5 Signs of a High‑Quality Sanitiser Brand (On a Budget)

When hygiene and skin care matter, how do you check a sanitiser’s quality – and know it’s worth the money? Here are five practical tips to ensure you choose wisely.

1. ✅ Confirm alcohol content: 60–95 %

Trusted guidelines from WHO, CDC, and UKHSA stress at least 60–70% ethanol or isopropanol for effective germ kill. A PMC study revealed that products with less than 60% alcohol failed to eliminate bacteria effectively. When alcohol is below spec—no matter the claims—you're not getting protection.

2. ✅ Look for EN standards

High‑quality sanitisers list accredited standards like BS EN 1276 and EN 14476, meaning they’ve been lab‑tested under real‑life conditions. EN 1276 requires a 5‑log (99.999%) bacterial kill in just five minutes. If a product claims “kills 99.99%” but shows no certification, it’s likely marketing fluff.

3. ✅ Evaluate skin‑friendly formulation

Alcohol dehydrates skin—so the best sanitisers include moisturising agents like glycerin, palm tree sap, or natural protein‑rich extracts. Too much glycerin, though, can reduce efficacy . The ideal formula is balanced: effective but gentle.

4. ✅ Check texture, fragrance and usability

Foaming sanitisers are slimmer and more user‑friendly than sticky gels. A Journal of Hospital Infection study found foam delivers a clean, non‑sticky feel—combining the best of liquids and gels to boost compliance. Gels, on the other hand, often feel tacky and dry more slowly, which may deter regular use. For fragrance, stick to unscented or mild coconut, especially important around food or sensitive skin.

5. ✅ Assess value and ethical transparency

Cheap doesn’t mean poor quality. For example, Wilko’s £1.25–200 ml gel met Which? testing standards . Real value comes from transparency — brands that disclose sourcing, testing, sustainability, and pricing clearly. Palmtree Hygiene, with its eco‑ethos and third‑party certifications, exemplifies this standard.

Palm Tree Hygiene: quality you can trust

KIND TO PLANET: Our ethanol is the world’s first made from palm tree sap. It’s sustainably harvested without harming trees, pesticide-free, and supports West African communities—while staying vegan-friendly.

KIND TO SKIN: Developed in the UK, our foaming sanitiser is enriched with vitamin-rich palm sap, free from harsh additives, and leaves hands soft, not dry. It’s WHO-compliant and EN 1276-tested, delivering proven protection.

Discover how clean can be kind — explore our full range at Palmtree Hygiene.

Final takeaway

To ensure your sanitiser is high quality and budget‑wise:

1. Confirm 60–95% alcohol

2. Look for EN or WHO standards

3. Choose skin‑friendly, balanced ingredients

4. Check for effective texture and fragrance

5. Prioritise brands with transparency and sustainability

   
   

At Palmtree Hygiene, we tick every box: certified efficacy, planet-kind ethanol, skin-friendly formulation, eco-smart design—and better value than premium brands. Visit our collection today and feel good about staying clean.

Sources

• WHO and CDC alcohol % guidelines Sky News+5Medic Pro+5MIS Lab+5Lippincott Journals+2Wikipedia+2Sky News+2PMC+3Reddit+3Sky News+3

• EN 1276 standard and testing details MIS Lab

• PMCID and other journal data PMC

•  CDC Travel Health+8Europe PMC+8PMC+8

• MIS Lab+5evansvanodine.co.uk+54ward Testing+5

• abc news: Scotts hand sanitiser alcohol content is below the recommended level : r/australia

• Spruce Industries – Beyond the Products | » Foam versus Liquid Hand Sanitizer: A Guide to Understanding Their Differences