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Germ-Free Hands: Ask Annie
Dear Annie,
I have to admit I am scared of germs because I work in NYC but don’t live in NYC, so I use a lot of public restrooms, both on the commuter trains and elsewhere. I don’t want to use the disinfectant soaps or wipes and sanitizers because of what you have said about them. What do you recommend instead? –Laurie, NJ
Dear Laurie,
Good question. Hand washing is the most effective way to prevent the spread of illness according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I have to admit that “hand sanitizers” crept up on me. Until my daughter Lily wrote about them in her Adventures of Green Girl blog I didn’t really know that they were widely used, but I am becoming a convert to the natural version for when I travel (only), like you.
The “soaps” in almost all restrooms are in fact detergents, contain a disinfectant, usually triclosan, and are scented with synthetic fragrances. Here is what is wrong with that: The EPA recommends killing germs with real soap and water, and you need to soap for 30 seconds; disinfectants can cause drug resistance, just like antibiotics, and; there is no reason to believe that mild detergents kill germs.
You can take homemade hand soap in a container with you and wash your hands with that, making sure to soap your hands for 30 seconds.
Another idea is to buy the type of hand sanitizer that Lily does. I was taking a look at her bottle, that she bought at the health food store, and it claims to kill 99 percent of germs, and it contains witch hazel, alcohol, and an antibacterial essential oil. It comes in a nice little spritzer bottle. I tried it over the weekend on a trip to NYC and it left my hands feeling fine and actually refreshed.
The DIY in me suggests making your own in that spritzer bottle once the original has been finished. Use ¾ parts vodka, 4-5 drops to 1 ounce of vodka of an antimicrobrial essential oil such as tea tree oil, and ¼ part witch hazel.
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8 comments
add your comment »Hello,
I use a chemical free hand santizer very often during the day. Am I weakening my immune system?
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I like the diy hand sanitizer recipe, except that Vodka is an expensive ingredient. what would be a good substitute , Annie
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Hi Katrina,
Is it a 50/50mix of hydrogen per oxide & white vinegar?
I presume you soak the cloth that you carry around, does the "HPO" evaporate easily. Will a damp cloth well wrapped in plastic be effective at the end of the day. When you spray the counters etc. do you leave it to dry in situ. or do you wipr it off. Does hydrogen per oxide bleach the colour if left in contact for any length of time? Thank you.
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for a flushable wipe; you can carry kleenex & hydrogen peroxide & put on kleenex; put why not simply use old rags? I use microfiber cloths which still keep going after 700,000 paper towels would have been used; easy to wash, hang dry; save the trees & landfills folks! and your pocket books!
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hydrogen peroxide 3% kills both bacteria & VIRUSES folks! the only drawback is that it starts to break down in light; that is why it comes in the dark bottles; folks: this is FAR SAFER for both YOU & the environment than ANY anti bacteria soaps which should not even be on the market! They make you immune to anti biotics, create "superbugs", and stay in the water & land for centuries! To make your own wipes, simply carry some cloths (cut up old diapers, washclothes, towels, whatever) put hydrogen peroxide on them, and carry them with you in make up bag; it will be dark enough in it to stay effective for you; be sure to also carry a 2nd make up bag for the "used" ones; FAR MORE EFFECTIVE than clorox wipes; I would take extras to WIPE DOWN the "handles" of shopping carts folks! in fact, if you use hydrogen peroxide 3% & vinegar together, as I do to clean my kitchen counters, cutting boards, bathroom, etc; (use seperate spray bottles: ie, empty windex etc) keep only enuf hydrogen P in 1 to use at task; this dynamic duo is STRONGER & MORE EFFECTIVE at killing e coli, salmonella, & a host of other nasties than CLORINE & is SAFE for the environment & your well being; both have their own qualities; combined is a dynamic duo no home should be without! Keep bottles of hydrogen peroxide at sinks to use INSTEAD of soaps;
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Anybody know how to make your own flushable wipes? Thanks for the recipe on hand sanitizer. I'll use that and a recipe for the flusables and take those along too!! Thanks, Tams
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Triclosan has it's own neg side effects. Instead find a hand gel or anticabterial soap that will kill the bad bacteria and leave the good to allow you to build antibodies to fight off the germs we need to fight off.
nursenorris@comcast.net
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Thanks for the tip
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