Maintaining your child’s hand hygiene is more crucial than ever in today’s world, where new health risks emerge every day. You can easily prevent the spread of germs and illnesses caused by these pathogens by cleaning your child’s hands with a handwash or using a sanitiser. These products are crucial in keeping hands clean and free from disease-causing germs, viruses, and bacteria.
So which one should you choose for your kid - hand wash or sanitiser? This article discusses when and how to use each product effectively to ensure your child stays healthy, safe, and happy. Let’s explore the details!
Hand Wash: The usual soap and water
Washing hands with a good Ayurvedic handwash is essential to maintain hygiene in kids. It helps remove dirt, dust, food particles, germs, and excess oil from the skin. The main ingredients of a hand wash are soap and water. However, some foaming handwash can also include herbs, glycerin, aloe vera, antibacterial or antimicrobial agents, and preservatives.
An Ayurvedic handwash is gentle on the skin and is usually free from harsh chemicals. This makes them safe for kids, particularly those with sensitive skin.
Hand Sanitiser: On-the-go hygiene for kids
Hand sanitisers have been around for years. But their popularity skyrocketed after the pandemic. Primarily used for killing germs, hand sanitisers can be alcohol-based or alcohol-free, depending on their active ingredient. Take a small amount of sanitiser and gently rub it on every part of your palms.
The alcohol-infused sanitisers contain 60-95% alcohol in the form of ethanol, isopropanol, or n-propanol. Contrarily, the ones without alcohol have disinfectants like benzalkonium chloride or antimicrobial agents, such as triclosan. Sanitisers also include moisturisers, glycerin, fragrance, etc.
Hand sanitisers are compact, lightweight, and handy, making them perfect for carrying bags or pockets. Unlike handwash, you don’t need water to rinse a sanitiser. Thus offering a mess-free hygiene solution.
When to use handwash vs. hand sanitizer?
A natural foaming handwash is the easiest and most effective way to clean your child’s hands at home or any indoor place with access to clean water. Ensure your child washes their hands after using the washroom, before and after eating their meals, playing outside, and coughing or sneezing. This removes the dirt and bacteria from their tiny hands.
On the other hand, hand sanitiser is ideal when travelling or outdoors when soap and water are not available easily. You can put a hand sanitiser bottle in your kid’s school bag or their pockets. Teach them how to use sanitiser the right way to ensure good hygiene.
Risks of using handwash vs. sanitiser
- A handwash can cause dryness and irritation on your child’s delicate skin when used too frequently. It can easily strip the skin of natural oils present in the skin.
- Similarly, sanitisers can lead to skin dryness and irritation when used incorrectly or frequently. Plus, it does not remove dirt or dust collected on the hands. Also, alcohol-based sanitisers are not considered safe for kids.
Conclusion: What to choose for kids?
Handwash and hand sanitiser are excellent solutions to promote effective hand hygiene in children. Despite the same purpose, it is crucial to understand the difference that exists between the two to ensure you are using them correctly. Further, teach your kids the importance of hand hygiene and motivate them to keep their hands clean using Ayurvedic handwash and sanitisers. However, avoid overuse to protect them from skin problems and other health issues.
