Hands Down, It's Soap

(HealthDayNews) -- Ever wondered how much soap contributes to dirt removal?

Neca Chemicals Ltd. in Tikva, Israel, studied the question and reported the results in the International Journal of Dermatology.

The researchers found that rinsing with water alone removes about 29 percent of the dirt on your hands. The effects of using soap depends on the brand, but the average soap will normally remove 75 percent to 80 percent of the dirt in a single washing.