Foaming Handwash. Better or a Marketing Scam?

Euphemistic on 12/10/2021 - 17:23

Foaming handwash seems to be the latest and greatest for washing hands. Is it better for washing or is it a way of selling hand soap that is a larger percentage of water?

I could see that you might use a little less and it’s a bit easier to spread over your hands but is it actually better? Any experts in soap science or hand hygiene care to comment?

I’ve also noticed that the liquid is a lot thinner than regular hand soap, meaning it is probably a higher percent of water. In fact when we ran out I topped up some more traditional liquid soap with water to make it foam out of the pump.

While you seem to be able to by concentrated liquids for laundry and dishwashing, not for hand soaps. Concentrated laundry detergents could be so the supplier can sell a smaller container (shipping costs down) and hope you use more of the special ingredients because you are used to using a lot of the regular product.

Poll Options

  • 7
    It’s actually better for washing hands
  • 42
    It’s just to sell more packages of less soap
  • 7
    No idea, never though about it.
Health & Beauty Hand Wash

Comments

  • ascorbic on 12/10/2021 - 17:35
    +2

    Foaming hand wash doesn't clean as well (unless you use a lot) and is just a gimmick. You will find in clinical and hospital settings that the normal liquid-type hand wash is used (usually Microshield or 3M liquid hand washes).

    • HerpinDerp on 12/10/2021 - 22:14

      What about cutan hand wash??? (I actually really liked it)

      • ascorbic on 12/10/2021 - 23:36

        Not familiar with that particular one but I find most foaming hand washes in shopping centres etc. aren't as effective as liquid ones. I've found that one of the best hand washes is actually the orange one they use at Maccas.

  • Elwes on 12/10/2021 - 17:39

    It's basically what you said - you use a bit less and it's easier to spread over your hands than liquid soap. Would you make the same comparison with a cake of solid soap? Solid would probably be cheapest but the question of value depends on how much time you want to spend working up a lather.

    Just because it's less viscous doesn't mean there's less of the active ingredient. The other stuff could well have thickeners in it that do nothing. But you're probably right that there's more water simply because the big squirt of foam that comes out is equivalent to lathering up a little squirt of liquid soap with some water added.

    • Euphemistic on 12/10/2021 - 18:45
      +3

      Solid soap is certainly not as convenient, but is probably the cheapest way to get the bet value.

      You also end up with that bit at the end that get too small to use and likely thrown away (unless you ozbargain and stick it to the new bar).

  • jjjaar on 12/10/2021 - 17:41
    +7

    I’ve known some people who have chronic excema or psoriasis who find that the foaming options are much gentler on their skin and don’t cause flare ups as much.

    • Baa on 12/10/2021 - 18:39

      I never thought about this but my daughter and I both have eczema and on thinking about it I think this is right. We mainly get it though as it is easier for the kids to use and makes less of a mess than the normal soap liquid.

    • Cyphar on 13/10/2021 - 00:39

      Yep I'm one of those people. Switched to foaming soaps on recommendation and never looked back

  • MeesusEff on 12/10/2021 - 17:43
    +1

    I wash my hands with soap many times a day, I prefer foam soap as it's not as drying.

  • mskeggs on 12/10/2021 - 20:03
    +2

    The foaming ones just have some water already mixed in, and the nozzle shakes it up when you pump.

    For a short page on soap/detergent chemistry, try here:
    https://www.scienceabc.com/eyeopeners/whats-the-difference-b…

    Basically, one end of the molecule sticks to the fats or oils of the stain and the other sticks to the water, and when you shake it up to make it frothy the stain gets pulled off the surface, into the water (so the water gets dirty and the surface gets cleaned).

    I guess the foaming soaps mean a moment less needed to rub your hands, but also means you are paying for water.
    They are fun to squirt, though, and if that encourages kids or adults to wash their hands…

  • jonagrah on 12/10/2021 - 20:21
    +2

    I prefer Solvol.

  • SharedSugar on 12/10/2021 - 21:06

    I found mixing normal handwash 2 to 1 works for me to get the foaming soap.
    You can also buy little tablets that just mix with water to make foaming soap.

  • Mechz on 12/10/2021 - 23:03

    I get one of the Aldi foaming handwash refills because it smells like my mums party punch.

    Also it's much better for cleaning my glasses as the liquid soap smears and leaves reside on the lenses.

  • ProlapsedHeinous on 12/10/2021 - 23:36

    I see it as a win win. buy their foaming dispenser and water down regular hand soap and you get way more cheap soap bang for your buck. they are trying to make as much money as possible, why not leverage their foam dispenser to make your money go further too.

  • dcuksuop on 13/10/2021 - 00:56
    +1

    I bought a few foaming bottles, and fill them with Dr Bronners. A large bottle of that stuff lasts forever.

  • KaTst3R on 13/10/2021 - 01:40
    +3

    Just dilute down normal liquid soap with water and you get the base for foaming soap.

  • TEER3X on 13/10/2021 - 08:30

    As others have said, to an empty foaming hand soap dispenser, add water first, then regular hand soap

    I do 2/3 water, 1/3 hand soap, others prefer closer to 50/50

  • Euphemistic on 16/10/2021 - 12:08

    Thanks all. Seems that the majority think along the same lines. Someone at a soap company figured out that selling more water is much easier when the soap comes out of the pump all foamy.

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