Effective hand washing requires which two components?

Effective hand washing is fundamentally based on the use of water and soap. When washing hands, soap plays a critical role in removing dirt, grease, and germs from the skin. The surfactants in soap break down oils, allowing them to be rinsed away with water. Water is essential in this process as it not only helps to rinse away the soap along with any trapped contaminants but also facilitates the overall cleaning action.

While other combinations, such as alcohol and sanitizer, can kill germs, they do not involve the physical removal of dirt and debris in the same comprehensive manner as the combination of water and soap does. Alcohol-based sanitizers are useful as a supplemental method when soap and water are not available, but they do not replace the thorough cleansing achieved through effective hand washing with soap and water.