The Economic Times

In 2005, researchers revealed why plain soap outperformed waterless sanitizers in keeping hands clean

Hand sanitizer is a valuable tool that can reduce many germs quickly, but it does not physically remove dirt and debris the way soap does. Washing with plain soap combines chemistry, friction, and running water to clean the skin more completely in many everyday situations. For millions of people, that simple routine remains one of the easiest and most effective ways to support personal health and reduce the spread of infectious diseases. Sometimes, the most powerful health habits are also the most familiarand a bar of ordinary soap continues to prove that everyday solutions can make an extraordinary difference.