How does washing hands maintain good hygiene?
Washing hands is one of the most important steps in preventing the spread of germs. Germs attach to hands when we touch any contaminated object. Contaminated hands become vehicles for germs to enter the body. Can washing with water remove germs from the skin? Washing hands with tap water can help to remove salts and water-soluble compounds. However, most often, dirt contains oily residues that repel water. Germs trapped in oily dirt cannot be washed with just water. How good is washing hands with plain soap and water? Use of soap and water is a good hygienic practice to clean hands. Detergent action of soap washes oily residues. Washing hands with soap may still leave a large population of bacteria on the skin. Sometimes, the soap itself may be contaminated with bacteria. That is why some soaps have antibacterial chemicals. How good is antibacterial soap for killing germs on hands? Antibacterial chemicals in soap ensure that the soap does not support the growth of bacteria. Antibacteri
