Table of contents:
- Pros and cons of using hand washing hand sanitizer
- Pros and cons of washing your hands with soap
- How to wash your hands properly
- 1. With soap and water
- 2. With a sanitizer
- Conclusion
If you want to sterilize your hands quickly, you can reach for the hand bottle sanitizer. However, how effective sanitizer compared to washing your hands with soap and water?
Alcohol-based cleaners can be used to clean hands, but should not be used as a substitute for soap and water. Although alcohol-based hand sanitizer (with an alcohol percentage of 60% or more) can reduce the number of germs, it cannot reduce the spread of some viruses, such as norovirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To find out more about the comparison between soap and soap sanitizer alcohol-based, let's have a look below.
Pros and cons of using hand washing hand sanitizer
Although hand sanitizer It can reduce the growth of certain microorganisms, but there are some pros and cons from experts regarding the following alcohol-based hand sanitizers:
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not a good cleaning agent for removing dirt. They are never meant to be used as a substitute for hand washing in all situations. If you have dirt visible on your hands, sanitizer would not be effective at cleaning it.
- The CDC shows that sanitizer can inactivate many microbes very effectively if used properly. However, many people don't use sanitizer with sufficient volume or not even rubbing his hands for the recommended time (between 40-60 seconds).
- The two main issues that can challenge nurses to comply with hand hygiene are time and access to hand washing. Because sanitizer No need for a sink and a pipe, so the alcohol-based cleaner can be placed anywhere. You can even carry it in your pocket.
- Dr. Richard T. Ellison III of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, said that sanitizer can replace soap and water if there is no visible dirt on the hands. The antibacterials in alcohol are very effective in killing microorganisms, but the alcohol must directly touch these microorganisms. If there is a lot of dirt on the hands, sanitizer probably won't reach the microorganisms that are under the feces.
Pros and cons of washing your hands with soap
According to the CDC, washing your hands with soap and water is the best way to wash your hands. Even so, washing hands with soap also has drawbacks. Here are the pros and cons of using soap when washing your hands:
- Dr. David Hooper, a head of the Infection Control Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, said that sanitizer easy and fast when used. Research also shows that it has faster antibacterial activity compared to soap and water. Hospital uses sanitizer because if you wash your hands with soap and water several times a day your skin will become dry, especially in cold weather.
- Carol McLay, RN, an Infection Prevention Consultant in Lexington, Ky, said that washing hands with soap is the most effective way to prevent the spread of disease. Although sanitizer can reduce the number of bacteria on your hands quickly, but they cannot eliminate all types of germs.
How to wash your hands properly
1. With soap and water
The CDC suggests that the best way to get germ-free on hands is to use soap and warm water to wash your hands. The right technique is crucial. You have to put your hands under clean warm water, use soap, then rub your hands together for 20 seconds. You can measure the time by singing the song "ABC" or the song "Happy Birthday" from start to finish. After that, rinse your hands thoroughly, then use a clean towel or hand dryer to dry your hands.
2. With a sanitizer
If you use sanitizer, so make sure that it contains 60% alcohol. If it is less than that, it will not be effective in cleaning germs. When applying an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, for at least half a teaspoon, scrub your hands for 15-20 seconds until they dry out. It's also important to note that sanitizer does not kill all kinds of germs.
Conclusion
If you have the option, washing your hands with soap and water should always be your first choice. Although both are good for cleaning hands, it is important to remember that sanitizer cannot be used as a substitute for soap and water. Rather, it is only an alternative if you do not have the tools to wash your hands with soap.
