end all of hygiene (if you're one of the millions of Brits now mostly staying at home anyway, hand washing is the best option). This doesn't contain alcohol and one of its active ingredients is primarily antibacterial. But it also contains didecyldimonium chloride. Coronavirus latest: get the latest specialist news and advice from our money, travel and health experts