If there’s one habit that’s good for everyone’s health, it’s hand washing. But is hand sanitizer just as good as soap and water? Maybe not. Hand sanitizers:

•  Do not get rid of all germs.

•  Don’t work well when hands have dirt or grease on them.

•  May not remove dangerous chemicals, like pesticides and heavy metals.

Hand washing does all these things — when you use soap and water and scrub for at least 20 seconds.

Use hand sanitizer when you can’t get soap and water. But always choose the sink and soap when you can!

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention