Hand Sanitizer Vs Soap is it Worth the Extra Cash?

With health hazards such as the flu and the common cold becoming more and more easily spread as our population density increases in towns and cities, we work hard to educate our kids on germs, illness spreading, and hand washing.  One of the biggest debates, however, is whether we should encourage our kids to use hand sanitizer or to stick with plain old soap and water.

Hand sanitizer is certainly an interesting new product that makes bold claims.  Hand sanitizer boasts high levels of convenience and claims to eliminate 99.9 percent of bacteria.  What the label forgets to mention, however, is that most of this bacteria is from your body itself and that hand sanitizer is actually stripping away the top layer of protective oil on your skin.  While some harmful bacteria is also removed, you are also leaving your skin less protected than before using the hand sanitizer.

This isn’t to say that hand sanitizer is bad or that you should not use it.  When hand soap is unavailable or when you have no access to water, hand sanitizer can be a great choice. However, standard soap and water is usually the healthiest and gentlest option for kids and adults alike.  It helps to preserve the natural oils of the skin while also working to ensure that germs are eliminated.  Antibacterial options are typically best.

Cost is also an issue. While a bottle of drugstore hand sanitizer can run to $2-$5 a bottle depending on size, you can get 4 bars of soap for a dollar at almost any dollar store. Paying more for expensive scented or ‘hand made’ soap doesn’t get your hands cleaner, it simply gives the soap a nicer smell. 

Hand sanitizer is also the most environmentally unfriendly option, as it takes a lot of energy and materials to makes the bottles and caps, which are then left behind as non-biodegradable waste. Soap leaves no waste aside from the paper wrapper, which is both biodegradable and recyclable. If you must use hand sanitizer, make sure you recycle the bottle afterward or re-use it for liquid soap, sunscreen or other household products. 

There is much to say for hand sanitizer, but there is no doubt that traditional soap and water is best, hands down.