Megan CurtinListen, I am not here to get into a debate or try to pretend I am in any way educated enough to teach you about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases but I am here to tell you about hand sanitizer alternative ideas.
Whether you tried purchasing some and the store was out, or you one of the smart people who are leaving the real stuff to the professionals, I am here to tell you about hand sanitizer alternatives.
Once this pandemic is over you can continue to use these alternatives, and you may find you do in fact like them more.
For the latest info on the COVID-19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation refer to the links below.
- Get the latest public health information from CDC: https://www.coronavirus.gov .
- Get the latest research from NIH: https://www.nih.gov/coronavirus.
Soap And Water
Yeah, no, I’m not kidding. I don’t know at what point people started putting hand sanitizer above soap and water.
The mere act of washing your hands and drying them off on a towel or paper towel is literally the best hand sanitizer alternative on the market.
Not sure if it’s a Wisconsin thing but everyone in highschool takes chemistry and the thing that sticks in my mind to this day is the handwashing test. The amount of germs that are left on the paper towel after washing them is remarkable. When the test is done you can really see the before and after particles, and the examination speaks for itself when you compare germ count.
Not only should you wash your hands after going to the bathroom but you should wash them periodically throughout the day.
Wash them after:
- going grocery shopping
- the gym
- riding in elevators
- opening public doors
Getting into a habit of washing them periodically throughout the day can be a good lifelong habit to do.
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Hand Soap is a cult favorite and my personal go-to.
There is aloe vera in here which keeps your hands moisturized and prevents cracks.
No-Rinse Cleansing Foams
No-rinse cleansing foams are exactly like their name implies: a foam you apply and don’t have to use water or any type of liquid to wash off.
Simply apply the foam, lather hands and then rinse off with a towel or paper towel.
These products clean the hands without drying them out, which can be great for those with fragile or older hands – ideal for those with medical skin conditions or the elderly.
You can actually use these all over your body making them a lifesaver for travel, and super convenient for those who camp.
These wipes are proven to remove germs and bacteria which makes them a great option to hand sanitizer.
My favorite type is the No-Rinse Full Body Personal Cleanser – Welmedix No-Rinse Adult Gentle Cleansing Foam.
This product is, in fact, a Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate which is the same thing as soap!
You can buy this in a single or three-pack.
These bottles have an easy to use pump and the proper amount of foam is dispensed. I hate those pumps that give you too much and you look like a marshmallow man, or too little and you’re sitting there for two minutes trying to pump enough out.
Everclear
I am not sure who the idiot was that said Titos’s vodka was a great hand sanitizer, but they were not only inaccurate but they were causing people to waste some oft he best Vodka in the world.
Because Everclear is 75.5% alcohol it is over the level that the CDC recommends to be deemed as a proper sanitizer. Anything over 60% can be used as a sanitizer. Sorry folks but Tito’s is only 40% which clears up the whole boozy confusion.
Unfoutnetly you can’t just take a shot of this and be cleared head to toe, and you also can’t just splay it on your hands and rub them. The best option is to put the liquid in a spray bottle and spritz when necessary.
Remember though since this a pure alcohol this WILL dry out your hands and can be pretty rough on them. Overuse can cause your hands to dry out enough to become irritated, red, dry and even crack which will be worse for you in the long run.
Another thing you can do is put Everclear into a glass spray bottle and then spray objects around your house to kill germs and bacteria instead of spraying your hands.
Items that be good to spray with this dissentient include doorknobs, handles of any sort, car keys, and any other surface in which you find yourself touching periodically through the day.
I suggest putting ever clear in these glass bottles instead of plastic ones- I mean look how chic they are. The design is overall smaller which means you can throw them in your purse and use them when you are out running errands. I love spray door handles in bathrooms before I lock the door and on a pull handle before I have to leave. Once you get into the habit of doing this you won’t want to go back with leaving the house without it.
Megan Curtin
