RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—As flu germs circulate this fall, many of us are toting a bottle of hand sanitizer along with our keys, wallet, and other pocket staples. And while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using alcohol-based sanitizing wipes and gels when you can't wash your hands with regular soap and water, it's important to take a little time to read the label before you grab just any old hand sanitizer off the store shelf. Some contain harmful antimicrobial chemicals like triclosan that promote the growth of superbugs, harm your thyroid, and contaminate water.
Here's what you need to know about cleaning your hands without soap, including how to make your own natural hand sanitizer.
• Check the labels. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers should contain at least 60 percent alcohol to be effective in killing germs, so make sure you read the label. While you're perusing the ingredients, also take note of inactive ingredients. Avoid alcohol-based hand sanitizers that include "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list. These are chemical fragrance compounds that could contain phthalates, and research has linked them to reproductive problems. Alcohol-based Purell hand sanitizers, for example—arguably the most popular brand out there—are effective at killing germs but contain questionable preservatives and other ingredients like fragrance, and even PEG, which is often contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a suspected carcinogen. Also, always avoid any hand sanitizers or soaps containing triclosan: They don't kill off all the germs on your hands, and can contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant superbugs.
Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database ranks EO Hand Sanitizers and Wipes, found online or at Whole Foods, as among the safest. The products contain organic alcohol and a plant-based germ-killer; however, they are a bit pricey at nearly $10 for 8 ounces.
Look for more natural hand sanitizers and sprays that contain witch hazel, alcohol, and naturally antibiotic essential oils, suggests green-living expert Annie B. Bond, of GreenChiCafe.com, author of the new eBook Natural Flu Protection. "Beware of synthetic varieties, and varieties that say 'antimicrobial,'" Bond warns.
And here's one alcohol-free option we like: CleanWell uses a proprietary, plant-based essential oil blend, mainly thyme oil, to kill more than 99 percent of germs without alcohol. You can find Cleanwell All-Natural Hand Sanitizers
• Remember to moisturize. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers tend to dry out your skin, so it's important to moisturize, too. Healthcare professionals, who use hand sanitizers all day, every day, typically moisturize their hands at night. We recommend using a nontoxic, fragrance-free moisturizer like Badger Balm Organic Healing Balm
To make your own antiviral hand lotion that won't dry out your mitts, Bond suggests mixing 4 ounces of hand lotion with 10 drops of eucalyptus or cinnamon oil (see below for some notes on using essential oils). Stir and blend, and store in a glass jar.
• Make your own hand-sanitizing spray. Bond suggests that after you use up the store-bought sanitizer of your choice, you save the bottle and fill it with your own. Follow this recipe to mix up an effective germ-killing blend:
2 ounces vodka
4 to 5 drops essential oil such as tea tree or eucalyptus, or a combination
2 teaspoons witch hazel
Mix well, and pour into a spritzer bottle for a homemade hand sanitizer!
When choosing a pure essential oil to use, research the company that makes it. Pick one that explains its distillation process—some companies use solvents, so you want to avoid them, unless you like rubbing toxic chemicals onto your skin. To test your essential oil, drop a dab on a piece of blotting paper. If it evaporates without leaving a stain, it's pure, Bond says.
• Consider carrying your own soap, too. Bond says many "soaps" in public restrooms are actually detergents, and don't pack the germ-busting qualities of regular soap. Many commercial soaps also contain triclosan and synthetic fragrances that are bad for the environment and can irritate people's lungs. To combat this, find a good bar of fragrance-free soap, or even real, homemade soap sold at a local heath-food store. Or carry a little bottle of Dr. Bronner's castile soap with you.
• Sometimes, you just have to lather up. Hand sanitizers don’t work so well if you have dirt or grime on your hands; the gunk keeps them from getting to your skin. So when your hands are dirty, find a sink and wash them.