What is antibacterial soap and when to use it?

Maintaining good hygiene in your kitchen and bathroom is one of the best ways to stop germs – but when should you be using antibacterial soaps, and how are they different to regular ones? For that matter, what does antibacterial mean in the first place? We’ve got the answers here – read on to find out more!

Regular hand washing and cleaning your surroundings with products like Handy Andy Ultra Hygiene are both great ways to maintain good hygiene. When trying out a new cleaning product, always make sure you read the label before use and follow the instructions carefully.

The importance of hand washing

Before answering questions like does soap kill germs and how do antibacterial soaps work, let’s take a moment to consider the importance of hand washing. Not only do you get rid of dirt and grime, you’re also preventing the spread of germs.

So, does soap help kill germs? The short answer is that it often does. Antibacterial soaps are even designed to help fight and protect against bacteria. Regular soaps without antibacterial properties, however, don’t necessarily offer protection against bacteria for long after you’ve washed your hands. Bacteria can come back quickly after you’ve used these products.

How do antibacterial soaps work in the fight against germs?

What does antibacterial mean? In simple terms, it refers to something that helps to kill or lessen the regrowth of bacteria – which is exactly what antibacterial soap does. While regular soap does do a good job of getting you clean, the properties in an antibacterial hand sanitiser are often much longer lasting.

Want to know how does antibacterial soap work to help fight germs? It’s quite straightforward: after washing, the key ingredients in antibacterial soap remain on the skin for a while, helping to keep bacterial growth in check.

Knowing how often and when to wash your hands

You should always wash your hands after you’re likely to have come into contact with bacteria, as well as before touching something you might contaminate with any bacteria on your hands.

Some of the most common examples are when:

• Handling food

• Dealing with rubbish

• Using the toilet

• Touching pets

• Sneezing or looking after a sick person

What can be used alongside antibacterial soap to help stop germs?

Going back to hygiene in the home, if you use an effective cleaner like Handy Andy Ultra Hygiene, you’re helping to prevent a lot of the problems by cutting them off at their source. Used on toilets and basins, food preparation surfaces and even toys, it can limit the spread of bacteria.

So there you have it. By increasing your protection from bacteria by regularly cleaning your hands with an antibacterial hand sanitiser, keeping your home hygienic, and knowing when to wash your hands you can make the most of antibacterial soaps and keep your hands – and home – clean and fresh.

• Clean surfaces with Handy Andy Ultra Hygiene

• Wash hands any time you’re coming into contact with bacteria

• Always read the label before trying any antibacterial product

• Use an antibacterial soap on hands to stop bacteria from re-growing quickly