A nurse shapes a heart with their hands.

Sterillium®
With us you are in safe
hands

Fighting for better hygiene in healthcare and at home

Trusted by healthcare professionals worldwide, Sterillium® sets the standard in hand disinfection. Our products are essential for enhancing patient safety, creating safer working conditions in healthcare, protecting the lives of medical staff, and ensuring the well-being of your loved ones at home. Discover what makes our blue brand stand out.

Protecting you and the people you care for

A world without hand disinfection is unimaginable today. From the nurse who disinfects her hands before examining a patient to the subway passenger who uses disinfectant after a crowded train ride, hand hygiene is essential for preventing infections and protecting yourself and those around you.

That's precisely what our Sterillium® products are designed for. With outstanding antimicrobial activity and modern skin care components, they are highly effective against a wide range of pathogens, offering reliable protection in healthcare facilities and everyday life.
A female nurse disinfects her hands with Sterillium®.

Guided by science for decades

Illustration of white virus bodies and the Sterillium® logo on a dark blue background.
Science was at the heart of Sterillium’s® development from the very beginning – and it continues to shape our work to this day. Decades of research and a constant drive for improvement have made Sterillium® the gold standard for hygienic hand disinfection. No other hand disinfectant has been tested in as many studies as Sterillium®.

It's no surprise that Sterillium® has repeatedly set new standards. For instance, it was the first hand disinfectant approved for surgical hand disinfection with a reduced contact time of 1.5 minutes instead of 3 minutes, helping hospital staff save valuable time and resources.

Despite our success, we have not become complacent. We continue to test Sterillium® through ongoing international studies and field reports, adapting to the evolving needs of the healthcare industry. Through the HARTMANN SCIENCE CENTER, a center of excellence for hygiene and infection protection, we are committed to developing practical solutions for infection prevention and providing specialized expertise through active research.

Caring for you and your skin

Sterillium® is about more than just reliable germ elimination. For a hand disinfectant to be effective, it must be suitable for daily use without irritating the skin. That's why Sterillium® products contain skin-compatible ingredients that keep the skin moisturized and strengthen its natural protective layer.

Over time, we have become a trusted partner to millions of healthcare workers and caregivers worldwide. We take this trust seriously and work hard to ensure that what we place in the hands of those who protect others meets the highest standards.
Close-up of hands being disinfected.

Sterillium® – in safe hands

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Blue bottle of Sterillium Antibacterial Hand Soap, Birthday Edition, featuring festive balloons and confetti, ideal for gentle daily handwashing.

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Celebrating six decades of professional infection protection
The story of Sterillium® began in 1965, when Professor Peter Kalmar initiated the product development of a completely new hand disinfectant for surgeons. The invention combined effective hand hygiene with excellent skin compatibility for the first time. This changed the everyday lives of surgeons, doctors and nurses forever. Since then, there has been no way around this classic disinfectant.
The words 60 years with the Sterillium® logo on a blue background.
60 Years
4 billion hand disinfections are performed with Sterillium® each year
To promote better hand hygiene around the world, we produce 47 tons of Sterillium® every day. This is roughly equivalent to the weight of 10 adult elephants. As a result, we ensure a total of 4 billion hand disinfections every year.
Close-up of hands being disinfected with the words 4 Billions.
4 Billion

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Frequently asked questions

Does disinfectant dry out my hands?
The use of hand disinfectants does not stress or dry out the skin. On the contrary: unlike soap, alcohol-based products such as Sterillium® contain lipid-replenishing substances that can help the skin to maintain its natural protective barrier. This not only prevents skin irritation, but also provides a moisturizing effect and an overall pleasant feeling on the skin.
Close-up of hands covered in soap suds in front of a bottle of Sterillium®.
Why is hand hygiene so important?
Disinfectig your hands is one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent illness and stop the spread of germs. Throughout the day, our hands come into contact with countless surfaces, picking up various bacteria and viruses. Using a disinfectant like Sterillium® helps eliminate these pathogens, reducing the risk of infection and preventing the spread of harmful germs to those around you.
Is it better to wash or disinfect my hands?
While washing your hands with soap and water is completely sufficient in many situations, Sterillium® offers some distinct advantages, especially when you’re on the go. It’s quick, convenient, and doesn’t require access to a sink or water. Additionally, it’s much more gentle on your skin and provides a higher level of immediate disinfection compared to most soaps.
How often should I disinfect my hands?
How often you should disinfect your hands depends on your daily activities. If you work in healthcare or are around people who may be ill, you should disinfect more frequently, especially after direct contact. For everyday situations, consider using Sterillium® before eating, after using the restroom, and whenever you’ve touched surfaces that a lot of other people have likely handled.
Can I use Sterillium® to clean surfaces or objects?
Sterillium® is specifically designed for hand disinfection. For cleaning surfaces, it’s best to use a product created for that purpose, such as Sterillium® surface spray. This spray is suitable for sensitive surfaces, making it ideal for cleaning items like smartphone screens, monitors, or Plexiglas®.
Is there a risk of developing antibiotic resistance by using Sterillium®?
No, using Sterillium® does not contribute to antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is typically a result of overusing or misusing antibiotics. Sterillium® works by physically disrupting microorganisms, not by targeting them in a way that could lead to resistance.

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Our HARTMANN consulting team is happy to assist you with technical and product-related inquiries.

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Use disinfectants safely.
Always read label and product information before use.