Alcohol-based hand sanitizer and traditional soap and water are good options for cleaning your hands. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that certain types of hand cleaners are preferable, depending on your situation. It's advisable to take a few factors into account before deciding which is the best option.
Uses
You can use soap or hand sanitizer to clean your hands throughout the day. When washing your hands with soap and water, wet your hands, lather them with soap, then rub them together for the length of time that it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice before rinsing them clean. Hand sanitizer is a bit easier. Simply squirt a dime-sized amount into your dry palms and rub them together for 20 to 25 seconds.
Effects
Soap and water work well to cleanse hands that have visible dirt and foreign substances on them. Hand sanitizer only works on hands that are dry and will not remove dirt, but will kill germs and bacteria as long as it is at least 60 percent alcohol.
Benefits
Hand sanitizer and soap are used to remove potentially harmful germs, bacteria and substances from your hands. MayoClinic.com says that getting in the habit of keeping your hands clean can play a large role in your overall health.
Warning
MayoClinic.com warns that, over time, using antibacterial soap to wash your hands regularly can cause resistant bacteria to develop. This bacteria does not respond to the antimicrobial agents in the soap. In addition, the Minnesota Department of Health says that hand sanitizer is not appropriate to use as the sole hand-cleaning product in kitchens. This is because hand sanitizers do not kill norovirus, which is the No. 1 cause of foodborne illnesses.
Expert Insight
The CDC says that, if you have the choice, washing your hands with soap and water is preferable to using alcohol-based hand sanitizer. However, if soap and water aren't available, you should use hand sanitizer. In terms of preventing illnesses, it's better to use the hand sanitizer than nothing.
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