hand sanitizing

[larknm]

Every weekday I go to a dogpark where I have to handle gate latches that have been handled by many others who also poop scoop. I also go other places where I think things are not too sanitary. For years I sprayed Everclear alcohol on my hands, but I think that's drying and maybe too harsh for the environment. I then switched to food-grade hydrogen peroxide from health food store, and am thinking about switching again to Nutribiotic First Aid Skin & Wound spray with grapefruit seed extract. I have a compromised immune system, but might do these things anyway. Can anyone suggest to me if they think the Skin & Wound Spray is just as good as the peroxide and if it's just as good as the alcohol, or whatever else comes to mind? I don't know if I can get a strong form of GSE, or if I'd need to.

[redfox]

Cannot comment on the products you mention. I use tea tree oil in a spray solution. It smells nice! Wearing disposable gloves at the dog park might be an option.

[herbgeek]

Lavender smells even better, and is gentle on skin, as well as being a disinfectant.

I make reusable wipes that I keep in a plastic container for when I'm out and about. I cut flannel into rectangles- maybe 5 x 7 inches or so or whatever will fit your container when its folded up. I wet the cloths then wring them fairly dry, fold them and place them into the container. Then I mix about 1/2 a shotglass - about 1-2 Tablespoons of vodka with maybe 15 drops of lavender essential oil (the alcohol is there to disperse the oil into smaller droplets), I take the mixture and dribble a few drops on each cloth.

I use these mostly for after pumping gas so any chemicals aren't staying on my skin. Using a wipe not only disinfects but gets gross stuff off of your hand that sanitizer won't.

I throw used cloths in the laundry and have reused them many many times- I throw out only when they get all frayed and stringy.

[iris lilies]

I like herbgeek's solution if you are talking about cleaning hands when away from home where there is no soap or water. That's a great solution.

[dado potato]

I keep some hand sanitizer in my Jeep. Part of the ignition sequence... squirt, squirt.

[larknm]

Thanks for the ideas. I've finally gone back to what I used to do years ago and forgot: diluting the alcohol half and half with water.

[Tiam]

Lavender smells even better, and is gentle on skin, as well as being a disinfectant.

I make reusable wipes that I keep in a plastic container for when I'm out and about. I cut flannel into rectangles- maybe 5 x 7 inches or so or whatever will fit your container when its folded up. I wet the cloths then wring them fairly dry, fold them and place them into the container. Then I mix about 1/2 a shotglass - about 1-2 Tablespoons of vodka with maybe 15 drops of lavender essential oil (the alcohol is there to disperse the oil into smaller droplets), I take the mixture and dribble a few drops on each cloth.

I use these mostly for after pumping gas so any chemicals aren't staying on my skin. Using a wipe not only disinfects but gets gross stuff off of your hand that sanitizer won't.

I throw used cloths in the laundry and have reused them many many times- I throw out only when they get all frayed and stringy.


Separately I imagine? Or the oil smell would get everywhere. Perhaps even stain a bit?

[herbgeek]

Nope. The oil evaporates, it's an essential oil which is volatile. These go in with regular laundry.