The Best Hand Soap
![Ben Murray](/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ben-murray.jpg")
Expert BioExpert Bio
Ben’s formal training and certifications in cleaning include the ASD (Advanced Structural Drying), AMRT (Applied Microbial Remediation Technician),
WRT (Water restoration technician), CCT (Carpet Cleaning technician), and bio hazard cleanup, as well as several other certifications from the IICRC. Ben has managed teams involved in cleaning projects around the United States. Ben’s passion for cleaning dates all the way back to keeping his rugby gear tidy while a young lad. Ben holds an undergraduate degree from Oxford, a Master’s degree from Oxford, and a mountain of hands on experience at the school of hard knocks.
WRT (Water restoration technician), CCT (Carpet Cleaning technician), and bio hazard cleanup, as well as several other certifications from the IICRC. Ben has managed teams involved in cleaning projects around the United States. Ben’s passion for cleaning dates all the way back to keeping his rugby gear tidy while a young lad. Ben holds an undergraduate degree from Oxford, a Master’s degree from Oxford, and a mountain of hands on experience at the school of hard knocks.
The Cleaning Institute
How many times a day do you wash your hands? It adds up to a lot, hopefully! Washing with the right soap keeps you healthy and germ free, so you should be particular about choosing the soap that you use when washing your hands.
Our testers washed their hands over and over to find the BEST hand soaps out there. Gone are the days of only having bars of soap available to wash your hands. Now you can use liquid soap to wash your hands effectively.
Our reviewers were amazed at all of the different hand soap options that are available today. From foaming bubbles to antibacterial to all different scents, they tested them to find the best choices for you. Needless to say, they have very clean hands!
After all of this research we recommend Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Hand Soap as our top pick.
We gave honorable mention to Method Foaming Hand Soap, Sea Minerals, and recommend Puracy Natural Liquid Hand Soap as our green pick, the environmentally friendly option.
Testing Categories
Smell – Consumers want their hands to smell nice. Our testers found that some hand soaps had mild fragrances that were very subtle, while others were strong and overwhelming on the testers’ hands. In general, the testers tended to like the milder smelling hand soaps.
Power – All of the hand soaps were tested on how well they removed the dirt from our testers hands without causing irritation or excessive dryness.
Packaging – The size and shape of the bottle and the mechanics of the pump used to dispense the soap was studied and considered in our research.
Price — When looking at price, we considered the price per ounce in our research.
Top Pick
Mrs. Meyer’s
Clean Day
Hand Soap
We loved this hand soap, it scored well above the other soaps tested, across all categories, making it our top pick in the hand soap category.
Testers liked the smell of this soap. It was subtle, yet very pleasant. They also liked the consistency of the soap, it didn’t leave a slimy residue on their hands, and in fact made their hands feel soft and supple. They commented that the soap itself and the packaging gives off a very high quality image, which is important to some testers because most people leave hand soap out on a sink where visiting guests can be using it. Some testers did not like the fact that the soap did not foam a lot when the pump was pushed. And others had issues with the way the pump worked.
Most notable upside: Testers were impressed with the subtle smell of the hand soap, moisturizing benefits, and the high quality impression that the soap gives off.
Biggest downsides: Some testers had issues with the mechanism of the pump not functioning correctly.
Honorable Mention
Method
Foaming
Hand Soap
Our testers found that Method Foaming Hand Soap was rated high across the board, earning it second place among the other hand soaps in this category.
Testers commented on how much they loved the smell of this soap. They also liked the way their hands felt after washing. Several commented that the hand soap was refreshing. And one even called it “uplifting”. The general consensus was that the hand soap cleaned well, was gentle on skin, and did not dry out their hands. They liked that it was a foaming formula, because they felt that it cleaned better because of the bubbles. Some complained about leaky pumps, and that sometimes the pump does not dispense the hand soap correctly.
Most notable upside: Testers loved the light, fresh scent and the foaming formula.
Biggest downsides: Some testers experienced leaking pumps, or pumps that didn’t function properly.
Green Pick
Puracy Natural
Liquid
Hand Soap
Our testers thought that Puracy Natural Liquid Hand Soap was the best environmentally friendly hand soap option. They loved the smell of lavender and vanilla, and the fact that it is all natural and therefore safe for all kinds of skin. They were impressed with the cleaning power of this hand soap and liked the thick consistency as well as the foaminess of the soap.
It’s hypoallergenic too, so testers said they weren’t worried about getting a rash or irritation from the soap. They actually found that it worked well with all types of skin. Testers commented on how soft their hands felt after using this brand of hand soap. Some people had issues with the pump not working correctly.
Most notable upside: The combination of environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic, and the fact that the testers’ hands were so soft after using this hand soap.
Biggest downsides: Some people complained about the pump not functioning.
All Our Picks
Green Pick
Puracy Natural
Liquid
Hand Soap
Our testers thought that Puracy Natural Liquid Hand Soap was the best environmentally friendly hand soap option. They loved the smell of lavender and vanilla, and the fact that it is all natural and therefore safe for all kinds of skin. They were impressed with the cleaning power of this hand soap and liked the thick consistency as well as the foaminess of the soap.
FAQs about Washing Hands
Q. Is washing hands with soap more effective than just using water?
A. Absolutely! Washing your hands with soap is much more effective than just using water. If you do not have access to soap, rinsing hands with water is better than not doing anything, but to get dirt and germs from your hands, it is much better to use soap when washing.
Q. When should you wash your hands?
A. You should make sure you wash your hands frequently — especially after going to the bathroom, or changing a child’s diaper, and before preparing or eating food.
The U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends that you wash your hands after touching pet food, after handling an animal, after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose, and after touching garbage.
Q. What is the correct way to wash hands?
A. You should use soap and running water. First you wet your hands, then put soap all over your hands and scrub well (palms, back of hands, in between your fingers, and under your fingernails) for at least 20 seconds, and then rinse well and dry using a clean towel. Some people say that you should sing “Happy Birthday” twice, to make sure you are washing for a long enough time.
Q. What water temperature should I use to wash my hands?
A. Generally warm water is better to wash your hands with, especially when you are preparing food.
Q. Are hand sanitizers as effective as be used instead of handwashing with soap?
Hand sanitizers can be used in situations when you don’t have access to water and soap. But handwashing with soap is always better because hand sanitizers do not remove dirt.
Q. Bar soap vs. liquid hand soap, which is better?
This is a common question providing lots of debate about which form of soap is better. Studies showed that bar soaps that were used often by multiple people contained more potentially harmful microbes.
When you wash your hands with water and a bar of soap, the fats in the soap break down and lather. Since water can’t remove all of the bacteria, some of the bacteria remains on the bar of soap when you are done. Rinsing off the bar will get rid of most of that bacteria. Bar soaps in public places can have lots of bacteria on the bar from lots of people. Of course, less people would be using a bar of soap in your home, so there would be less bacteria on a bar of soap at your home.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends that liquid soap reduces the risk of spreading germs. But, refilling liquid hand soap and using the same soap dispenser can also spread germs. Therefore, you should throw away the liquid hand soap dispenser after using it.
Some people say that you should use a combination of liquid and bar soap, but the CDC does not think that offers consumers any additional benefits.
Q. Is washing hands with soap more effective than just using water?
A. Absolutely! Washing your hands with soap is much more effective than just using water. If you do not have access to soap, rinsing hands with water is better than not doing anything, but to get dirt and germs from your hands, it is much better to use soap when washing.
Q. When should you wash your hands?
A. You should make sure you wash your hands frequently — especially after going to the bathroom, or changing a child’s diaper, and before preparing or eating food.
The U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends that you wash your hands after touching pet food, after handling an animal, after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose, and after touching garbage.
Q. What is the correct way to wash hands?
A. You should use soap and running water. First you wet your hands, then put soap all over your hands and scrub well (palms, back of hands, in between your fingers, and under your fingernails) for at least 20 seconds, and then rinse well and dry using a clean towel. Some people say that you should sing “Happy Birthday” twice, to make sure you are washing for a long enough time.
Q. What water temperature should I use to wash my hands?
A. Generally warm water is better to wash your hands with, especially when you are preparing food.
Q. Are hand sanitizers as effective as be used instead of handwashing with soap?
Hand sanitizers can be used in situations when you don’t have access to water and soap. But handwashing with soap is always better because hand sanitizers do not remove dirt.
Q. Bar soap vs. liquid hand soap, which is better?
This is a common question providing lots of debate about which form of soap is better. Studies showed that bar soaps that were used often by multiple people contained more potentially harmful microbes.
When you wash your hands with water and a bar of soap, the fats in the soap break down and lather. Since water can’t remove all of the bacteria, some of the bacteria remains on the bar of soap when you are done. Rinsing off the bar will get rid of most of that bacteria. Bar soaps in public places can have lots of bacteria on the bar from lots of people. Of course, less people would be using a bar of soap in your home, so there would be less bacteria on a bar of soap at your home.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends that liquid soap reduces the risk of spreading germs. But, refilling liquid hand soap and using the same soap dispenser can also spread germs. Therefore, you should throw away the liquid hand soap dispenser after using it.
Some people say that you should use a combination of liquid and bar soap, but the CDC does not think that offers consumers any additional benefits.
Buyer’s Guide for the Best Liquid Hand Soap
Below are some factors that can help you choose which liquid soap to buy. There are so many options available to you, and this makes it easier for you to narrow it down.
Ingredients
Are natural products important to you? Some hand soaps are made solely from plant-derived and hypoallergenic products. If you have sensitive skin, this may be important. For some people who don’t have sensitive skin, the extra cost associated with these types of soap may not be worth it.
Size
You usually will get a better price per ounce if you opt for a larger sized bottle, or a package that has numerous bottles included. It can also be more convenient to lessen the number of times you run to the store. If you are trying a new type of hand soap, and aren’t sure if you will like it, you may want to consider a smaller size bottle for the first time.
Features
Of course, you want liquid hand soap to clean your hands first and foremost. But many manufacturers are also combining other features like moisturizing and antibacterial soaps. Choose your smell wisely. Hand soaps get a lot of use, and you want to like the smell that you are using.
Conclusion
Choose the soap that works best for you and your family. Hand soap is great for kids, or people on the go, and is very important at keeping your family healthy. Hand soaps are an important product to keep in all of your bathrooms, and your kitchen too. Washing hands is important to avoid family members getting sick, and spreading germs.