Do hand sanitizers replace handwashing?
No. Both get rid of germs, but in different ways. Handwashing is still the first and most important step for cleaning hands, especially if they are visibly soiled. Handwashing with soap and water pulls the dirt and germs free from the skin, and washes them away. Hand sanitizers are to be used as a supplement to regular, effective handwashing, when water is not readily available, and when hands are not visibly soiled. Applying alcohol-based sanitizers kills germs, but only when there is no visible dirt.
