Anti-bacterial hand wash ??

[thedomesticdiva]

We are always on the go with 2 little boys, and I have still been using Anti-bacterial hand wash (like soap w/ no water) from Bath and Body Works.:

I KNOW it is total trash, but we need to clean our hands.

Are there any less toxic options that I could get?

I know it would be better to use nothing, but we can not always go to the bahroom and wash up before eating.

Thanks.

Sara <><

[Leilalu]

I keep a diaper wipes spray with me at all times. We use it instead of antibacterial lotion when nessecary. Don't know how effective it is, but I think every bit helps.

I use a healthy squirt of dr. bronners(any scent)
aloe vera juice
olive oil
a few drops tea trea oil
filtered water

I have always used this for diapering, and now I use it to clean hands when needed. But I do love sinks and lathering up best!

[Lymeade Lady]

Young Living is an Essential Oil company. They make a hand wash with essential oils that totally kills germs. It's great--we don't need soap any more when we are out! It's called Thieves Hand wash. I don't sell it, but I could pass on the e-mail address of someone who does if you are interested. Stores don't sell it as it is a multi-level type thing. So, it can be harder to find. BUT so worth it!

[staceychev]

Anti-bacterial is different than the regular hand sanitizer. The regular sanitizer (like Purell) is pretty bad, according to the Skin Deep database. EO makes a hand sanitizer that ranks much better. But, when you add in "antibacterial," you're throwing in another wrinkle. Most antibacterial stuff is made with triclosan, which is really bad stuff (cancer, developmental defects).

Here's an article about it: http://www.ewg.org/node/26701

Here's the Skin Deep database: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

I gotta be honest: I'd rather my kid eat lunch with the filthiest, nastiest hands than ingest antibacterial products.

[Leilalu]

Originally Posted by staceychev

I gotta be honest: I'd rather my kid eat lunch with the filthiest, nastiest hands than ingest antibacterial products.

[moneca]

We just use wipes that I make myself too. If you do want to get the thieves hand sanitizer from Young Living you could ask Meghan to order it for you. She has my distributor number and password. I've never looked at the hand sanitizer so I don't know what it contains other than the Thieves essential oil blend.

[gabella06]

Does anyone have experience with Clean Well? It's a hand sanitizer made with essential oils with thyme being the primary ingredient. It does not have alcohol or triclosan. I saw it at WF.

[dogmom327]

Originally Posted by staceychev

I gotta be honest: I'd rather my kid eat lunch with the filthiest, nastiest hands than ingest antibacterial products.

:

For hand soap we use one part Dr. Bronner's with five parts (don't measure) water and a few drops of essential oil. For diaper wipe solution (and it's used to wipe his whole body down when he plays outside) I use water, a teaspoon of olive oil, maybe half a teaspoon of Dr. Bronner's and two drops of an essential oil.

[moondiapers]

I keep a bottle of half aloevera and half rubbing alcohol in my purse.

[sharr610]

Originally Posted by gabella06

Does anyone have experience with Clean Well? It's a hand sanitizer made with essential oils with thyme being the primary ingredient. It does not have alcohol or triclosan. I saw it at WF.

My husband uses it daily. He works with foul, foul things and eats out of a common bowl with his hands with others who work with foul foul things. Its kept him from having any stomach bugs. He really likes it...

[gabella06]

Originally Posted by sharr610

My husband uses it daily. He works with foul, foul things and eats out of a common bowl with his hands with others who work with foul foul things. Its kept him from having any stomach bugs. He really likes it...

Well, that is certainly a powerful recommendation! Thanks.

[duckmom]

Originally Posted by moondiapers

I keep a bottle of half aloevera and half rubbing alcohol in my purse.

I might have to try this one. It sounds like it would be a similar consistency to the commercial sanitizers. I'm assuming it works well for you, or you wouldn't use it.

[Ruthla]

When my kids were toddlers, if we needed to wash hands when out and about we just used baby wipes-either cloth or disposable, whatever I was using on baby bottoms at the time. I only used antibacterial anything if I'd changed a poopy diaper away from a sink, and then I'd use it AFTER the baby wipe anyway.

I'd say a package of Huggies travel-sized baby wipes (or any available brand) would be a less toxic option than "hand sanitizer".

[spiderdust]

Method sells a hand sanitizer, but they're pretty bad about listing their ingredients. I have *no* idea what's in it, but it smells kind of like the regular Purell stuff with some added scent. They're supposed to be "green" products, but who knows?