The goal of any wound cleanser is to act as an antiseptic, killing harmful bacteria or viruses at the site of surface wounds. There are a variety of wound cleansers with different active ingredients, such as rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or iodine. While these ingredients are known to have antibacterial properties, it is difficult to assess how they perform in the real world. Commercial wipes, gels or lotions have been found to be better antibacterial choices than those derived from natural products. It is probably equally important to know how to treat wound types as it is to choose a cleanser for it.
Soap can remove bacteria and dirt from a wound, but soap that does not have antibacterial ingredients does not usually kill bacteria. Antiseptic wipes are easy to use, kill bacteria and remove dirt from around the wound. Rubbing alcohol is effective but produces unpleasant fumes, is flammable, and may irritate eyes. Hydrogen peroxide is effective but also an eye irritant. Iodine causes less stinging of the skin but should be kept away from the eyes. All are harmful if swallowed and have other side effects so always read warning labels carefully.
Bleeding is actually a natural wound cleanser that will remove some dirt or other material from minor cuts, so it is really only necessary to clean around and away from the wound, beginning at the edges. Cleaning with a series of clean cotton balls or gauze and using new ones after each pass is a good way to clean a wound with or without a cleanser.
A puncture wound is not easily improved by a wound cleanser and only the surface should be cleaned. A doctor should be consulted to see if antibiotics or possibly a tetanus shot will be needed. This is because the cause of a puncture wound, such as a nail or animal bite, penetrates the tissues and might deposit bacteria in the body. Also, puncture wounds generally bleed less than cuts where more skin is damaged.
One should not attempt to clean burns in the same way as a bleeding wound. Rather, in place of a wound cleanser, one should immerse the burned part in cold water, preferably for 10 minutes. If it is a chemical burn caused by a corrosive agent, cold water is the only wound cleanser to use and should be run until the chemical has been removed or well diluted. Do not apply an ointments or creams to any burns except for the most minor ones, like mild sunburn.