Original Instant Hand Sanitizer vs Hand Wash Natural Seventh Generation: which is safer?
Hand Wash Natural Seventh Generation is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Dettol
Original Instant Hand Sanitizer
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleSkin irritation or sensitization (alcohol, fragrance if present)
PossibleAccidental ingestion (alcohol content)
PossibleEye or mucous membrane irritation (if contact occurs)
Our pick
Seventh Generation
Hand Wash Natural Seventh Generation
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleFragrance allergens
PossibleHeavy metal contamination in botanical extracts
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Skin irritation or sensitization (alcohol, fragrance if present), Accidental ingestion (alcohol content), Eye or mucous membrane irritation (if contact occurs) and Flammability (ethanol base) on the Dettol and not on the Seventh Generation.
- We flag Fragrance allergens and Heavy metal contamination in botanical extracts on the Seventh Generation and not on the Dettol.
- The Dettol is Aqueous alcohol-based sanitizer liquid (ethanol, water, isopropanol typical formulation) where the Seventh Generation is water-based surfactants, plant-derived ingredients, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- The gap is 25 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Seventh Generation is the one to buy.
Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
More hand sanitizer: see the full ranking