A Guide - Is Foam Hand Sanitizer Better Than Liquid Soap?

The answer is both yes and no. Though both have the same goal, each is different from the other, depending also on the situation. And even if the hand sanitizer that is alcohol-based kills more germs quickly than many hand soaps, it is not as effective as the liquid soap in removing contaminants.

Lately, people saw the coming of the hand sanitizer, and it gained popularity due to outbreaks such as the spreading of the swine flu. A hand sanitizer is an antiseptic that does not require rinsing with water. Thus, it is very convenient to utilize anywhere. Easy to use, it is applied and spread all over the hands like regular lotion. Its varieties are the alcohol wipes, and the gels which are alcohol-based, oil-based, or triclosan-based.

Meanwhile, the hands must be washed thoroughly many times during the day, not just before eating. It is an uncomplicated way to prevent illnesses from germs like fungi, viruses and/or bacteria that are all around. These microorganisms are on contaminated surfaces, infected people, particular animals, and even in some foods. They are easily transmitted especially to children who love playing outdoors. Transmission generally occurs from getting in contact with a source to a mere touch of the nose, eyes, or mouth.

Most of the time, even plain tap water is not free from these harmful microorganisms. Therefore, careful and thorough washing of the hands must be done not only with such water alone, but also with soap, most especially before and after eating, using contact lenses, treating wounds, preparing food, or touching an ill person. Also after going to the comfort room, handling trash, changing nappies, blowing the nose, etc. In between these, it is advised that hand washing be done at intervals.

These days, more people like using foam soap than the traditional solid or liquid soap. This is because it gives smooth foam that is silky to the touch. This creamy feel encourages kids to wash their hands often even without being told to. More so, this foam soap cuts washing time without cutting on the benefits of washing either with a solid or a liquid one. And, in dispensing foam soap, only a reasonable amount is released into the hand/s, unlike the liquid version that tends to flow down quickly, dispensing more than what is needed.

A foam hand sanitizer is a portable hand-cleaner and disinfectant which has the creamy-feel benefit of the foam soap. It efficiently works on hands which are not visibly dirty; even clean hands have germs. And though a hand sanitizer does not have the same benefits of thorough cleaning and scrubbing with water and soap, it is also effective in eradicating germs anytime.