Antibacterial hand gel - didn't know where to ask this

[Tickawicka]

As someone who used to have an OCD about germs and cleanliness, I have observed the invention and use of antibacterial hand gel with interest.

Presumably it works, which is why it is used in hospitals, which is mainly where I have used it.

But, here's the question, you are not in a hospital and you have two alternatives: washing your hands with soap, or putting the gel on, what's the best one?

And if you had a small - not-been-out-of-nappies-long - child who wanted to use gel rather than washing their hands, should you let them or should you get them to wash their hands?

Do you think that in the future no-one will wash their hands and we will all use gel instead?

Sorry for the funny question.

the gel doesnt actually remove the dirt though. if you played in the mud, then you'd still have mucky hands, even if you used gel.

i use soap to get the obvious dirt of and gel to kill of the germs.

i.e playing in the garden/ made a mess wiping bottom (dd not me ) i would use soap.

sneezing or after being on public transport= gel

Given the choice, I'd wash my hands - wash off the dirt and clean at same time. Gel handy if you're out and about but I think most of them aren't supposed to be used by under-3s?

Well, my question is - as flu is a virus, what's the use of antibacterial gel?

Surely hot water and soap more effective, and gel just a second best?

Also, all the nurses I know say they find the gels dry out their hands even more than soap & water.

Maybe the answer will be gloves (like the queen!) if and when the flu pandemic really hits.

We have the gel for after using the loo as it gets rid of the germs. Generally we don't end up with hands with wee or poo on them so don't need soap.

i mean, if you changed a nappy and got poo on your hands, the poo would still be there if you gelled . it'd just be sanitised poo.

In hospitals rule of thumb is if visibly dirty use soap and water. If cleaning before entering a room or in between things use gel.
personally I use soap and water after the loo, at home and in public places. however. if a loo was a bit nasty i'd rather go with the gel than touch germ ridden taps and door handles.
gel also good for before eating when there isn't a tap close at hand.

I can't believe people carry it about tbh

I think these gels are designed for use out and about where you do not have normal washing facilities...and so are great for carrying in your bag/car etc. for emergencies.
Everyday, studies have shown that ordinary soap and hot water are effective in removing both drt and germs from hands...better than any chemicals which may have hidden side effects. Psychologically I do feel cleaner using soap and water!

Using the gel for a month when DD was in hospital, my hands were so cracked and dry they were bleeding all the time.

Also, if you kill all the 'good' bacteria on your hands, you're far more prone to get unpleasant fungal infections on your nails or hands.

Soap and water is best really therefore IMHO.

I wasn't thinking of flu in particular.

We were out for the day recently and had to use the loo at the place we visited. It was in a foul portakabin, and there were no sinks, just gel. Given that we had to eat our picnic shortly afterwards, and the gel tasted awful, and I still had the feeling that nevertheless I hadn't actually washed my hands after being in that godawful bog, I felt that this was less than satisfactory.

Then at the weekend, in a very clean loo at a similar place, I overheard a little DD ask her mum to use the gel rather than wash her hands. The mum was happy with this and I found myself wondering what was the matter with the sinks, and that I'd rather wash my hands any day and that maybe there's just something wrong with me.

oh the gel was gel in the mum's handbag (which she went rummaging in to find it with unwashed hands IIRC) not gel provided by the loo.

I don't feel like my hands are clean with gel either. Even thoroughly rubbed in it just feels like their is a layer on the surface IYSWIM.

I prefer soap and water anyday but if was in the park and needed to change a nappy I would do so, wipe my hands with a wet wipe and then use a quick spray of gel.

we were told in our MRSA lecture thing, about how to correctly wash hands, that, whilst the gel is reasonable good if you, for whatever reason can't wash your hands....but that you can only use it about 3 times without washing hands inbetween and than you have to wash...so....to me that means washing hands is more effective...

soap aND WATER kills some bugs and gel kills others.

tbh i would rather wash my hands with hot soapy water than just use a gel.

have been in some grotty loos with no running water (portakabin type things) and had to use the gel from my bag.

i carry a small bottle around with me as gel is better than nothing, and as dh is immune suppressed, its best to protect him.

As we are in the throes of threadworm in our household I would suggest washing hands as it helps removes TW eggs. And seeing as an estimated 40% of preschoolers have them at any one time, the case for washing hands is compelling. For me the gel would be an 'extra' or an alternative if soap and water wasn't available.

I seem to remember that C diff can't be removed by gel, only handwashing...

Washing with hot water and soap then drying thoroughly is the best way to remove germs.

Hand cleansing gel is better than nothing when there are no hand washing facilities, but not as effective as washing.

Most health care professionals use hand cleansing gel as well as washing, not instead of.

After 5 applications of gel it loses it's effectiveness.

Eeewwww at just using gel after using the loo and not washing hands!!!

I bought some last week as ds has just come out of hospital to use whilst out in the park etc. It's not very nice and would much prefer soap and water

These posts are all very interesting. I am learning a lot.

When I felt doubtful at the little girl being allowed to use gel instead of washing her hands I truly thought gel was more effective, but given that most places only have soap and water I thought it was better to get children used to washing their hands: learning to operate different taps, soap dispensers, dryers, rather than skipping the process altogether. Washing your hands is a sort of life skill, isn't it, albeit a minor one?

I am quite confident that, during my OCD days, I would have covered myself from head to foot in antibacterial gel, had it only been invented. Thank God it hadn't!

Not sure that this is relevant...

I would never use a bar of soap; I would only use liquid soap from a dispenser, because I think there will be germs from other people on the soap. So if it was a choice between a bar of soap and the gel, I would go for the gel.

hmmm....if there was a bar of soap aswell as Gel, I'd say use both....bar of soap wiht water, will still get rid of some germs and the gel will do the rest....

I've carried it in my nappy bag and handbag for years, I almost can't believe people don't. It's in my kids school bags along with tissues right now.