Hand Soap & Sanitiser
Hand soap and sanitiser are the handwashing and hand-sanitising products fitted at every commercial washroom and kitchen handwash station, a basic hygiene requirement for pubs, cafes, hotels, schools, commercial kitchens and care homes under UK food safety and welfare regulations. Dispensing format (bulk-fill vs cartridge) and antibacterial versus standard soap formula separate the options.
Key specifications
Commercial hand soap is typically supplied in 1-5 litre bottles, with 5-litre containers the bulk-fill standard for high-footfall washrooms, refilled into wall-mounted dispensers to control cost per use. Alcohol-based hand sanitiser gels, commonly 60-70% alcohol content for effective antibacterial action, are widely used as a supplementary measure in care homes and food-prep entry points alongside standard handwashing.
Hand Soap & Sanitiser — FAQs
Is antibacterial soap required in commercial kitchens?
Standard liquid soap combined with proper handwashing technique (20+ seconds) is generally sufficient for food hygiene compliance, though many kitchens choose antibacterial formulas as an added precaution, particularly around raw food handling stations.
Should hand sanitiser be used instead of soap and water in a care home?
Sanitiser is a useful supplement, especially at entry points and between resident contacts, but it doesn’t replace proper soap-and-water handwashing, which remains essential before food handling and after using the washroom.
Brands typical of this category include Jantex, the leading range, with Rubbermaid and SCJ Professional also well represented, widely used across care home and hotel washrooms.