Before finding out which one is better, let us first understand the structure of germs, how hand soap and hand sanitizers kill the germs on our hands.
Structure of Germs
Some germs have a protective outer layer made up of lipid bilayer composed of thousands of amphiphilic molecules. Each molecule has a hydrophilic head (ready bonds with water) and a hydrophobic tail (repel water & prefer bonding with oils and fats). These amphiphilic molecules form a bilayer with the head pointing outside and the tails inside, protecting the germs’ “little organs”.
How Do Hand Soap Works?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the surfactants in the soap will form micelles that will trap the bacteria on our hands. Soaps are made from surfactant, which is also an amphiphilic molecule. Once the water is added to the soap, the hydrophobic part of the amphiphilic molecules will penetrate and break the protective layer of the bacteria. Quickly, the surfactants surround the “little organs” of the bacteria, arrange themselves into spherical-like micelles with the hydrophilic head outside and the hydrophobic tails inside. Now that the bacteria are trapped inside the micelle, the bacteria can be washed away with water.
How Do Hand Sanitizer Works?
The key ingredient in most hand sanitizers is alcohol. Alcohol has the function to break down the proteins present in the protective layer of germs. Thus, when the germs are exposed to the alcohol, the protective layer of the germs collapse and fall apart. The germs now lose their protection, dehydrate, and died.
Hand Soap or Hand Sanitizer
As stated by the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), they recommend hand soaps with water as handwashing can reduce the amount of all types of germs on hands. However, hand sanitizer with sufficient alcohol content cannot remove all types of germs. Therefore, it was recommended to only use hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available to avoid spreading germs to others.
Do watch the video attached to understand better about hand soap and hand sanitizer.
