We all know that frequent hand washing is important to prevent the spread of infectious agents to and from those with whom we have both direct and indirect contact. However, it is not always convenient to wash. Having traveled this past winter to anesthesia board meetings in Australia, Charleston, and Scottsdale, I found that eating on a plane during turbulent weather when seat belts should not be removed prevented me from always washing up first. These incidences were perfect for using alcohol-based hand sanitizers. One merely places a small amount on the hands and then rubs them together until dry.