Best germ-killing products on the market

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- There's only two confirmed cases of Ebola transmission in the U.S., but growing concern appears to be fueling sales of disinfectants and hand sanitizers. So what works best on germ defense? And which products are better off left on shelves?

When it comes to fighting germs and bacteria on surface areas, Sandy Owens has her weapon of choice.

"I use the Clorox wipes and I think it has Clorox in it. So I think it kills germs," she said.

Owens, like many others, is concerned about bacteria and viruses that could spread. But are those wipes effective?

"They'll work. You can use them on surfaces to clean debris off. Some people are concerned about even cleaning the arm rest on their airline seat, and those will be effective," said infectious disease specialist Dr. Edward Rensimer.

Rensimer says those wipes can help kill germs and other bacteria, which could cause illnesses. But what about hand sanitizers?

"If you look at the profiles for Purell and related products that have this high concentration of alcohol, viruses, TB bugs, and even funguses are reliably killed by this disinfectant," Rensimer said.

Another popular product on shelves are those antibacterial soaps. Some contain an ingredient called triclosan. Dr. Rensimer says in order for those to be effective, there's a catch.

"To truly get the results you're looking for, which is to clean your skin of the bacteria, you really need it on the skin for about two minutes," Rensimer said.

While not many will "actually" wash their hands for two minutes, Dr. Rensimer says to just use warm water and regular soap for about 15 seconds, followed with a disinfectant containing alcohol to kill the remaining germs.

Also, depending on how much alcohol is in the hand sanitizer you're using, higher concentrations could dry out or irritate your skin. A good rule of thumb is to find a product that has around 70 percent alcohol in it. And limit the amount of times you use it throughout the day.