Think of the sink when you want to ward off illness-causing germs.

Hand wipes have gained popularity recently, but plain old soap and water may eradicate germs much more effectively, recent research suggests. Anti-microbial hand wipes killed significantly less hand bacteria than hand washing did in a study.

Hand wipes and alcohol rubs may not do the trick when it comes to keeping hands clean. At the very least, you should wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before every meal and after every trip to the restroom. Viruses are sturdy little particles that can cause illnesses such as hepatitis A, colds, the flu, gastroenteritis, and other ailments. Washing hands often is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of some of these illnesses. When you don't have access to soap and water, alcohol rubs and hand wipes may offer some protection against certain infectious agents.