Natural Hand Wash, Soap & Sanitisers

It is easy to overlook hand hygiene when you are busy.

Or, it is easy to do a so-so job of it, then rush on to other things.

But hand hygiene is important. It is actually one of the quickest, most affordable, and at the same time, most effective things that you can do to keep on top of your daily hygiene.

Why is handwashing so important?

Effective hand washing can help prevent the spread of bacteria and other unwanted substances.

Our hands are key, because they are the part of our body that is most often and most directly in contact with other people, animals, food, and surfaces. Then, they are the part of ourselves that comes into most contact with our mouths, eyes, and noses, as well as other people’s food and cutlery.

When washing your hands, it is important to cover all of their surface areas, including between your fingers, around your thumb, the wrist, your finger nails, and the backs and fronts of your hands.

Hand sanitiser and antibacterial gel

Hand sanitiser can come in liquid, gel, or foam forms, and its main goal is to decrease the amount of infectious agents on your hands.

It is convenient, but unlike soap, it cannot effectively remove harmful chemicals, or substances such as paint.

Hand sanitisers are less effective when your hands are really dirty or greasy (since that dirt and grease acts like a barrier), so they are most appropriate in clinical or indoor settings.

Hand sanitiser should ideally have an alcohol concentration higher than 60% and ideally include some glycerol, in order to help prevent your skin from drying.

How does hand sanitiser work?

The alcohol in hand sanitiser is well known for its actions on germs, most bacteria, fungi, and even viruses. The alcohol is thought to helps break down the proteins and disrupts cell membranes.

Apply a dollop of sanitiser to one hand, then rub the product all over your hands until they are both fully covered. Hand sanitiser should then be left to dry.

Hand sanitisers are a great option when you are on the go, because they are easy to store in small containers in a bag or pocket.

Hand soap

Hand soap is best used when your hands are visibly soiled with dirt, blood, or other bodily fluids (especially after using the toilet).

Hand soap is a little less convenient than gel, because you have to rinse your hands off with water afterwards, and then dry your hands.

However, it is appropriate in food settings, in the bathroom, after playing sport, or in any other more active situations.

Hand soap comes in liquid and bar form, but the way they work remains the same. They can also both contain moisturising agents, to offset any dryness caused.

Hand soap is quite affordable, but can be slightly problematic when it is shared between lots of people, as bacteria could sit in the water that accumulates around the soap.

Liquid soap, in bottles, avoid this issue, as you are usually squirting a small amount from a well-protected container.