Hibiclens Antiseptic Antimicrobial Skin Cleanser is strong enough to kill some of the toughest hospital germs but gentle enough for routine family hand washing. Hibiclens begins killing germs on contact and continues killing up to 99% of germs for up to 24 hours. Unlike other antibacterial soaps on the market, Hibiclens not only begins killing germs immediately, it bonds with the skin and keeps on killing microorganisms for up to 24 hours, even after washing. Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) provides extended protection against a wide range of bacteria, including staph, strep, salmonella and E. coli. Non CHG antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers offer no lasting defense after the soap is rinsed off or the alcohol has dried. This means that, even after using these products, you're susceptible to germs simply by touching a contaminated surface.