Hand Sanitizer vs. Soap and water

photo by Ray

Wash your hands as often as you can to prevent spread of infection and illness. Do you usually use soap and water or the convenient hand sanitizer? Do you know the hand washing tips? Do you know how long hand sanitizers really work?

According to the CDC's guide on the right way to wash your hands:

When washing hands with soap and water:

    * Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.

    * Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces.

    * Continue rubbing hands for 15-20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing "Happy Birthday" twice through to a friend.

    * Rinse hands well under running water.

    * Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.

    * Always use soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.

When water and soap are not available, alcohol-based hand sanitizer is a good substitute. However, while many of us use the hand sanitizer, who really knows how long does it works? The answer is 2 minutes! Experts said it's a crucial 2 minutes, where it helps to reduce the transmission of germs that can make us sick.