Hand Sanitizer Versus Hand Washing: What’s Better?

Hand sanitizer has experienced an explosive growth in popularity in recent times. Today, people from all walks of life are using hand sanitizers thanks to their portability and ease of use. The question which most people wonder about is a simple one: How does hand sanitizer compare to hand washing in terms of germ killing ability?

Recent reports released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have revealed that hand sanitizer is just as effective as soap and water hand washing, unless hand dirt is very pronounced. Since both methods are roughly equal in terms of germ killing ability, for many people it comes down to convenience.

Hand sanitizers cannot be beat in terms of easy usability. Because hand sanitizers can be taken along with you everywhere you go, often in small purse or pocket sized bottles, they are an easy way to make certain that you are keeping yourself and your loved ones germ free.

To get the same germ killing effect that a small dollop of hand sanitizer can give you, it would be necessary to wash your hands quite energetically with warm or hot water and soap for a minimum of 20 seconds. Additionally, you’d also need to make sure to completely dry your hands with clean paper towels or a hand dryer. Hand sanitizer has the advantage of working quickly, and then air drying almost immediately.

Hand sanitizer, when used properly and often, may even be more effective than soap and water hand washing since it’s possible to use it more regularly. After all, the opportunities to do a full hand washing are not very frequent, while you can use hand sanitizer throughout the day regardless of where you are. With hand sanitizer, you have the dual advantages of convenience and effectiveness.

It is also important to consider that the cleansing effects of hand washing and hand sanitizers are at the greatest when used to supplement each other. Applying hand sanitizer to your hands after you wash and allow them to fully dry is the best way to be sure you are rid of all harmful germs.

So the answer to the question is: Both are very effective, but using them together makes them almost twice as powerful.