Sanitation: One of the most important preparedness discussions.

[Great-Kazoo]

I thought those hand sanitizer gels were just gelled alcohol. Why would a packet make a difference othere than including a scrub cloth?

Most of those studies are flawed. Oak86 has chewed me out several times for quoting studies that are terribly managed.

Alcohol kills germs. Washing the germs off is far better but this assumes a clean water source.

Also uv light kills germs. Hanging a smelly shirt on a clothes line for a few days will kill the germs. The crusty stuff will still be there which can agrivate the skin and cause rashes leading to infection if un adressed.

Proper hand washing trumps other less effective cleansing . However if it's what you have, use it. IMO the gel, unless used as you would soap and water, only moves the crap from one place to another.
Using an alcohol wipe gives you something which the dirt / germs adhere to and are removed from the surface.