Washing hands with an antibacterial soap results in reduced bacterial growth on the skin than when washing with plain soap, because a very small amount of the antibacterial ingredient remains on the skin after rinsing to control the growth of bacteria. Dishwashing liquids that are also antibacterial hand cleansers provide protection to the skin when they're used as one would use a liquid hand soap. Both laboratory and clinical tests are used to evaluate the effectiveness of antibacterial soaps. Laboratory Tests Laboratory tests measure the ability of the antibacterial ingredient, alone or in a formulated product, to kill a wide variety of microorganisms. In a typical test, millions of microorganisms are exposed to the test sample for a period of time, after which the reaction is stopped and the number of surviving organisms determined.
Effectiveness is determined by the number of organisms killed.
Clinical Tests Controlled studies are also conducted that simulate various handwashing experiences. Studies indicate that the average level of germs found on skin with regular use of an antibacterial soap is significantly lower than when washing with plain soap . . 1.Wet your hands with warm running water. Add soap, then rub hands together to make a lather. Wash the front and back of your hands, between fingers and under nails.