Hand sanitizer vs. handwashing: Which is best for preventing the spread of germs?
Athanasios Melisiotis of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about the efficacy of hand sanitizer. “Hand sanitizer may kill viruses and certain bacteria, but it does not ‘clean’ your hands like soap and water do,” he said. “Sanitizer doesn’t remove actual dirt and debris. Soap kills germs, binds them, and helps physically remove them, with the water, off your skin and down the drain.”