This Liquid Soap Became Viral on Social Media

Handwashing with liquid soap is an increasingly critical form of personal hygiene. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many diseases are spread by not washing hands with soap and water. Keeping our hands clean and washing them for 20 seconds — the equivalent to the Happy Birthday song — is our best defense against disease-causing germs that are everywhere. The CDC recommends this based on data from various studies. Here are the whys and hows of handwashing.

Antibacterial soap removes or eliminates bacteria that can lead to infections and other transmissible diseases. According to the CDC, handwashing reduces respiratory diseases such as colds in the general population by 16 to 21% and reduces illness in people with weak immune systems by 58%. They are particularly useful for individuals who are at high risk for infection, such as healthcare workers in hospitals or those who take care of sick family members at home. Having antibacterial soap available at schools, malls, and other public restrooms can also help curb the spread of diseases.

Recently, Lifebuoy Hand Wash Total 10 went viral on social media for the #DoTheLifebuoyDanceChallenge, featuring Kathryn Bernardo performing a handwashing dance and encouraging people to do the same. The dance is exactly 20 seconds long, which follows the CDC guidelines for proper washing of hands. The Lifebuoy campaign was a fun, informative, and effective way of showing Filipinos how to do handwashing right.

The CDC also recommends the following handwashing steps:

Wet your hands with clean, running water, turn off the tap, and apply soap.

Build lather by rubbing your hands together. Don’t forget to include the back of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

Keep scrubbing for at least 20 seconds — sing Happy Birthday or do the Lifebuoy dance if you need a timer!

Rinse well and dry hands using a clean towel. Air dry them if a towel is not available.

With Lifebuoy, proper handwashing is halfway done. Lifebuoy Hand Wash Total 10 is an effective handwash that offers 99.9% of germ protection within 10 seconds of washing. It has a unique formula that lathers into a creamy foam that leaves hands feeling clean. It is also free of ingredients that can be harmful or drying to the skin. The liquid hand soap comes in Lemon Fresh and Mild Care variants as well.

Whether with liquid soap, regular soap, or a foamy hand wash, frequent handwashing will minimize your risk for infection from germs. Do it often and do it right — #DoTheLifebuoy while washing as a guide!