Soap versus Hand Sanitizer?

I just use what ever I have at the moment. Soap at home, but a sanitizer in the car just incase. my problem is, things are getting so "germ-free", that it might come to the point when peoples immune systems don't work right cause the system has not had anything to fight! Keeping it active in its purpose, as with anything else, just makes it stronger so when you do get a germ/bug, your system is strong and ready to fight! But if it never has to do any "work", when needed it won't be strong enough to work right. Granted that is just my common sense and "from what I have researched" opinion but I believe it has some credance to it. Common sense is not used much these days! OF course, watch what you touch and all that, but at the same time, maybe at home, don't be so "clean". At least at home you know whats there. Give your immune system a littel to work with so when youdo go out and touch things...you are strong enough to fight those germs. I see now where they are promoting hand sanitizer pumps things for at home. Okay fine, but now that everyone has one...is that good enough? No! Now they say that that little pump head on the sanitizer bottle is "full of germs" so they made a new pump head or somehow press it with your wrist or whatever it is. I ususaly tune out most commercials as I am tired of them telling viewers how stupid they are so "you'd better use our product". Has it ended there? are we germ free enough? No! Now a company Scott, or Kleenex or somethign like that has a new product of a paper towel dispenser for at home. They show a towel hanging on the towel bar next to a paper towel dispenser and the towel being repeatedly used by multiple people, while every one gets a "fresh, clean" towel every time if they pull a paper towel out of the dispenser. I mean come on. First we are filthy, so we use soap, then we are contagious so we use sanitizer, now we are slobs so we are to use paper towels at home instead of a towel. I would say whats next, but I think what's next is the environmental people saying that these paper towels are a waste, a land fill filler, totally non-environmental safe an non-green!! Guess we should all go back to just taking a bath in the local swimming hole!

Two hands up for soap from me! It's underestimated. You know how everybody knew washing your face with soap would ruin your skin. Well, now it's prooven that it's a lie. You can wash every part of your body with soap and nothing will happen, besides cleaning it. Sanitizers are not good enough for me, you should know that I don't want to try a hundred new products and even forget where the start was when I discover that the average soap does the work. No sanitizers here.

for me, i think soap will be fine! i mean, sanitizers are handy and you can bring it anywhere with you , though i think it is really sometimes sticky when used in an already dirty hands. so washing hands with soap and water would be great!

Hand sanitizer sanitized better than soap and water, but i'd rather to not using it too much because it dry my hands. Actually, i just found out one brand that's not really dry my hands, so i brought it everywhere i go, just incase..but if it's possible, i prefer soap to hand sanitizer ;)

Hand sanitizer sanitized better than soap and water, but i'd rather to not using it too much because it dry my hands. Actually, i just found out one brand that's not really dry my hands, so i brought it everywhere i go, just incase..but if it's possible, i prefer soap to hand sanitizer ;)

I use both even I'm at home. Its for my baby's protection since he easily got sick. Soap and water is still best since hand washing is the number one rule for mediacal practitioners. Sanitizers is still good especially when soap and water is not available.

Well, they say it's not a good idea to only use disinfectants on your hands because it protects you too much. When we aren't exposed to germs, our immune systems don't get strong and we can end up getting quite ill. It's best to stick with soap when you can, but hand gel is perfect when you are out and about.

Hi, cazanwell_30. I use liquid hand soap when I wash my hand off in the bathroom. And when I am out, I try to keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer in my purse. I may never know when I may need to use it. When I am at home, I make sure that my hands are completely covered with antibacterial hand soap. I want to make sure that my hands are really clean.

I think soap and water will wash away most of the debris on your hands. Just using plain hand sanitizer, just kills the surface germs. So I think soap and water is a little bit better than hand sanitizer.

I would use liquid soap. The bar soap leaves your hands so dry that sometimes they can't recover. You should always use hand sanitizer if it is available. I have a 5 year old and with her we generally carry wipes quite frequently

I grew up with soap and water to wash my hand. I think it is still the best way. When soap and water is not available, the next best thing is hand sanitizer. You can take hand sanitizeer with you wherever you go.

Hi, I prefer Hand Sanitizer due to various reason... It kill the complete germs from our hand which ordinary soap can't destroy.

Well, they are both good I think, but like you, I use them quite differently. I have hand sanitizers with me for occasions where I can't wash my hands using soap, but most of the time I use soap, because I can. I hope that makes sense!

i also uses both everyday specially before i eat i washes my hands first with soap then i put my hands with sanitizer, so for me using the soap and sanitized are both good

I definitely think that soap is better. It's certainly better for your skin. Hand sanitizer makes my hands really dry and I sometimes break out. It's horrible. Also, I think that soap actually washes things away. I don't know; I've just never really bought into the whole hand sanitizer thing.

as far as i know hand sanitizer is good for outdoor purposes only like if you out as theres no soap and water available all time so of course you have to carry you hand sanitizer with you all the time coz you cant tell when will you need it outside. at home then i dont think theres anyone still using hand sanitizer if they can use soap and water. i guess thats already too much if you will use it even at home unless your too lazy to go to the kitchen sink nor toilet to wash your hands.