This study is aimed at comparing the activity of alcohol based hand sanitizers (Dettol® and Lovillea®) and toilet soaps (Lux® and Premier®) against bacterial isolates. The activity of Dettol® and Lovillea® was compared with the activity of Lux® and Premier® toilet soaps against the bacterial isolates (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus specie and Shigella specie) obtained from the palms of some individuals in Abraka, Delta state. Susceptibility of the bacterial isolates was evaluated using the agar well diffusion method by measuring the zones of inhibition observed after 24hours of incubation. Their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were also determined using the agar dilution technique. Dettol® hand sanitizer had the highest zones of inhibition (5mm, 5mm and 3mm) against Staph aureus, Staph epidermis and Shigella specie respectively. Both soaps had no activity against Gram negative Shigella specie. Dettol® antiseptic was used as control and it gave zones of inhibition (36mm, 45mm, 35mm and 50mm) against Shigella specie, Streptococcus specie, Staph aureus, and Staph epidermidis respectively. For the MIC; the hand sanitizers inhibited all four organisms at 2ml, Premier® soap had MIC of 5mg/ml against Staph epidermidis while Lux® soap had MIC of 5mg/ml against Staph epidermidis and Streptococcus specie. The result revealed the efficacy of the antiseptic (control), hand sanitizers and soaps in descending order as follows; Antiseptic > Hand sanitizers > soaps. The use of soaps for hand hygiene appeared to be less efficacious against Gram negative organisms. However, both hand sanitizers and soaps can be used as effective measures to control the spread of diseases.