Which is More Effective: Hand Soap vs. Sanitiser?

Does Antibacterial Hand Soap Kill Germs?

While regular hand soap/hand wash does not have antibacterial properties, the antibacterial hand wash provided by TouchBio has been developed with sanitising properties thanks to the addition of the key ingredient. The inclusion of this ingredient ensures that our hand wash is able to kill and remove germs and bacteria from your hands when used. As many regular hand soaps do not include this ingredient, they are often not as effective as hand sanitizers, which have to include certain ingredients. 

Simply coating your hands with standard hand soap/hand wash is not enough to remove germs and bacteria, and scrubbing should take place for at least thirty seconds to ensure that the dirt and bacteria are effectively removed. So why is standard hand soap so different from regular disinfectants and antibacterial hand soap? Standard hand soap does not actually kill the germs and bacteria on your skin, but it rather breaks down the particles and removes them. When using  TouchBio Antibacterial Hand Wash, the inclusion of the key ingredient ensures that germs and bacteria are removed and killed each time you wash your hands! 

Do Hand Sanitizers Kill Germs?

Yes, using sanitiser does kill germs and bacteria that may be on your hands if they contain the right ingredients. In order to be effective, hand sanitisers need to contain certain ingredients that will kill off any germs and bacteria. 

While alcohol is effective in killing germs and bacteria, when used in hand sanitisers, it can leave your hands feeling dry. As hand sanitiser will often be used throughout the day, when you come into contact with high-touch surfaces, having one that is of the best quality is important. Sanitisers with alcohol can be extremely bad for the health of your hand skin, which is why we here at TouchBio have developed sanitisers with alternative ingredients. 

What are the Differences Between General Hand Soap and Hand Sanitiser?

Understanding the differences between sanitiser and general hand soap is important as this can impact which one you decide to purchase. One of the main differences between these two kinds of products is where and how they are used. Generally, both of these kinds of products can be used for different things. Having a Sanitiser on you throughout the day and ensuring that areas like bathrooms have hand soap are both important! The following are just a few other differences to think about when purchasing either hand soap or hand sanitiser. 

• Water is needed for soap: When washing your hands using soap, you will need to rinse your hands using water after having scrubbed them. Soap cannot be used without water as it does not soak into the skin as hand sanitisers do, so this kind of cleaning solution can be used in places like bathrooms. 

• How you apply each of these solutions is different: When using general hand soap, you will need to use water and scrub your hands thoroughly to ensure that the germs and bacteria that may be on your skin are washed off. Applying hand soap is very different compared to hand sanitiser, which can be used without water. Many people chose to carry a small amount of hand sanitiser on them so that they can reapply when they come into contact with high-touch surfaces. 

• Sanitiser kills and general hand soap/wash removes: How germs and bacteria are removed from skin varies according to the type of product you use. While sanitiser is designed to kill any germs and bacteria without having to scrub and wash away, when washing with general hand soap, this does need to be done. Knowing when soap or sanitiser should be used can help ensure that you know which type of products to use for certain situations and that these products are used in the correct way. 

Should Water or Sanitiser Be Used?

Water will be able to wash dirt from your hands but it will not be able to remove things like germs and bacteria. While using water while hand washing with soap can be effective, using water on its own is not recommended unless you are simply scrubbing dirt or stains from your hands. For proper sanitation, however, it is recommended that hand soap or hand sanitiser be used as this ensures that germs and bacteria that may be present on your hands are removed. Though sanitisers and soap work in very similar ways, knowing when and where to use different products is important. Not using these kinds of sanitising tools correctly will lead them to be ineffective, which may leave you vulnerable to disease. 

As we all very well know, cleaning your hands is one of the most important ways that you can protect yourself from getting sick. As we make our way through certain areas and pick up certain germs, we run the risk of getting sick. Participating in healthy and frequent hand washing and hand sanitising can help to ensure that germs are quickly removed before they can infect you or those around you. Simply running water over your hands will just not cut it and making sure you have the best and most effective sanitising and hand washing solutions to protect yourself is vital! When deciding on the use of hand soap/use of sanitiser it is important to take this into account!