HANDWASHING FACT VS MYTH

You can effectively wash your hands by simply rinsing them with water.

• FACT

• MYTH

Answer explanation

MYTH

No, simply rinsing your hands with water is not an effective way to wash your hands; you need to use soap and water to properly clean them and remove germs effectively.

Antibacterial soap is more effective than regular soap.

• FACT

• MYTH

Answer explanation

MYTH

No, there isn't evidence that antibacterial soap is more effective than regular soap for preventing illness or killing germs.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Choosing the right soap for your skin type can help maintain skin hydration.

• FACT

• MYTH

Answer explanation

FACT

Yes, choosing the right soap for your skin type is crucial for maintaining skin hydration, as different skin types require different cleansing properties; using a soap formulated for your specific needs (like dry, oily, or sensitive) can help prevent over-drying or excessive oil production, allowing your skin to stay properly hydrated.

Using liquid soap is more effective than bar soap.

• FACT

• MYTH

Answer explanation

MYTH

Both bar and liquid soaps are equally effective in removing dirt, germs, and bacteria, ensuring proper hand hygiene. Misconceptions about bar soap accumulating harmful bacteria are debunked, as proper usage ensures any bacteria is washed off with each use.

The temperature of water does not significantly impact the effectiveness of hand washing.

• FACT

• MYTH

Answer explanation

FACT

Water temperature as high as 38°C (100°F) and as low as 15°C (60°F) did not have a significant effect on the reduction of bacteria during hand washing.

Natural or handmade soaps are more effective than commercial soaps.

• FACT

• MYTH

Answer explanation

MYTH

While natural or handmade soaps can be gentler on the skin, when it comes to basic hand cleaning and removing dirt and bacteria, they are typically just as effective as commercial soaps.

Washing your hands too often can dry out your skin.

• FACT

• MYTH

Answer explanation

• FACT

• Science behind it:

  Our skin has a natural oil barrier that helps keep it hydrated, and excessive washing can strip away this barrier, causing dryness.

It doesn't matter how long we wash your hands as long as soap is utilized.

• FACT

• MYTH

Answer explanation

MYTH

No, the length of time you wash your hands is important, even if you use soap. At least 20 seconds of scrubbing will produce enough friction on your hands to loosen the dirt and germs.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Hand sanitizer is just as effective as soap and water.

• FACT

• MYTH

Answer explanation

MYTH

Hand sanitizer kills germs, but it doesn’t remove debris. Hand sanitizer actually works best on already clean hands to kill any germs not removed during handwashing. Handwashing is always the best choice if available.

After washing our hands, we don't need to dry them.

• FACT

• MYTH

Answer explanation

MYTH

This is incorrect because research has shown that wet hands are more conducive to the spread of germs than dry hands.