Life with Chronic Conditions: Soap, Water & Hand Washing

With the intense media coverage regarding the coronavirus, one of the primary ways to reduce its spread (plus cold and flu) is proper hand washing with soap and water.

Since we’ve all been washing our hands since before we can remember, you’d think we’d have it down pat. Unfortunately, not so much. Most people do not practice good hand hygiene. This not only refers to when hands are washed, but how and with what type of soap.

You go to wash your hands and you find a choice of bar soap, liquid bottled soap and a third option anti-bacterial soap? Which do you choose? Why?

If you are like many people, who have been influenced by marketing strategies, you may think the liquid or anti-bacterial soap may be best. As it turns out, unless you work in a health care setting, don’t use antibacterial products because their use can contribute to the rise of antibiotic-resistant super bugs. 6 Reasons Why You Should Stop Using Antibacterial Soap 

Before answering the question, which cleans better liquid or bar soap, let’s back track to how soap and water clean hands.

Basically the water, which can be any temperature, will get rid of a fair amount of gunk on your hands by physically rinsing it away. Soap removes the oily stuff that water can’t, as it bonds to both water and skin oils, leaving you with clean skin provided you wash appropriately and for a sufficient amount of time (20 secs). More to follow on proper hand washing and drying.

Liquid or Bar: Which is better?

If a bar of soap is sitting in water it can look pretty disgusting. However, the research indicates that both bar soap and liquid do the same job of getting rid of the bad bacteria, even if that bar of soap looks disgusting.

In spite of mass marketing campaigns to promote liquid soaps over bar, there is a growing trend “back to the bar.” With both being equally effective as far as removing harmful bacteria, liquid has a negative impact on the environment due to production and how it’s packaged, plus it costs considerably more.

When should you wash your hands?

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), you should wash your hands

• Before, during, and after preparing food

• Before eating food

• Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea

• Before and after treating a cut or wound

• After using the toilet

• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet

• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste

• After handling pet food or pet treats

• After touching garbage

How to Wash Your Hands

The CDC recommends the following 5 steps

1.    Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.

2.    Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

3.    Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.

4.    Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

5.    Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

When and How to Use Hand Sanitizer

Soap and water are best, but when not available, use an alcohol based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Note that sanitizers don’t get rid of all types of germs and are not effective with visible dirt and grime. They also don’t remove harmful chemicals such as pesticides and heavy metals.

• Apply the gel product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).

• Rub your hands together.

• Rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry. 

• This should take around 20 seconds.