Is Sensitive Hand Wash antibacterial?Updated 2 days ago
TL;DR: Sensitive Hand Wash does not make antibacterial claims. It removes bacteria from the skin surface physically rather than killing it on contact. This is how surfactant-based cleansers work, and it's the basis for global public health handwashing guidance. The formula is safe for kitchen and everyday hand washing.
Is Sensitive Hand Wash antibacterial?
✓ What it does: removes bacteria
Sensitive Hand Wash physically removes bacteria from the skin surface during washing. The surfactants surround bacteria and the oils they cling to, and rinsing carries them away. This is the same removal mechanism that makes handwashing with a cleanser a cornerstone of everyday hygiene.
⚠ What it doesn't claim: killing bacteria
Sensitive Hand Wash is not an antibacterial product and does not make sanitising or disinfectant claims. In Australia, those claims require registration with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Koh does not hold that registration and does not make those claims. If you need a hand sanitiser with a registered kill claim, that's a separate product category.
How does Sensitive Hand Wash physically remove bacteria?
✓ The removal mechanism in three steps
Surround. Surfactant molecules have two ends: one attracted to water, one attracted to oils and fats. They surround bacteria and the oils they cling to on the skin surface.
Dislodge. Lathering and rubbing your hands together physically lifts bacteria away from the skin surface. The mechanical action is a key part of why technique matters.
Rinse away. Water carries the bacteria off the hands and down the drain. They're no longer on your skin. That's the outcome handwashing is designed to achieve.
Is Sensitive Hand Wash safe to use for kitchen hand washing?
Yes. Sensitive Hand Wash is designed for repeated everyday hand washing and is safe at the kitchen sink. It removes bacteria, food residue, and everyday grime effectively through the physical removal mechanism of surfactant-based cleansers.
It is not a food-surface cleaner or sanitiser and is not intended for use directly on food, utensils, or food-prep surfaces. For hand-to-surface contamination control in a food-handling context, a TGA-registered hand sanitiser alongside regular handwashing is the appropriate combination.
Fragrance-free, pH 5.5. HRIPT dermatologically tested. Eczema Association recognised. Made in Australia.
Pairs Sensitive Hand Wash with the refillable Hand Wash Pump. Everything you need to start the refill habit.
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Last reviewed: June 2026 · Koh Australia