Up close, hands are anything but smooth. There are several places for bacteria to hide, including peaks, valleys, folds, and rifts. After that, you risk contracting the virus if you touch your face. But soap and water and hand sanitizer are two incredibly easy ways to prevent it from happening. Which is better, then?

 

In either of the two, the actual process of destroying the virus happens in just two seconds. But experts recommend at least 20 seconds of handwashing because of the intricate landscape in our hands. Soap and sanitizer should be everywhere, including our palms, fingertips, outside our hands, and between our fingers to protect us properly. And when it comes to the recent COVID-19 outbreak that shocked the world, doctors recommend washing our hands with soap and water whenever possible.

 

Even though both approaches are similarly effective at cleaning viruses, soap and water have two benefits: First, it washes away any dirt which could otherwise hide virus particles. But more importantly, it’s easier to cover your hands full with hand soap and water for 20 seconds. Meanwhile, hand sanitizer is more convenient to use on the go. Without a sink, use the sanitizer as thoroughly as possible and rub your hands together until they’re dry. Unfortunately, billions of people don’t have access to clean drinking water, which is a huge problem at any time, the reason why other people shift to using hand sanitizers. 

 

Benefits of soap and water for hand washing.

 

The best method for washing hands and reducing the spread of germs is soap and water. The 20-second rule of washing hands is worth it since hand washing with soap and water can remove viruses, germs, and other harmful agents like pesticides, dirt, and heavy metals. Using plain soap with your water will do the job if you don’t have hand soap or an antibacterial one. Water and soap are proven effective against certain germs, including life-threatening germs that can damage the lungs, skin, and colon and even lead to death. 

 

Soap and water benefits:

 

  1. The main purpose of having soap is to clean yourself. You can use soap for multi-purposes, and any plain soap will do. The best thing about soap is that it will not harm your skin or leave a bad smell on your hands.
  2. Soap is important for your safety in the workplace and at home. Whether it’s the bathroom or the kitchen, soap is a critical element of personal hygiene that may make life easier. It cleans your hands and keeps them clean throughout the day, leaving a fresh scent that stays with you long after you wash up.
  3. As long as it lathers, soap is still effective. For example, you can use soap for countless applications, which will still effectively clean your skin. That’s because the formula contains a high amount of gentle surfactant that helps create effective foaming action when applied to the skin.

 

Benefits of hand sanitizer for hand washing.

 

While hand sanitizers are often compared as effective as soap and water when cleaning and protecting, hand sanitizer doesn’t fit the bill for cleaning and removing greasy substances, dirt, and other debris. The Food and Drug Administration has backed up hand sanitizers as an alternative to soap and water if those two are unavailable. But unlike soap and water, hand sanitizers do have an expiration date. Approximately three years as what FDA suggests is the effectiveness of alcohol in hand sanitizers. The reason is that the alcohol content of hand sanitizers evaporates so does the effectiveness. The reason why hand sanitizers are in small containers makes sense because they ensure quicker use. Hand sanitizers are effective against killing germs when you’re in a rush, but with special conditions. 

 

Hand sanitizer special conditions:

 

  1. Sanitizers are formulated to be effective against specific pathogens. The alcohol in your sanitizer can help kill germs. Alcohol is not a disinfectant. However, like bleach and most other antimicrobial agents, it breaks down organic compounds in the environment. It can make it an inefficient way to clean a surface or object.
  2. Hand sanitizers should cover the entire hands for them to be effective. All the corners of the hands, fingers, palms, and nails should have a hand sanitizer substance on them.
  3. Unlike soap and water, utilizing hand sanitizers to clean your hand should be done by rubbing both hands together until they’re both dry. Let the hand sanitizer evaporate in your hands to have the right result in putting them in the first place.
  4. Do not mix hand sanitizers with other skin care products. For hand sanitizers to work, after applying them to your hands or skin, never use lotions or another skin moisturizer because it will override the effectiveness of the applied hand sanitizer.

 

Soap, water, and hand sanitizer

 

There’s no debate that soap, water, and hand sanitizers help clean and prevent bacteria build-up. The most efficient way to clean a dirty hand is to wash it with soap and water, even though it will take a little longer. Our hands are the most prone to bacteria and germs as we touch surfaces and other things with them. Unlike hand sanitizer, soap and water don’t need a certain temperature. But in return, hand sanitizers are the best alternative to unwashed hands if soap and water aren’t available. But remember that these two methods have a strong chance of eliminating potentially harmful germs, viruses, and bacteria.

 

Final Thoughts

 

If you need to utilize the right procedures in hand washing, you might as well be using soap and water or a hand sanitizer. The hand washing method is more crucial than the soap used. Some experts even insist on a minimum of 40 seconds, so applying soap to the palms and quickly rinsing won’t cut it.

One of the defining characteristics of good hygiene is keeping your hands clean. Sadly, soap and water aren’t always available, so having trustworthy substitutes becomes important and useful. As an added precaution, spend money on quality hand sanitizer. If you want a high-quality hand sanitizer, AvaCare Medical can help you with that. We offer hand soap and sanitizers that greatly helps with preventing germs and viruses from spreading. For more information about us, please contact AvaCare’s hotline at 1-877-813-7799 or email us at [email protected].