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Fear of germs drives demand for liquid soaps in local market
Patience Njue buys her monthly supply of antibacterial liquid soap at a Nairobi supermarket. Photo/SARAH OOKO
What you need to know:
With an increase in infectious diseases and awareness on their causes, most people began fearing germs or bacteria associated with ailments such as pneumonia and diarrhoea. Consequently, this led to an increase in demand for antibacterial liquid soaps.
For a long time, most Kenyans simply relied on normal soaps to clean hands and maintain hygiene. Any mention of antibacterial substances would bring to mind antiseptics used to clean wounds or disinfect surfaces.
Thus, people simply stuck to ordinary soap unless they were nursing injuries or skin diseases.
“But things changed. With an increase in infectious diseases and awareness on their causes, most people began fearing germs or bacteria associated with ailments such as pneumonia and diarrhoea. Consequently, this led to an increase in demand for antibacterial liquid soaps,” says Dr Issak Elmi, chemicals expert and chief research officer at the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema).
As such, most soap manufacturing companies have exploited this fear to increase sales of their antibacterial liquid hand washes which are extensively marketed as “killing 99 per cent of germs and keeping families, especially children safe,” he said.
People also like antibacterial liquid hand washes for a myriad of other reasons.
“They are easy to use as you just press the lid or button of the bottle or dispenser containing it and the liquid comes out. While with a bar soap, you have to physically pick it up from the sink, rub it on palms then rinse for long to get rid of the slimy feeling left on hands after using it,” notes Maureen Anyango, a Nairobi resident.
She adds that the hand washes are appealing to the eye as they come in various attractive colours such as pink, green and purple.
“It feels good to look at them,” says Ms Anyango.
Patience Njue, a consumer adds: “I prefer the antibacterial liquid soaps. The traditional bar soaps can become messy especially since they keep sliding into the sink. Some people also forget to rinse them and leave bar soaps with brown streaks of mud after use. And if the soap dish is not good enough, water accumulates at the bottom and begins dissolving the bar soaps making it disgusting to touch.
Since they are fairly easy to wash off, says Ms Njue; “I was told that they prevent hands from ageing fast as you don’t need to rub your palms for long after using these liquid soaps.”
In addition, some Kenyans just buy antibacterial liquid soaps to “fit in” after they notice that fellow peers stock them in their households.
“You wouldn’t want to feel left out and old school just because you are stuck up with bar soaps on your sink,” says Jane Wanjiru, a housewife.
Dr Elmi notes that a large number of antibacterial liquid soaps are mostly sold in urban centres.
“Therefore residents of these places are the ones likely to bear the greatest disease burden associated with triclosan and triclocarban that are contained in the soaps.”
Similarly, he notes that antibacterial liquid soaps are also common among middle-class consumers who can afford them since they cost more than ordinary bar soaps.
