What anti-viral (not bacterial) hand sanitizers do you take with you?

[JanaDee]

Soap and water is good but when you are at a theme park sitting in a ride, putting your hands on the same handle bars hundreds of others have put their dirty hands on then you can easily catch something. Most people are not going to go to wash their hands after every ride etc.... In a place like a theme park and in the airplanes and airports, I firmly believe having some anti-viral hand sanitzers that are now available to the public is a smart thing.

I've visited Disney often and fly a few times a year, as well as go to public places and have 2 kids who swim in the cesspool of school. I don't use anti-bacs. I wash my hands and keep them away from my face. I couldn't tell you the last time I was sick. Unless you have a suppressed immune system, there is no need for them.

 

[jo-jo]

We don't use anything but soap and water at home, but now take the clorox one to the parks. We rarely get sick at home, but two yrs ago DH and I had something horrible for three days at WDW We won't go into details. If it's the sanitizer keeping us healthy, who knows? But we see it as a little extra protection. One thing about clorox, it's a liquid like water.....the little bottles come with a spray. Most people expect a gel or foam.

 

[IndyRnRfan]

Eat healthy to start with which builds up your immunity. Just because you catch the virus doesn't mean you will get sick. Only people with weekend immune systems will suffer the symptoms. Most people have come in contact with these viruses and have not gotten sick.

Wash with soap and water when you can and keep your hands away from your face.

 

[fairytalelover]

sorry but I disagree. You can have a strong immune system and wash your hands but if you come into contact with a virus like noro, cold, flu, and the tons of other more serious ones and bacteria like strep, odds are you will get sick from it. Unless you come in contact with the germ and wash your hands immediately afterwards before touching your face etc...but then what are the odds that you would know you came into contact with it and run to wash your hands right away. Plus, I would like to add that using an anti-bacterial/viral sanitzer for a couple week on vacation is not going to make you immune to anti-bacterials/virals. You become immune if you use it all the time all year long. I think that using them while on vacation when you are around more people from all over the world then you normally are at home, is a smart move.

 

[Laurie5013]

I use Zylast and the Clorox Bleach-free hand sanitizer. Both kill norovirus. Unfortunately I have never been able to find either in a store and have to order them. Zylast.com or amazon.

 

[fairytalelover]

I use Zylast and the Clorox Bleach-free hand sanitizer. Both kill norovirus. Unfortunately I have never been able to find either in a store and have to order them. Zylast.com or amazon.

yes so far i think they are only available online, which is fine because we have amazon prime so we get free and fast shipping. Have you had good experiences using those anti-virals?

 

[Sparkly]

I stopped using hand sanitiser when I realised it wasn't going to protect me against noro anyway. I wash my hands well after using the bathroom and touch wood, haven't had the noro on a trip yet.

 

[fairytalelover]

I stopped using hand sanitiser when I realised it wasn't going to protect me against noro anyway. I wash my hands well after using the bathroom and touch wood, haven't had the noro on a trip yet.

normal hand sanitzer doesnt protect you from noro and other viruses but these new sanitzers in the link at the top of the thread do.

 

[fairytalelover]

this one:

http://www.stopthestomachflu.com/Home/which-hand-sanitizers-kill-stomach-flu-viruses

 

[Mrsjvb]

I've visited Disney often and fly a few times a year, as well as go to public places and have 2 kids who swim in the cesspool of school. I don't use anti-bacs. I wash my hands and keep them away from my face. I couldn't tell you the last time I was sick. Unless you have a suppressed immune system, there is no need for them.

actually, I am immuno deficient/depressed and my doctor said they are a complete waste of money. frequent hand washing is still the best way to prevent it. we cruise more than we do Disney lately, but have yet to get sick on a cruise, which is where all the outbreaks get the most media attention.

 

[AquaDame]

The poster didn't ask if they should use them, they asked which would be recommended. Thats great that your immune system doesn't give you many symptoms, but many of us aren't like that. I assure you I wash my hands very often in exactly the way I should and still get sick when I fly/go to theme parks. Since I know my body goes into overdrive when it fights back I'll be trying one of these out next time too! Coughing and runny noses are no fun!

 

[goofy4tink]

We've had one instance of illness at WDW, and I'm pretty sure we brought it in with us since it happened the day after we arrived! We try to wash our hands frequently. Here's my issue, not that anyone truly cares. You touch so many surfaces at WDW that it's hard to keep your hands germ free. We try to concentrate on keeping our hands away from our faces until we have washed our hands. I've watched little kids in some of the lines.....man, ,those railings are breeding grounds!!!! Ewwwww. So, we try not to rub our hands on them.
Some swear by the hand sanitizers. I have one with me, but don't use it very often. I am kind of anal about cleaning off my seat back tray on the plane though!!! Have my chlorox wipes for that.....food is lying on that tray and I want it somewhat clean!!!

 

[IndyRnRfan]

sorry but I disagree. You can have a strong immune system and wash your hands but if you come into contact with a virus like noro, cold, flu, and the tons of other more serious ones and bacteria like strep, odds are you will get sick from it. Unless you come in contact with the germ and wash your hands immediately afterwards before touching your face etc...but then what are the odds that you would know you came into contact with it and run to wash your hands right away. Plus, I would like to add that using an anti-bacterial/viral sanitzer for a couple week on vacation is not going to make you immune to anti-bacterials/virals. You become immune if you use it all the time all year long. I think that using them while on vacation when you are around more people from all over the world then you normally are at home, is a smart move.

I'll give you and example, cruising is one that comes up in the news sometimes. According to you, only the people who come in contact get sick when they have a noro outbreak and not one person came in contact with the virus that didn't get sick. Do you know the odds of that happening?
You would be amazed at how many times you have come in contact with the strep bacteria, flu virus, cold virus, yada yada yada and didn't get sick. Your immune system has a lot to do with when you get sick. Just like the old days of when small pox, polio, etc... Every single doctor who helped those people should have died or been stricken with those/these diseases. Some did but some didn't, why? They had a strong immune system.

 

[fairytalelover]

The poster didn't ask if they should use them, they asked which would be recommended. Thats great that your immune system doesn't give you many symptoms, but many of us aren't like that. I assure you I wash my hands very often in exactly the way I should and still get sick when I fly/go to theme parks. Since I know my body goes into overdrive when it fights back I'll be trying one of these out next time too! Coughing and runny noses are no fun!

exactly. I wash my hands constantly as does my husband and we make our son do it but he is 9 and touches his face all the time. And with all of that washing one of us usually gets sick each time we go to disneyland, disneyworld, disney cruise etc.... in the airports, airplanes........and yes we eat healthy food, excercise and take vitamins so...........there we have it. Plus each year there is some new scary bacteria or virus out there. All you have to do is touch it!!

 

[fairytalelover]

I'll give you and example, cruising is one that comes up in the news sometimes. According to you, only the people who come in contact get sick when they have a noro outbreak and not one person came in contact with the virus that didn't get sick. Do you know the odds of that happening?
You would be amazed at how many times you have come in contact with the strep bacteria, flu virus, cold virus, yada yada yada and didn't get sick. Your immune system has a lot to do with when you get sick. Just like the old days of when small pox, polio, etc... Every single doctor who helped those people should have died or been stricken with those/these diseases. Some did but some didn't, why? They had a strong immune system.

well that's lovely but that doesn really help me. I;m not about to take a chance with my family to see if they have a strong immune system the day they happen to come in contact with some bacteria or virus. Just two weeks ago, my son got strep, probably from school. He has quite a good immune system. Last time he was sick was probably a year ago but this time it got him. So how do I know that if he comes into contact with something worse than strep while on vacation when he is around many more people from all over the world (than his school) that he wont catch it?? Do I want to take a chance with his life and health??? No.

 

[newestkg06]

Seriously, why does an innocent question about what kind of hand sanitizer to use become a debate? I had never heard of an anti-viral one, so thank you OP for posting this! I will now be buying one of these instead of just Purell. When you are touching all of the surfaces at a theme park and eating sticky foods, I think staying away from germs is harder than you think. Then, some of the recent reports of dirty bathrooms? I've read too many trip reports from people getting sick. How many people are going to stay in the hotel room with a sick kid when they spent all of this money? I would, but I'm not sure many others would.

 

[Laurie5013]

yes so far i think they are only available online, which is fine because we have amazon prime so we get free and fast shipping. Have you had good experiences using those anti-virals?

I have amazon prime too, love it! I have had good experiences. I put Zylast on my daughter every morning when I drop her off at school and when I pick her up. She's only had one cold this year. Maybe it's the Zylast, maybe not.

 

[IndyRnRfan]

exactly. I wash my hands constantly as does my husband and we make our son do it but he is 9 and touches his face all the time. And with all of that washing one of us usually gets sick each time we go to disneyland, disneyworld, disney cruise etc.... in the airports, airplanes........and yes we eat healthy food, excercise and take vitamins so...........there we have it. Plus each year there is some new scary bacteria or virus out there. All you have to do is touch it!!

Well, in your case of people getting sick often, I would get the no bleach sanitizer that someone posted. From that short article it seems to work and the author also liked the other two. I would like to know what is in it other than 71% alcohol. But if your hand sanitizer already has 70% alcohol, it will do an effective job of killing most viruses including Noro. It is only the weaker strength alcohol based products that work too well.

 

[Laurie5013]

Anyone interested in buying Zylast from the zylast site, there's a 10% off code you can use: Use code "StopNorovirus" when you check out from http://www.zylastdirect.com/catalog.php and you will get 10% off your order. Make sure you order the ANTISEPTIC not the lotion. The Antiseptic is the only one they have tested to protect you from norovirus.
You can also get it from Amazon. The last time I ordered they price was about the same on both sites.

 

[fairytalelover]

Seriously, why does an innocent question about what kind of hand sanitizer to use become a debate? I had never heard of an anti-viral one, so thank you OP for posting this! I will now be buying one of these instead of just Purell. When you are touching all of the surfaces at a theme park and eating sticky foods, I think staying away from germs is harder than you think. Then, some of the recent reports of dirty bathrooms? I've read too many trip reports from people getting sick. How many people are going to stay in the hotel room with a sick kid when they spent all of this money? I would, but I'm not sure many others would.

my interest in this started last year prior to our october wdw/dcl trip when the ebola virus was in the news at the very same time. I was concerned since we were going to be flying from california to florida with multiple layovers in multiple cities including the ones that were on the news, i.e Dallas. Not to mention, places like theme parks and cruises are filled with people from all over the world and we had no control over where they came from (i.e Africa). So after doing some research I had found some info about these new anti-virals available to the public. I just think you cant be too careful when it comes to your family's health. Also, our 9 year old has type 1 diabetes so catching something may be more dangerous to him. Anyway, by the time I found out about these anti virals it was too late to order them prior to our trip. So we went and my dh got sick. thankfully just a bad cold. very bad cold. You should have seen me on our places, not letting my family touch anything (tray table, handrests etc...) until I wiped them all with the anti-bacterial wipes, which i knew wouldnt do squat with a virus.... I also go nuts when we walk into our hotel rooms, wiping down the counters, drawers, remote controls before letting my family touch anything or unpack.....