Hand Sanitizer vs. Soap: Which is Best for Effective Hand Washing?

Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2020/03/21 - Updated: 2024/08/23
Publication Type: Informative
Topic: Health and Disability - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Explains the difference between alcohol based hand sanitizer and plain hand soap. Information includes when and how to use each one to wash your hands properly. Cleaning hands at key times is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to those around you.

Introduction

According to a joint study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), RTI International and N.C. State University, an estimated 97% of people do not wash their hands properly. That is a big problem since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from coronaviruses is to wash your hands regularly and properly.

Main Item

Washing your hands with soap and water is part of basic human hygiene and is the single best way to prevent the spread of viral illnesses like colds and the flu, and it is the best way to keep bacteria from entering your body.

What Makes Soap 'Antibacterial'?

The difference between hand sanitizer and hand soap is that sanitizer kills germs whereas soap and water washes them off.

Antibacterial soaps (antimicrobial or antiseptic soaps) contain certain chemicals not found in plain soaps. Those ingredients are added to many consumer products with the intent of reducing or preventing bacterial infection. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there isn't enough science to show that over-the-counter (OTC) antibacterial soaps are better at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water. To date, the benefits of using antibacterial hand soap haven't been proven.

In addition, many liquid soaps labeled antibacterial contain triclosan, an ingredient of concern to many environmental, academic and regulatory groups. Animal studies have shown that triclosan alters the way some hormones work in the body and raises potential concerns for the effects of use in humans. Laboratory studies have raised the possibility that triclosan contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics. Some data shows this resistance may have a significant impact on the effectiveness of medical treatments, such as antibiotics.

When Should I Use Plain Soap and Water to Wash My Hands?

Cleaning hands at key times is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to those around you.

Using soap to wash hands is more effective than using water alone because the surfactants in soap lift soil and microbes from skin, and people tend to scrub hands more thoroughly when using soap, which further removes germs. The temperature of the water does not appear to affect microbe removal; however, warmer water may cause more skin irritation and is more environmentally costly.

Use plain soap and water to wash hands:

• Before eating food
• After touching garbage
• If your hands are visibly dirty or greasy
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• Before, during, and after preparing food
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick
• After touching an animal, animal food or treats, animal cages, or animal waste
• After using the bathroom, changing diapers, or cleaning up a child who has used the bathroom

How Do I Wash My Hands with Soap and Water Properly?

• Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.
• Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap.
• Scrub all surfaces of your hands, including the palms, backs, fingers, between fingers, and under fingernails.
• Scrub for 20 seconds - about the time it takes to hum the "Happy Birthday" song twice.
• Rinse your hands under clean, running water.
• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

Healthcare professionals recommend washing with soap and water over using hand sanitizer, but when soap and water are not available, hand sanitizer is an effective alternative.

When Should You Use Alcohol Based Hand Sanitizer to Clean Your Hands?

• Before and after visiting a friend or a loved one in a hospital or nursing home, unless the person is sick with Clostridium difficile (if so, use soap and water to wash hands).
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60%-90% alcohol, and re-wash your hands with soap and water as soon as possible.
• Do NOT use hand sanitizer if your hands are visibly dirty or greasy: for example, after gardening, playing outdoors, or after fishing or camping (unless a handwashing station is not available). Wash your hands with soap and water instead.

The prolific use of hand sanitizers comes with drawbacks. For example, using too much hand sanitizer dries your hands out, and they may begin to crack and bleed. If you happen to have a skin condition like eczema, this could exacerbate it. There has also been reported incidents that cases of dermatitis increased in health care workers following a U.K. hand hygiene drive to reduce infections such as MRSA. In addition, hand sanitizer is efficient at killing some microbes, but not all of them. Here are some germs that it can NOT protect you against:

• Norovirus : A viral infection that can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
• Clostridium difficile : A bacterial infection that can cause intestinal upset and inflammation
• Cryptosporidium : A parasitic infection that can cause breathing and gastrointestinal issues.

How Do I Use Alcohol Based Hand Sanitizer Properly?

• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% to 95% alcohol.
• Put enough product on hands to cover all surfaces.
• Rub your hands together, until your hands feel dry. This should take around 20 seconds.

Do not rinse or wipe off the hand sanitizer before it is dry or it may not work as well against germs.

Alcohol-based sanitizers can also cause alcohol poisoning if more than a couple of mouthfuls are swallowed. Be sure to supervise young children when they use hand sanitizer to prevent swallowing alcohol, especially in schools and childcare facilities.

"Following simple handwashing practices is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of many types of infection and illness at home, at school and elsewhere," says Theresa M. Michele, MD, of the FDA's Division of Nonprescription Drug Products. "We can't advise this enough. It's simple, and it works."

Author Credentials: Ian was born and grew up in Australia. Since then, he has traveled and lived in numerous locations and currently resides in Montreal, Canada. Ian is the founder, a writer, and editor in chief for Disabled World. Ian believes in the Social Model of Disability, a belief developed by disabled people in the 1970s. The social model changes the focus away from people's impairments and towards removing barriers that disabled people face daily. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and achievements, check out his bio.