Hand Sanitizer -- yea or nay?

I keep hand sanitizer around for two situations. One, when the water goes out and killing some germs seems a preferable alternative to keeping them all. The other is when we've got a bug going around the house. We use sanitizer and then wash with soap and water (that way the living and the dead get washed away ).

[illinoismommy]

For ME the question applies to when I have both options because he bought some hand sanitizer to use at home.

[Serafine]

Originally Posted by illinoismommy

For ME the question applies to when I have both options because he bought some hand sanitizer to use at home.

Oh, that one is easy...hand washing is FAR, FAR superior to any form of hand sanitizer.

BUT...it is very, very important to do it properly. Soap that lathers or foams, and 15-30 seconds at least of vigorous friction.

[illinoismommy]

Originally Posted by illinoismommy

DH says that he heard on the radio that they tested peoples hands after washing with soap and they had all kinds of bacteria on there.

Originally Posted by firefighterwife

Oh, that one is easy...hand washing is FAR, FAR superior to any form of hand sanitizer.

BUT...it is very, very important to do it properly. Soap that lathers or foams, and 15-30 seconds at least of vigorous friction.

So DH didn't hear it on the radio, they demonstrated at some kind of work thing....

Any information (links, and not to someone quacky or too crunchy) to refute that?

[zak]

We use Lavender oil. A few drops on everyone's hands and rub. (That's if we can't get to a sink/soap). I do keep HS in the van for Hubby (or if I can't find my oil) because he doesn't like the smell of lavender.

[Rabbit]

If you rub soap on your hands, it won't kill anything. If you rub sanitizer on your hands, it will.

But if you wash your hands under running water, you'll rinse everything off.

Originally Posted by illinoismommy

So DH didn't hear it on the radio, they demonstrated at some kind of work thing....

Any information (links, and not to someone quacky or too crunchy) to refute that?

Does this help any?
http://biology.about.com/od/microbio...sanitizers.htm

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article...k-a-3rd-grader

[YolandaWELS]

Doctors / Nurses / Health professionals use it after and before each appointment - It's hanging in the rooms near the door ...
It makes me feel comfortable when they use it .... If they didn't, I would notice.
So when I know I'm in contact with alot of people, I use it.

[RealLifeMama]

We use hand sanitizer then follow up with a baby wipe when we are out in public without a sink.
Usually, when we have been shopping or something, I take my kids to the bathroom to wash their hands then I don't let them touch anything until we get to the van, then we use hand sanitzer and then a baby wipe.

[Serafine]

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/pub/Hand...ashingTips.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HandWashing/

Would straight from the mouth of the CDC help him believe!

From the 1st link:

How to wash your hands:

1.Wet your hands with warm water.
2.Apply a generous amount of soap.
3.Rub your hands together for 20 seconds.
4.Rinse your hands.
5.Dry your hands with a paper towel.
6.Use the paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door.


What about alcohol-based hand sanitizers?

•CDC recommends that cruise ship passengers use warm water and soap to wash their hands. Washing is always best.
•If water and soap are NOT available (perhaps on excursions), use an ethanol alcohol-based (a minimum 62%) hand sanitizer, preferably in a gel form.

---------- Post added at 04:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:54 PM ----------

Granted, it is talking about cruise ship sanitation in the 1st link...but clearly,the information is pretty basic - cruise or not.

[PurpleButterfly]

What we do:

HOME: Hand washing only, with regular soap and water (no anti-bac)

OUT: Hand sanitizer galore as frequently as needed both on hands and surfaces, then we hit the bathroom before we leave, to wash in the sink with soap and water (paper towel to turn sink off/on). I am always surprised how many people don't take advantage of the store bathroom sinks for this before leaving or eating (like at the bookstore cafe, mall, etc.). I don't know a child who doesn't touch some part of their face once buckled in on the drive home.

I try to keep as many germs out of our van and home as possible, and if I can leave them behind in the store drain, all the better. Back at home, the first thing everyone does is take shoes off (I keep a red bin by the garage entrance door, shoes are MUCH easier to find this way, too) and wash hands again. If my hubby has been at a hospital (as he sometimes is for work), he knows to strip at the laundry room before entering the rest of the house.

We generally always change into "house" clothes and put whatever we were wearing out, into the laundry right away. I think of dd sitting in grocery cart seats, the kids on the floor at the library, on outdoor benches at the park (think bird poop), etc. I don't want that junk filtering off into my house/furniture/etc.

I also clean with tto (great to add a few drops to regular liquid soap for a natural disinfectant) and diffuse lavendar/peppermint and Theive's Oil in the house every day.

My family and friends think I am kooky extreme with germs, but I don't care. We are sick a WHOLE lot less than anyone else we know.

---------- Post added at 04:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:08 PM ----------

Oh yeah, we also don't touch public door handles. We use the dry-off towel or some tp to open bathroom doors if needed, mostly we use our tushies to open doors whenever possible. If not, an adult opens the door and uses hand sanitizer immediately afterward.

I am also the freaky mom who sanitizes restaurant tables and high chairs before anyone can sit down. I love the looks that gets me!

[Codi]

Originally Posted by zak

We use Lavender oil. A few drops on everyone's hands and rub. (That's if we can't get to a sink/soap). I do keep HS in the van for Hubby (or if I can't find my oil) because he doesn't like the smell of lavender.

We have a bottle of organic lavender alcohol spray in our diaper bag.

[PurpleButterfly]

Lavender oil on the go, why didn't I think of that?! What a brilliant idea! Do you use straight 100% pure EO or is it diluted? How sad it is that I'm excited about this!

Originally Posted by Codi

We have a bottle of organic lavender alcohol spray in our diaper bag.

Did you make it or buy it? Can I get a recipe or a link?

[Codi]

Originally Posted by PurpleButterfly

Lavender oil on the go, why didn't I think of that?! What a brilliant idea! Do you use straight 100% pure EO or is it diluted? How sad it is that I'm excited about this!

I actually purchased mine from my LHFS.

---------- Post added at 02:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:23 PM ----------

Mine is similar to this, but I dont think it has Echinacea in it.

http://www.eoproducts.com/Products/S...AY-prd-33.aspx

---------- Post added at 02:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:24 PM ----------

This looks like the one I have.

http://www.amazon.com/Products-Sanit.../dp/B001GQN9HI