Handwashing is one of the most important things we can do to protect our health, but some of what we often hear about it is wrong. Here are five surprising myths and truths.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
Hey, it’s Robert Davis, the healthy skeptic.
Handwashing… it’s something we were taught to do as kids. But some of what you’ve learned may in fact be wrong. Here are five handwashing half-truths and myths.
One. Handsoap kills germs. Not exactly. Soap works mainly by trapping and removing them.
For soap to do its job, wet your hands before applying it… scrub for at least 20 seconds, including the backs of your hands, your thumbs, between your fingers, and under your nails… and then rinse.
Two. Antibacterial soaps are superior to regular soap. In fact, there’s no evidence that they provide extra protection against illness.
And it’s possible they may contribute to antibiotic resistance.
Three. You should use warm water. Actually, the temperature doesn’t matter.
Cool water is just as effective as warm water at washing away germs.
Four. Hand sanitizers work as well as handwashing. It’s true that alcohol-based sanitizers kill most germs, but not all.
And unlike washing, sanitizers don’t remove germs and other harmful substances. They’re a good backup if you don’t have access to soap and water, but washing your hands is a better option.
Five. Air dryers beat paper towels for drying your hands. While there’s no definitive answer here, some research gives the edge to paper towels.
They dry hands more thoroughly and are less likely to spread germs than air dryers. Either way, drying your hands is important because germs can be transferred more easily to and from wet hands.
Speaking of paper towels, try to use one to turn off the faucet after washing in a public restroom. Also avoid touching the door with your hands when you leave. You don’t want to recontaminate your hands and have all that effort washing them… go down the drain.