Do you use hand sanitizers?

[MelanieC]

I never have, and never will.

I just use regular soap and wash my hands when needed.

Same here - I don't use things like antibacterial soaps, hand sanitizers and stuff like that. I try to be sensitive to chemicals I use and just find it not necessary. I'm also rarely sick, nor are my kids.

Did you know that vinegar is a great all natural germ killer?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Same here - I don't use things like antibacterial soaps, hand sanitizers and stuff like that. I try to be sensitive to chemicals I use and just find it not necessary. I'm also rarely sick, nor are my kids.

Did you know that vinegar is a great all natural germ killer?

Yes I use vinegar for cleaning.

I also do not use antibacterial soaps either. They were murder on my hands.

I also wear gloves if I have to use chemicals. That is something that is important to minimize exposure to chemicals. It has made a difference in getting sick.

 

[m&m's mom]

I use them when I am away from home.
I actually like the wipes and B&BW ones too.

 

[jimmalru80]

Primarily at WDW.

 

[Rora]

I teach so I use it all the time. Probably 6-7 times a day.

Same here. It's hard to get to the bathroom to wash my hands since I can't get coverage for my classes.

 

[momrek06]

I use Purell all the time WHEN soap & water is not available. I always have a small bottle of Purell with me.

I always grab the Purell after pumping gas.

 

[HGD24]

I only use them when I can't get to regular soap and water, which is very rarely.

Here's a great article from the Mayo Clinic on using regular (not anti-bacterial) soap & water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers to properly cleanse your hands:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hand-washing/HQ00407

 

[Kath2003]

I disagree with them on the grounds of 'germophobia' but I use it daily now. Why? I work in a school with no soap or hot water in the ladies bathrooms.

 

[RN4Babies]

It is required hand hygiene here at the hospital and clinic.

It's required hand hygiene at the Children's Hospital where I work too. We start our shift with a five minute scrub, up to the elbows, with a surgical brush and antibacterial soap. Every baby's bedside has a bottle of alcohol based hand sanitizer, in addition to a sink and liquid soap. We are supposed to use the hand sanitizer when entering the room and before we leave the room. We're only supposed to use soap and water every dozen times or so of using the hand sanitizer, or if there's obvious fluid or debris on our hands.

When they introduced the hand sanitizer in the hospital a few years ago, they cited several research studies that concluded that hand sanitizers destroyed more germs and bacteria on the skin than washing with warm water and soap. IMO, that may have been in large part because the majority of people don't wash their hands for a long enough period with soap and water (the suggestion is to wash for hands as long as it takes to sing the ABC song).

 

[Ariel Mae]

Never have, never will. The sanitizers prevent the immune system from fully developing. I much prefer having a healthy immune system, thanks much.

 

[Angelhalo]

Nope. I have excema. Soap and water for me.

So do I which is why I prefer the hand sanitizers. They don't dry my hands out like soap and water

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Nope. I can't use them because every single one of them uses an added fragrance. Which I have skin allergies to. I just break out in itchy red rashes if I use them.

 

[OK!]

I do when I'm sick. Beyond that, the only other time I use them is if I really like the fragrance (e.g. Bath & Body Works), mainly because the lotion ones come in smaller sizes than their normal lotions and thus fit better in my purse.

 

[Golf4food]

Almost exclusively. The soaps at work tend to dry and crack my skin and irritate under my wedding band, so I keep hand sanitizer and use it instead and don't get any of those symptoms.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I only use them when there is no alternative, other than being germy. I like to wash the germs OFF my hands, not just kill them. I don't want to eat using my hands with a bunch of DEAD germs on them either..plus it does nothing for actually cleaning your hands, just kills the germs.

 

[clgwli]

None here. We use regular soap (no antibacterial) and that's it. I have used in the past when parents of newborns asked me to but I feel it is overkill and bad for the average person's immune system.

We do use vinegar in the house to clean as well. Sometimes watered down bleach if there are stains on the countertop but not often.

 

[PaulaSB12]

I never have, and never will.

I just use regular soap and wash my hands when needed.

Another one who just uses soap and water.

 

[tr-ray]

I generally stick to soap & water hand washing, but I'll use the hand sanitizers during particularly germy seasons, or germy situations.

I.e. in WDW, or when various bugs were going around my office!

 

[lil mermaid]

I carry one with me, in case we are somewhere where we can't wash our hands. We also use it after leaving the gym.

I prefer to wash with soap and water, though.

 

[manning]

Everytime I come out of a public washroom. You wash your hands then encounter the dirty spot of the washroom.... the door handle. The majority of the doors open inward and you have to grab that handle to get out. Purell to the rescue.