Many of us have been hearing for quite some time that antibacterial hand soaps and cleaning products could be doing us more harm than good. According to the story on GMA, a chemical in many of the antibacterial products has been found to be a factor in some germs growing resistant to the antibiotics that once were successfully used to battle them. Tuberculosis, once thought to be eradicated in the USA, is reappearing. We need our antibiotics to be effective so this warning is one worthy of our attention.
In a nutshell, the story reveals that good old soap and water is best for washing our hands. When in situations where that isn't possible, an alcohol based cleaner like Purell is the best choice. The alcohol evaporates and does not leave a residue on your skin.
I have never been phobic about germs. I hope I don't offend anyone using that phrase but I couldn't think of another way to word it. It seems that most friends and relatives my age feel as I do, but many of our younger siblings and children feel differently.
Less than 100 years ago, it was common for people to bathe once a week. In cold climates during winter months, people would heat water and bathe in tubs in whatever room was the warmest, possibly whatever room held a fireplace or stove. Obviously no one would want to return to that hardship but some now bathe or shower so frequently they are aggravating skin conditions such as eczema.
While everyone enjoys feeling clean, do you think commercials have influenced our society into thinking we need so many household cleaning products, and that our bodies need such frequent bathing and sanitizing?
Having written this, I am off to take a much needed shower and then rid the living room of tinsel and pine needles from the dead Christmas tree. No antibacterial products will be used in my cleaning today, and if any alcohol is used, it won't be the kind found in Purell. I'm thinking a nice glass of wine or a beer at the end of the day will cure whatever might ail me.
6 comments:
Maybe the father in "My Greek Wedding" was on to something. He used Windex for a cure-all! Think I'll bring out the Windex!
I think that new Zytrel XP may change your mind about only using soap and water. I'm not denigrating good old saop and water, but I am praising Zytrel XP. Unlike Purell and otbher traditional alcohol-based sanitizers, Zytrel has a moisturizer that leaves your hands felling soft. But what really makes Zytrel so hreat is that it helps kills germs for up to 4 hours. Soap and water waashes germs away, but 5 second after you;re done you can pick up and pass on germs.
Purell is even more nefarious because people think it protects you. Not really. Once Purell dries it is about as useless as doing nothing. That's because traditional alcohol-based sanitizers can only kill germs while they are wet. Once they dry, the onlt thing they kill is time.
Now in the interest of transparency and honesty, I have ti state that I am a paid consultant to the company that makes Purell. But I've read threeclinical reports from independent labs that prove Purell helps kill germs for up to 4 hours.
So use soap and water whenevre you're near a sink. Dump the Prell. And use Zytrel XP when soap and water aren't available or when you need to be protected against germs found in publicand private places.
I made a mistake. I meant to say I am a consultant to the company that makes Zytrel XP, BioDefense Solutions. I do not work for the company that makes Purell. Sorry.
Knitty, I absolutely think we've been influenced by the media. Sometimes it is a good thing for us to be so saturated with information, but at other times it is a detriment. But even though I wish I could say I don't use any of that stuff, I'd be lying if I did. I, too, have given in to the pressure and carry it in my purse. I guess it makes me feel like I'm doing at least a little something when I can't get to a sink.
I think that in other times, the bar wasn't so high in terms of cleanliness. And servants were more common, using all sorts of concoctions they made themselves as well as bought, even way back when. I'm a clean fanatic but I use several old standbys the most, and lots of elbow grease.
This is absolutely true. My son is a physician and has explained this to me many times. We are hurting our own immunity by those other chemicals. A lot of times in school - the teachers squirt cleanser on the children's hands right before lunch, instead of having them wash their hands. YUCK!
Happy New Year - Have a glass of wine.
Sandie
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