Is There Really Any Differences, Between Anti-Bacterial Hand Soaps, Regular Hand Soaps, and Anti-Bacterial Hand Sanitizers?

 

By: Stephanie B.

 

The purpose of this experiment is to compare the pH level of a regular hand soap, an anti-bacterial hand soap, and an anti-bacterial hand sanitizer,and to determine which is most effective in killing bacteria. To comparethe pH level of the regular hand soap, anti-bacterial hand soap, an anti-bacterial hand sanitizer, a pH levelindicator was used to determin their pH level.
Ten different petri dishes were labeled into four equal parts.
Dilute the soaps and add ten sterile disks to each of the soaps and distilledwater for ten minutes. Remove disks and place on lids of dishes to dry.Spread bacteria onto the petri dishes. Place one sterile disk from each soap and distilled water, in each quadrant and tape close. Place petri dishesinto an incubator for 48 hours, or however long needed. Use a zone ofinhibition ruler to measure bacteria killed Dial, with the lowest pH level, killed the most bacteria. Ivory with the second lowest pH level killed less bacteria than Dial but more that Purell. Purell with the highest pH level killed the least bacteria. The key ingredient Triclosan, which inhibits the growth of bacteria, isn't present in Ivory or Purell, but is present in Dial. Triclosan makes the mostsignificant difference in the soaps effectiveness in fighting bacteria. The pH levels may indirectly have an effect on which soap will kill the most bacteria. Use Dial, over Purell and Ivory, because it succeeds in killing bacteria most effectively.