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The mission: To create a hand sanitizer that effectively kills 99.99% of disease-causing germs while moisturizing one’s skin for hours.
Environmental Solutions International (ESI), the leader in alcohol free hand sanitizing and the makers of Smart & Silky™ Foaming Hand Sanitizers, is happy to introduce a safer, alcohol-free, and effective option for protecting you and your family from germs and illness, just in time for cold and flu season.
For months, ESI worked to develop an effective sanitizer that also had a built-in moisturizer, and a unique retail packaging option. In April 2009, Smart & Silky Foaming Hand Sanitizer was born. Target® stores became the first nationwide retailer of Smart & Silky in August 2009, with OfficeMax® close behind.
If your favorite retailer doesn’t carry Smart & Silky Foaming Hand Sanitizer, ask them to carry it!
Environmental Solutions International makes safe and effective cleaning products, including CHOMP! Household Cleaners and Spot CHOMP! Carpet Cleaners.
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Read why Smart & Silky hand sanitizer is safer and just as effective as alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
Facts About Smart & Silky and Hand Sanitizers
- Smart & Silky’s active ingredient, Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) Quaternary Surfactants belongs to a group of ingredients called Quaternary Surfactants (BAC) (or “Quats”), which are commonly used in hair conditioners and skin lotions.
- Quaternary Surfactants (BAC) are surface-acting agents that change the surface tension of bacteria cells, penetrating, and dissolving cell walls thereby killing the bacteria.
- A minimum of 15 seconds contact time is required to effectively kill disease causing bacteria and germs. Quaternary Surfactants (BAC) based hand sanitizers easily meet this requirement without any additional polymer thickeners and can continue to be effective after drying.
- Smart & Silky’s patent pending moisturizer leaves your hands feeling soft and silky smooth after each and every use.
- Published studies comparing Quaternary Surfactants (BAC) based hand sanitizers versus Alcohol-based hand sanitizers (The Journal of Hygiene, Association of Operating Room Nurses Journal), demonstrated that:
- Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) Quaternary Surfactants based hand sanitizers had a greater sustained antibacterial activity than alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizers became less effective with repeated use and irritated the subjects’ hands.
Facts About Alcohol-Based Sanitizers
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizers work by making use of alcohol’s astringent properties: it attracts moisture out of bacteria cells, killing the bacteria by dehydration.
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizers need a minimum of 15 seconds exposure to “work.” Alcohol drys in 6-8 seconds. To bridge this time gap gel thickeners must be added to extend drying time to 15 seconds. Studies have shown these thickeners trap dead skin cells which then become a food source for bacteria.
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizers stop working the instant they are dry.
- The main ingredient of alcohol-based hand sanitizer is ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, the same active ingredient as in wine, beer, and Jack Daniels. A little 2-ounce bottle = 4 shots of vodka. By law, all ethyl alcohol used in non-drinking products such as hand sanitizers must be denatured. Denatured alcohol is ethanol that has additives making it toxic, or poisonous. Consumption of denatured alcohol can cause severe medical problems including seizures, blindness and even death.
- Alcohol-based sanitizers are flammable.
Germ Facts
- At home, the kitchen sink is one of the places with the most germs — harboring more germs than the bathroom. The dishcloth, toilet bowl, garbage can, refrigerator, and bathroom doorknob are also high on the list.
- At work, phone receivers harbor more germs than any surface — even more than the toilet seats. Desktops, keyboards, and elevator buttons are also on the workplace top germ-covered list.
- In public places, playground equipment, escalator handrails, shopping cart handles, picnic tables, and Port-A-Potties are top germ carriers.
- Only 17 percent of Americans wash their hands after shaking hands — yet 51 percent wash them after sneezing or coughing.
- Only 33 percent of those who do wash their hands use soap. And only 16 percent really wash their hands long enough.
- Every three minutes, a child brings his hand to his nose or mouth. Every 60 seconds, a working adult touches as many as 30 objects.
Facts About Influenza and H1N1 “Swine Flu” Virus
- Approximately 30 million people get regular influenza each year in the U.S. alone.
- Every year approximately 100,000 people are hospitalized and 30,000 people die in the U.S. from influenza or influenza-related symptoms.
- H1N1 (”Swine Flu”) is a contact “virus”. Hand sanitizers are an excellent preventative measure, but there is no substitute for frequent hand washing, and other common illness preventative measures.
What People are Saying
Find out why people prefer Smart & Silky over alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
