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Does washing your hands reduce the amount of bacteria on them more than not washing?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Yes, if you wash them correctly with soap/detergent and warm water [see related question below re: how to wash your hands to get rid of germs] or if you use waterless hand sanitizer that is a minimum of 60% alcohol content according to all label directions. Using soap and water and good cleaning processes is more effective than sanitizers, although they are also effective. Studies have shown a reduction by 24 - 77 % of bacteria on hands through good hand washing with soap and water.
The way washing hands with soap and warm water reduces the number of bacteria is threefold:
1. The detergent (most "soap" is actually detergent in today's commercially available products) acts to dissolve and/or remove oils/fats, soil, proteins, and loose skin cells that hold bacteria suspended on or attached to the hands.
2. The friction and warm water physically dislodges and washes away the loosened bacteria down the drain. Warm water is better than cold water because it also helps to loosen the fats and oils better than cold.
3. Drying hands with a clean paper towel removes any residual bacteria present after the sudsing and any that is pooling in the wash water left on your hands after rinsing. It adds more friction to physically remove the bacteria (this is better than using air dryers that dry it in place leaving the residual bacteria behind and better than re-used towels that can put new bacteria back on your clean skin).
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoSome bacteria, but not all can help to be "prevented." There are many different species of bacteria, both good and bad. There are bacteria living inside you even! Bacteria can preform many processes, such as helping to digest things for you! Washing hands can help you to prevent from getting sick by keeping yourself an unlikely thriving environment for bacteria to live.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoYES ... It kills off 99.99% of germs ... over use is not good ... there are mineral that your hand does need and the soap will "kill" the off to ...
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoYes, yes it does.... What type of question was that.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoNo, not all bacterial infections can be prevented by handwashing. Some are spread by airborne transmission or sexual transmission, for instance.
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Is a caress velvet bliss bar of soap antibacterial?
Yes and no. hands have good bacteria on them all the time and bad bacteria too. When you wash your hands with soap and water this is important because it helps greatly reduce the amount of bacteria, viruses, etc., on your hands. It's not really the soap that does the germ destroying, it's the washing of hands with warm water. The water is the most important ingredient Caress Velvet Bliss isn't considered an "antibacterial" soap although using it with water does kill germs on your hands. They do make antibacterial soaps with Triclosan and other antibacterial ingredients. But the most important part is the washing of your hands with warm water and antibacterial soap only does a little bit better job of germ killing.
What layer of skin does the most bacteria live?
The epidermis, as washing your hands with the use of soap and water kills most of the bacteria ON your skin surface.
What kind of materials do you need for does hand sanitizer really reduce the amount of bacteria on your hands?
The kind of materials that ineed is the material of okra or hibiscus esculentus as hand sanitizer.please help me to do this because this is my project.thank you
How does the bacteria get dealt with when in the human body?
by washing your hands. and taking away any sort of dirt/ etc. if it is a bad case then anti-biotics will work. speak to your doctor though.
What is the 1 way to prevent Bacteria?
you can avoid bad bacteria by washing your hands before and after you eat or prepare food; making sure that your doctor washes his/her hands before examination, and avoid touching your eyes, ears, nose and mouth.
How does bacteria begin to form?
by not washing your hands
What are risks of bacteria?
not washing your hands, touching other peoples things and body,
Is a caress velvet bliss bar of soap antibacterial?
Yes and no. hands have good bacteria on them all the time and bad bacteria too. When you wash your hands with soap and water this is important because it helps greatly reduce the amount of bacteria, viruses, etc., on your hands. It's not really the soap that does the germ destroying, it's the washing of hands with warm water. The water is the most important ingredient Caress Velvet Bliss isn't considered an "antibacterial" soap although using it with water does kill germs on your hands. They do make antibacterial soaps with Triclosan and other antibacterial ingredients. But the most important part is the washing of your hands with warm water and antibacterial soap only does a little bit better job of germ killing.
What procedure helps to reduce an outbreak of hepatitis?
Washing hands frequently and thoroughly
What is the reason for washing your hands?
To get rid of all the bacteria so oyou don't get sick
Does hand sanitizer really reduce the amount of bacteria?
i think its about which kind do you use and where u get it from. because if u get it from a dollar store and it not clear its the colored hand sanitizer i don't think that reduce the amount of bacteria on your hands. but if u get it from like Wall mart and its clear the original that probably works but other then that I don't know.
How should you avoid contact with bacteria?
well we just do what the doctor tells us to do-things like washing hands. And remember that there are the influenza around so prevent anything you can by washing washing washing.
What did ignaz semmelweiss do?
He was one of the first doctors to realize that washing the hands can reduce the spread of infection.
What layer of skin does the most bacteria live?
The epidermis, as washing your hands with the use of soap and water kills most of the bacteria ON your skin surface.
Why should you always washing your hands before you eat?
So bacteria dont spread and u get sick
Why you have to wash your hands at 100F?
it basically needs to be hot enough to get of bacteria off your hands and as many as you can washing them allot of times to make sure they are clean
What are some of the guidelines to washing your hands?
Some of the guidelines for washing your hands include a few things. These include warm water, generous amount of soap, getting under the nails, and rubbing all parts of the hands.
