Washing your hands with water and then using rubbing alcohol is not as effective as washing them with soap, especially when it comes to removing certain types of contaminants, including dirt, grease, and certain viruses. Both methods have their benefits and specific use cases:
1. Washing Hands with Soap and Water:
- Effectiveness: Washing hands with soap and water is one of the most effective ways to remove dirt, germs, and most types of viruses and bacteria from your hands. The mechanical action of rubbing and rinsing helps to dislodge and wash away contaminants.
- Use Cases: Soap and water should be the go-to method for hand hygiene when your hands are visibly dirty, after using the restroom, before handling food, or after coughing or sneezing into your hands.
2. Rubbing Alcohol (Hand Sanitizer):
- Effectiveness: Alcohol-based hand sanitizers, with at least 60% alcohol content, are effective at killing many types of germs and viruses when soap and water are not readily available. They work by disrupting the outer membrane of the germs, rendering them inactive.
- Use Cases: Hand sanitizers are suitable for situations where soap and water are not accessible or convenient, such as when traveling, in public places, or before using a piano or other musical instruments where the risk of contamination is relatively low.
Before Using a Piano: Before using a piano or any musical instrument, the most practical and effective method would be to wash your hands with soap and water if they are visibly dirty. This helps to remove any visible contaminants, such as dirt and debris, and ensures a more thorough cleaning.
If your hands are not visibly dirty, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content before playing the piano. This will help reduce the risk of transferring germs, especially if you've been in a public space or touched surfaces that others may have touched.
For high-touch surfaces like pianos or shared musical instruments, it's a good practice to encourage regular hand hygiene, including washing hands with soap and water whenever possible, and using hand sanitizer as a backup when needed. This will help maintain cleanliness and reduce the spread of germs in shared environments.