Is Hand Sanitizing Gel Better Than Hand Washing?

 The short answer is yes if you are asking about killing germs. Hand washing is better at removing dirt and debris from the hands. Although dirt and debris are more visible, making hand washing seems very effective, the viruses and bacteria that cause illness are generally invisible. It turns out that soap and water are not very effective at killing bacteria, and even less effective at killing viruses. Illnesses that most people are trying to prevent spreading are mostly viruses. Things like colds, influenza, and most illnesses with diarrhea are caused by viruses. Even antimicrobial soaps containing triclosan only kill bacteria if the triclosan is in contact with the germs for two minutes. Most people don't spend a full two minutes washing their hands.

Hand sanitizing gels use alcohol as the primary antimicrobial agent. Alcohol is effective at killing both bacteria and viruses in many hands sanitizing gel and foam products. In studies in hospitals, it has been shown that hand sanitizer used on entering and leaving patients' rooms reduced the spread of infection.

As a rule of thumb, it is best to use soap and water after using the toilet, getting gross contamination of the hands with dirt or other potentially infectious material. In situations where the primary concern is the spread of bacteria or viruses hand sanitizing gel is a better choice. Especially if you are either caring for someone with a viral illness or have a virus yourself, frequent use of hand sanitizer is a great idea.