learn-sharing: hand sanitizer versus soap
PSA: in many cases -- especially if your hands are oily -- hand sanitizer is not as good as washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. It does help kill bacteria and viruses that have an external membrane (like coronavirus) though, so it is worth using if you can't wash your hands.
Also! it is still worth it to rub your hands together in the water if the bathroom has no soap -- one study showed bacteria reduced by almost half from water alone.
"Bacteria of potential faecal origin were found after no handwashing in 44% of samples. Handwashing with water alone reduced the presence of bacteria to 23%. Handwashing with plain soap and water reduced the presence of bacteria to 8%."
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3037063/
Show Me the Science – When & How to Use Hand Sanitizer in Community Settings
https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-hand-sanitizer.html
Also! it is still worth it to rub your hands together in the water if the bathroom has no soap -- one study showed bacteria reduced by almost half from water alone.
"Bacteria of potential faecal origin were found after no handwashing in 44% of samples. Handwashing with water alone reduced the presence of bacteria to 23%. Handwashing with plain soap and water reduced the presence of bacteria to 8%."
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3037063/
Show Me the Science – When & How to Use Hand Sanitizer in Community Settings
https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-hand-sanitizer.html
