Best hand soap brands in Australia
Aussies have picked their favourite hand soap brands in terms of value for money, effectiveness, scent and packaging design.
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Best Rated Hand soap Brand: Dettol
Taking out two categories this year, Dettol was also named the best hand soap brand. Keeping on top of hand hygeine has never been more important and Dettol was top rated overall as well as for its effectiveness and scent.
The best hand soap brands in Australia
- Top-rated hand soap brand: Dettol
- Best hand soap brand for value for money: Tricare (ALDI)
- Best hand soap brand for effectiveness: Dettol
- Best hand soap brand for scent: Dettol
- Best hand soap brand for packaging design: Dettol
How did we choose the winners?
The 2020 Finder Retail Awards recognise brand sentiment from customer feedback on different retail product categories. Finder worked with leading data, insights and consulting company, Kantar to conduct thousands of customer interviews around their product purchasing history and satisfaction with their purchased products.
Top-rated hand soap brand: Dettol
- Comes in different sizes up to 1 litre
- Offers wide range of products, including hand wipes and disinfectants
- Cruelty-free options available
eBay price: Check site for current pricing
Where to buy
Buy at eBayBuy at Chemist WarehouseDettol was first used by doctors in 1933. The brand has since grown and started offering disinfectant and antiseptic to consumers.
Dettol hand soaps come in different sizes, ranging from 250ml bottles to 1-litre refills. The brand also sells body washes, hand wipes and multipurpose sprays. Cruelty-free options are also available.
Best hand soap brand for value for money: Tricare (ALDI)
- Comes in various scents and sizes
- Soothing and moisturising options available
- Offers a wide selection of products from pantry staples to household disinfectants
Where to buy
ALDI
ALDI's Tricare hand soaps come in different sizes and scents, including lavender, aloe and chamomile, and milk and honey. The brand also offers hand soaps that are soothing, calming and moisturising.
ALDI is a supermarket chain found in over 20 countries. It offers a wide range of products all at discounted prices. Some of the brand's dairy, poultry and produce offerings are sourced in Australia. ALDI also recycles 96% of all plastic packaging used in its stores.
Best hand soap brand for effectiveness: Dettol
- Dermatologically tested
- Kills 99.99% of germs
- Some hand soaps are free from SLS, SLES and parabens
eBay price: Check site for current pricing
Where to buy
Buy at eBayBuy at Chemist WarehouseBoth hand soaps and hand sanitisers from Dettol promise to kill 99.99% of bacteria. Some of the brand's products are made with active substances that are bactericidal. Dettol also offers products with plant-based active ingredients that effectively fight germs.
Dettol is committed to educating children about the importance of handwashing. The brand also partners with organisations like Save The Children to reach mums in places where germ-protection is a huge part of everyday activities.
Best hand soap brand for scent: Dettol
- Wide range of scents available
- Some hand soaps are made in Australia
- Offers products that are gentle on the skin
eBay price: Check site for current pricing
Where to buy
Buy at eBayBuy at Chemist WarehouseDettol offers a wide range of hand soap scents, including rose and cherry in bloom, jasmine, citrus and rose. They are also dermatologically tested.
Hand soaps from the Parents Approved line are free from harsh chemical residues, dyes and synthetic fragrance. Some variants are also free from parabens, SLS and SLES. Dettol also offers hand soaps that are suitable for kids 12 months old and up.
Best hand soap brand for packaging design: Dettol
- No-touch hand washing system available
- Hand soaps from the Parent Approved line are free from synthetic fragrance and dyes
- Offers travel-friendly hand sanitisers
eBay price: Check site for current pricing
Where to buy
Buy at eBayBuy at Chemist WarehouseApart from regular hand soaps, the brand offers a no-touch hand washing system that helps avoid cross-contamination while cooking. Dettol's antibacterial house-grade disinfectant has also been tested effective against the COVID-19 virus on hard surfaces.
Dettol is committed to making its products more sustainable. The brand continuously looks into enhancing the recyclability of materials like tubes, PVC blisters, composites and pumps. It also aims to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.
Amazon prices last updated on 29 June, 2022 at 04:25 ameBay prices last updated on 29 June, 2022 at 03:52 am
Methodology
The 2020 Finder Retail Awards recognise brand sentiment from customer feedback on different retail product categories. Finder worked with leading data, insights and consulting company, Kantar to conduct thousands of customer interviews around their product purchasing history and satisfaction with their purchased products.
Disclaimer: Please refer to our methodology for more information on how we scored and judged Finder Retail Awards candidates. While we endeavour to assess the majority of product providers in the market, this is not always possible and it may be that not every brand in the market was included for judging.
Compare more top hand soaps
Looking for more options? Our editorial team read hundreds of real customer reviews sites including Amazon Australia, Google Reviews and productreview.com.au to curate the list below.
Dettol Lemon and Lime Antibacterial Hand Wash
- Kills 99.99% of germs
- Dermatologically tested
- Still not the cheapest option available
- Some other brands also offer cheaper refills
Why we chose it
Dettol Lemon and Lime Antibacterial Hand Wash has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 from 9 Chemist Warehouse customer reviews, plus a 4.7 average rating from 15 Amazon reviews (6 x 250mL pack), is our pick as the best budget option.
Available online for less than $2 per 250mL bottle, it's not the cheapest hand wash available but is still at an affordable price point. Dettol claims this hand wash can kill 99.99% of germs without water, while it's also dermatologically tested and pH balanced to be soft on skin.
950mL refill bottles are available when your pump runs dry.
Dettol Rose and Cherry in Bloom Foam Hand Wash
- Kills 99.9% germs
- 900mL refills available
- Some people prefer liquid hand wash
- Contains sodium laureth sulfate (not great for sensitive skin)
Why we chose it
This foaming hand wash from Dettol has a score of 4.9 out of 5 from 9 Chemist Warehouse customer reviews, plus an average of 4.8 out of 5 from 10 Amazon customer reviews.
Commonly priced at around $2.50 per 250mL bottle, this antibacterial formula is designed to kill 99.9% of germs. It's dermatologically tested and has a claimed shelf life of 730 days.
The Rose and Cherry in Bloom is also well liked by reviewers, while you can pick up a 900mL refill pack for around $7.
Sukin Cleansing Hand Wash
- Designed to moisturise dry hands
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Pricey
- Not antibacterial
Why we chose it
With an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 from 24 Chemist Warehouse reviews, plus 4.9 out of 5 from 73 Google reviews, Sukin Cleansing Hand Wash is definitely worth a look if you're searching for high-end hand wash.
With an RRP of $17.95 for a 1L bottle, this hand wash is designed to gently clean dirt and grime from hands. It features avocado, jojoba and rosehip oil, along with aloe vera and chamomile to soothe and clean skin.
Ecostore Ultra Sensitive Hand Wash
- Fragrance-free
- Made from plant-based ingredients
- Expensive
- Refills only come in 500mL
Why we chose it
With an average rating of 4.8 from 4 Chemist Warehouse customer ratings, plus an average score of 4.6 out of 5 from 23 ratings on Nourished Life, Ecostore Ultra Sensitive Hand Wash is designed for those who have an adverse reaction to ordinary hand soaps.
Fragrance-free, this hand wash is made from plant-based ingredients designed to clean and nourish skin. Harakeke is included to hydrate skin, while this product is also suitable for septic tanks and greywater use.
The bottles are also made from 100% recyclable materials.
QV Gentle Wash
- Colour- and fragrance-free
- Available in bulk
- Not a standalone hand wash
- Not antibacterial
Why we chose it
With an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 from more than 400 Chemist Warehouse customer reviews, plus 4 out of 5 from 26 productreview.com.au reviews, QV Gentle Wash is an option worth considering if you're searching for a fragrance-free product.
Made without any soaps, colours or fragrances, QV Gentle Wash is designed for use on both normal and sensitive skin. It contains added moisturisers to help soften skin, while the fact that it's also non-comedogenic means that it won't block pores.
QV Gentle Wash is also designed not to strip away the skin's natural oils, and it can also be used each day to wash the face and body.
Where to buy hand soap online
- Coles
- Woolworths
- Priceline
Best rated hand soap award breakdown
| Total Score | Overall rating | Value for Money | Effectiveness | Scent | Packaging design | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dettol | 8.46 | 4.65 | 4.39 | 4.61 | 4.43 | 4.57 |
| Dove | 8.14 | 4.46 | 4.17 | 4.38 | 4.31 | 4.31 |
| Tricare (Aldi) | 8.01 | 4.32 | 4.62 | 4.5 | 4.18 | 4.16 |
| Palmolive | 7.98 | 4.35 | 4.08 | 4.35 | 4.29 | 4.24 |
| Goat | 7.84 | 4.31 | 4.12 | 4.36 | 3.88 | 4.21 |
| Thankyou | 7.74 | 4.28 | 3.7 | 4.38 | 4.12 | 4.04 |
| Imperial Leather | 7.63 | 4.14 | 4.04 | 4.18 | 4.12 | 4.02 |
| EcoStore | 7.62 | 4.17 | 3.83 | 4.3 | 4 | 4.1 |
| Luca* | 7.50 | 4.11 | 4.11 | 4.44 | 3.78 | 4.11 |
| Sukin | 7.40 | 3.98 | 3.78 | 4 | 3.94 | 4.18 |
| Koi | 7.34 | 4 | 3.74 | 4 | 4 | 4.22 |
| Other | 7.84 | 4.17 | 4.43 | 4.43 | 4.24 | 4.13 |
Data: Finder Retail Brand Survey, 2020, Kantar. Metric out of 5 stars unless indicated. Methodology and more info. 
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