Our Soaper Heroes resources form a crucial part of the Lifebuoy handwashing behaviour change programme. As children develop during their primary school years, they embed learnings and behaviours about how to look after themselves and others. In turn, they can take new behaviours back to their homes and wider communities.

Even before Covid-19 struck the UK, there was a need to support schools in the delivery of education on personal health and hygiene, particularly around handwashing. Indeed, 38.2 million school days were lost in the UK between 2018-2019 due to illness.

Our Lifebuoy Soaper Heroes programme builds on experience gathered from our global schools programme, along with advice from UK public health experts and school teachers. It is designed to blend science with fun content and the resources include films, experiments, songs, stickers, a calendar and a pledge, all presented by our cartoon Soaper Heroes characters.

On 15th October, Global Handwashing Day, we teamed up with NHS Doctor, Dr Ranj Singh, to give a lesson on hand hygiene in the biggest nationwide assembly. 375 schools and over 100,000 children across the UK joined in to learn the role handwashing plays. Watch Dr Ranj’s assembly on how handwashing can help prevent the spread of viruses such as colds, flu and COVID-19.

Which Lifebuoy product to use and when?

Before we begin on which is the best hand wash to use and when, let’s discuss why having the right hand hygiene products matter. Hand hygiene is vitally important in our efforts to stop the spread of germs and bacteria. Lifebuoy’s mission, around the globe, is to improve hand hygiene habits in both children and adults.

Knowing, which is the best hand wash for you, when and how to use hand sanitiser, what to look for in a hand sanitiser and other such related questions are all as important as knowing how long to wash your hands for. Here is Lifebuoy’s guide of which hand hygiene products are best for different everyday scenarios.

Protect yourself on Public Transport 

Public transport, like trains and buses, are a hotspot for germs and bacteria. Without an immediate water source available, finding better-suited ways to keep your hands protected from germs and bacteria is key. By being aware of your hands: what they touch, who they greet and where they go; slowly over the course of time, hand hygiene will become second nature.

Often, we absent-mindedly touch our face, eyes or nose; once you’ve boarded and before you settle into your seat, make sure to sanitise your hands using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that kills 99.9% of bacteria. That way, you can daydream worry-free. 

Travel prepared 

Having your own personal hygiene kit helps you to stay prepared. If you know you have a journey ahead of you that involves taking public transport, or simply entering often crowded public spaces, a handy (pardon the pun) travel-size hand sanitiser is a helpful and immediate solution for cleaning your hands. Like a 50ml hand sanitiser or pocket-size bottle. Paired with antibacterial hand wipes which are best used on frequently touched surfaces like bus handles and chairs, you’ll have what you need to be ‘A’ for away (and antibacterial).

What’s the difference between hand sanitiser spray and gel? 
 
Simply put? Application or maybe it’s just your personal preference. The Lifebuoy Hand Sanitiser Spray is formulated with 72% alcohol. The hand sanitiser spray offers quick application in a conveniently sized bottle but is only available in a smaller 75ml, whereas our hand sanitiser gel comes in a family-sized 250ml bottle as well. All three kill 99.9% of bacteria and germs and offer different conveniences to suit your needs throughout your day.

The best hand wash – what am I looking for?

For a hygienic and thorough clean, make sure the hand wash you bring home kills 99.9% of bacteria and germs. An alcohol-based solution is most effective when it comes to leaving your hands clean. Lifebuoy’s Hygiene Hand Wash has a pH skin neutral anti-bacterial formula and is infused with Pine and Thyme oil. So, it’s not harsh in smell or sensation.

If your skin is slightly sensitive and you battle with dry or cracked hands, then choose a caring hand wash that has a formula that moisturises as well as disinfects your hands. If you continue to struggle with dry or chapped skin, then add an antibacterial hand moisturiser to your basket. 

Is Antibacterial hand cream really necessary?

Cracked skin is both uncomfortable and a place for germs and bacteria to hide. An antibacterial hand moisturiser gives you the restorative power of a moisturiser with a cleansing solution that kills 99.9% of bacteria and germs. Helping your hands to heal while staying hygienically clean, it’s the best of both and the perfect companion during these colder months. 

Knowing what product works for both your skincare needs as well as the demands of your daily life will help you better prepare to stop the spread of germs and bacteria. Keep your hand hygiene products with you at all times and if you touch it, be sure to wash it and bish, bash, bosh it. 

Cracked skin is both uncomfortable and a place for germs and bacteria to hide. An antibacterial hand moisturiser gives you the restorative power of a moisturiser with a cleansing solution that kills 99.9% of bacteria and germs. Helping your hands to heal while staying hygienically clean, it’s the best of both and the perfect companion during these colder months. 

Knowing what product works for both your skincare needs as well as the demands of your daily life will help you better prepare to stop the spread of germs and bacteria. Keep your hand hygiene products with you at all times and if you touch it, be sure to wash it and bish, bash, bosh it. 

What to Have in Your Personal Hygiene Kit

A personal hygiene kit is a useful collection of personal care items dedicated to helping you stop the spread of germs. Being prepared to hygienically clean your hands at any moment in your day helps to protect both yourself and others from the spread of germs. As part of Lifebuoy’s mission to teach better hand hygiene practices to people of all ages, here are 4 essential products, from antibacterial hand cream to antibacterial wipes, to have in your personal hygiene kit so you’re prepared at home or on the go.

 
Why do I need a hygiene kit? 

Having your own hygiene kit, ready and packed with the right items, means you are thinking ahead. Wherever you are, whenever you need it, you have a multi-purpose hygiene kit to help you and anyone around you stay hygienically clean.

Preferably, you would want to keep your hygiene products in a toiletries bag that’s easy to travel with. Remember, it’s not just about being conscious of how many frequently touched items you come into contact with, but also people. By sanitising your hands as soon as you get off the bus, you will protect anyone else you come into contact with. 

 
Antibacterial Hand Wash

The World Health Organisations sys that frequent handwashing with soap is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of germs and bacteria. By always having an extra antibacterial hand wash in your personal hygiene kit, you can ensure that every sink in your home will always have antibacterial hand wash ready and waiting when your hands need it most. If you’re planning on staying away from home having an antibacterial hand wash with you wherever you go helps you stay prepared to stop the spread of germs.  

Travel Hand Sanitiser

There isn’t always an opportunity to wash your hands, so for peace of mind, make sure you have travel-friendly hygiene products as on-the-go hand hygiene solutions. Preferably a quick-drying cleansing solution that kills 99.9% of bacteria. A 50ml hand sanitiser gel is perfect for your commute or even as you venture out for your bi-weekly grocery shop.

 
Antibacterial Hand Cream

Constantly sanitising your hands after coming into contact with frequently touched surfaces can lead to dry and cracked hands. Not only are chapped hands uncomfortable, but the cracks can harbour unwanted germs. To protect your hands from germs whilst soothing chapped skin, keep an antibacterial hand cream in your hygiene kit. It’s important to not only cleanse your hands but care for them too. 

 
Antibacterial Wipes

Another way to keep your hands germ-free when there isn’t water and hand soap available to you is with the use of antibacterial hand wipes. In a compact size, antibacterial wipes are easy to keep on you when travelling and provide you with the same effective protection you would get from using antibacterial hand wash. Even better yet, if you’re travelling with young children, antibacterial wipes are an effortless way to wipe sticky fingers before they touch their faces. 

Lifebuoy’s Mission 

Lifebuoy is dedicated to providing people of the nation with effective hand hygiene products that kill 99.9% of bacteria and germs. It’s crucial in our fight against the spread of germs to keep personal hygiene kits stocked and stored away for when you need an extra bit of protection and care. We take public health to heart and with the help of Lifebuoy’s hygiene products, we can stay prepared to care for and protect ourselves – and each other. losh It. Bish Bash Bosh bacteria away.