8 Things We Do to Avoid Germs That Are Basically Useless

7. Using hand sanitizers all the time

While these gels are quite handy when you don’t have any bathroom near by to use soap and water, way too much sanitizing with these products may actually be bad for your health, Ghildayal says.

“While many hand sanitizers have been found to be just as effective as hand-washing,” she says, “overuse can cause your natural skin bacteria to be stripped away, and that leaves you more vulnerable to other bacteria.”