As a former ICU registered nurse of 14 years, I am keenly aware of the health benefits of hand washing. Proper hand washing includes applying an appropriate amount of friction between the hands, paying close attention to nailbeds and between fingers, using running water, and taking at least 20 seconds to do so. I have noticed how difficult it has been to find my favorite hand soaps, the ones with the words “anti-bacterial” on them that I assumed were more effective at killing germs that the soaps without that wording. Accordingly to the FDA, I was wrong in that assumption. If you have been operating under the same assumption, read this article, take note of its precautions, and continue to wash your hands under running water for at least 20 seconds–using regular soap and water.