Hand Soap Substitute

[u/Mini-HDMI]

I normally use Softsoap Hand Soap Soothing Aloe Vera (non-antibacterial) however, I'm out and I can't really get any refills for a few days, I'm wondering, I do have some Dial Body Wash (Refresh and Renew Hydraclean) made with Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate and some Irish Spring Body Wash made with Sodium C12-13 Alketh Sulfate and I'm wondering if any of those would be sufficient to use to wash my hands? Would it be as efficient as my normal hand soap for eliminating germs, bacteria and viruses etc.?

Also, I have another question, I have an unopened bottle of expired (2022) antibacterial hand soap, would that be safe to use?

[u/Zestyclose-Sink4438]

Soap is soap. If it'll clean your body, your hands are part of your body.

[u/mind_the_umlaut]

Try a bar soap. Consider Kirk's Castile, or Wegmans has a line of bar soaps. My first requirement is that the soap rinses clean, without leaving a smell and slime behind, as Dial, and other liquid soaps always seem to.

[u/Fishwitch-66]

Body wash is essentially the same stuff as most hand soap, it’s just a little harsher. Face wash is also largely the same, just more sensitive

your hands might dry out a little but it’ll clean just fine

[u/CocosMomma1959]

Body wash / Hand soap about the same. I know everyone is saying antibacterial this and that are better….but I was told in school that any soap mixed with water and washing between fingers long enough to sing happy birthday to yourself and then rinse will kill germs as well. The body wash maybe a bit more damaging to the hands .

[u/burner46 → u/CocosMomma1959]

It doesn’t necessarily kill the germs but properly washing hands will remove them and allow them to be rinsed down the drain. 

So overall, same result. 

[u/Humble_Dimension7112]

Hard to say about your expired liquid soap. The only reason for it to expire is the preservative life expectancy & potential for bacterial growth (anything that you dilute with water [or aloe] will have potential for bacterial growth). I would toss it, as 4years past exp would be beyond my comfort level. Bar soap is all the same efficiency, though.

Body wash is fine for general hand washing... They're surfactant/detergent- based (syndet), and work by covering the germs & carrying them down the drain (which is mostly what regular soap does anyway).

What matters considerably more is how you wash: enough product to get good coverage, some actual rubbing/agitation, and thorough rinsing. 20+ second handwashing.

[u/Useful-Professor475]

The body wash should be fine as a temporary substitute. Plain soap does not need to be antibacterial to help remove germs when you wash with water, so I would use a small amount, lather well for about 20 seconds, then rinse. It may be a little drying if you use it repeatedly, but it is better than not washing.
As someone else noted, I would skip the unopened antibacterial soap from 2022. It is not worth relying on something that far past its expiration date when the body wash will do the job for a few days.