Hand sanitizer reviews - 2013 group test
We name the specialist hand sanitizers to trust after doing car DIY
Working on your own car can help cut motoring costs, but when your hands get dirty you’ll need a specialist product to clean them properly. Ground-in oil and grease will leave marks, and can lead to dermatitis – so you need to shift dirt as soon as possible. Specialist cleaners are far stronger than traditional hand soap. We tested 11 to find out which one is best.
How we tested them
We tried each formula on a pair of dirty hands, one by one. We dirtied our hands to the same extent each time, using grime from a tyre, plus grease and oil. Next, we assessed how much muck was removed and how our skin felt after use. Formulas with a good smell scored bonus points, as did ones with grains – these shift ground-in dirt. Containers with a pump-action dispensing cap also scored better than those with a conventional cap – this prevents grime getting in the tub when you grab a handful. We also noted which formulas require water. The final consideration we factored in was value for money, based on the price and pack size.
Verdict
There wasn’t much between our top five, but the Bilt-Hamber is our overall favourite, as it’s a great-value, powerful, beaded cleaner. In second is a familiar name, but Swarfega’s Orange is our pick over the Original green gel. Third place goes to Comma Manista Natural, which performed well enough to beat CarPlan’s The Really Good Stuff.
