Whether it’s coronavirus or the flu, the advice is the same: wash your hands. And while regular old soap can often do the trick, we feel now is as good a time as ever to invest in the strong stuff and pick up some extra bottles of antibacterial hand soap. Contrary to popular belief, the word “antibacterial” in a hand soap description doesn’t hold a ton of weight.
The good news is that pretty much all hand soaps can be “antibacterial” when used properly. That’s true whether you’re using a product specifically labeled as antibacterial or a fancy designer hand wash. When you scrub, cleanse and rinse your hands using proper handwashing techniques, you should remove any lingering germs and bacteria. If you’ve got access to a sink and some water, you’ve got the ability to effectively use any hand soap to avoid illness. It’s one of the best methods out there for protecting yourself, followed closely by hand sanitizer and face masks.
So, while washing your hands with antibacterial soap can’t guarantee you won’t catch a cold, the flu or anything else, it’s a great step in preventing such infections. And, remember, when you do wash your hands, don’t take any shortcuts. Make sure you wash your hands at the right times and do it correctly, too.
When Should You Wash Your Hands?
If your instant reaction to this question is “after using the bathroom” and no other time, it’s time for us to drop some knowledge. Even in pre-Covid times, washing your hands should have been a regular occurrence. Yes, Corona may not have been on the radar, but as we said, other common illnesses, like the common cold and the flu, should have been. Here’s a general guide to when you should be washing your hands:
- Anytime you’re involved in human or pet food preparation/consumption (Before/During/After)
- Anytime you’re caring for someone who is sick (Before/After)
- When using the toilet (After. But before is fine, too.)
- Anytime you sneeze, cough or blow your nose (After)
- Anytime you handle garbage (After)
- Anytime you come in contact with animal/human feces (After)
Obviously, given the current state of affairs, the regularity with which you wash your hands should be a lot higher (follow governmental guidelines). However, when things return to “normal,” remember to keep hand cleaning in mind as it may well help in your fight against getting sick.
How to Wash Your Hands Correctly
Given that we’re in the midst of a pandemic, it’s likely you’ve already been informed by several sources, numerous times, about how to correctly wash your hands. However, if you happened to slip through the net, or even if you didn’t, it never hurts to give a reminder.
1. Wet your hands with water (preferably warm).
2. Apply soap and create a lather to cover your entire hands, including under your nails, between your fingers and the back, too.
3. Scrub your hands. Ensure you do this all over and for a duration of at least 20 seconds. Tip: Sing “Happy Birthday” if you don’t have a timer or watch on hand.
4. Rinse your hands.
5. Dry your hands, avoiding communal towels.
The whole process of washing your hands shouldn’t take more than thirty seconds. It’s a small task to help improve your chances of remaining illness-free.
Keep reading for our list of the 20 best antibacterial hand soaps in stock online.
