It’s that time again; cooler weather, cozy sweaters, football games, and …germs. These days kids are bringing home more than homework. Here’s some basic ways to fight germs naturally without all the harsh chemicals.
WASH YOUR HANDS-Okay, nothing new here. When my kids walk in the door from school, I always welcome a peck on the cheek. Beyond that, “DO NOT touch me or anything food related until you WASH YOUR GRUBBY HANDS…sweetheart.”
And for all you little boys who claim you don’t need to wash your hands because you “only went #1”, you flushed didn’t you? Chances are the toilet handle wasn’t disinfected just before you went in or after the last person. Get it? I rest my case. So to my nephews (I will leave the guilty party unidentified), you’re washin’ your hands when you come to Aunt Jen’s, #1 or not.
According to the Mayo Clinic, hand washing is the simplest thing you can do to prevent getting sick.
As far as antibacterial products, there’s controversy over whether they’re more effective than regular soap and if they’re making germs more resistant. I don’t know about all that but what I do know is that conventional antibacterial products and hand sanitizers contain harsh chemicals. So harsh, our youngest is allergic to them. We discovered this when she started school and her hands became so dry and raw. When they were on winter break, her hands cleared up. We finally figured out it was the soap she was using at school. In our home (and now we send it into the classroom as well) we use plain old regular soap and hand sanitizer made from plant essentials.
Reminder: while hand sanitizers are great in a pinch, they are no substitute for a good hand washing.
HAND TOWELS, CHANGE THEM REGULARLY- Ideally hands are germ free when being dried but let’s face it, kids count to 25 pretty fast when suddzing up. Oh, and please remember to turn the water off while scrubbing up-this should be a no-brainer. Put fresh hand towels by the bathroom sink a few times through the week. Cute finger-tip towels can be costly and all that detailing doesn’t hold up well with regular washing. An alternative is to use washcloths for hand towels. Buy a bunch, nicer ones in colors of your decor, roll up the extras and keep them in a pretty bowl by the sink. Fresh towels will be stacked up ready for use, just like in the spas.
WASH YOUR WATER BOTTLES-By now hopefully your family is using stainless steel water bottles and minimizing your plastic consumption. Please break the habit of just filling those bottles back up. They do need to be washed. Each person in the family should have at least two: one for the current day’s use while the previous day's bottle is waiting to be washed. Ours Klean Kanteens get hand washed thoroughly on the outside where hands have been all day. Then the inside rim and the lid. Unless it was filled with something other than water, than water, no need to dump a bunch of soap inside though a bottle brush once in a while on the bottom will ensure you haven’t missed anything.
TOOTHBRUSHES-We do one of two things. Either we include them in a load once a week in the dishwasher or soak the heads in a small glass with hydrogen peroxide for several hours. Peroxide quickly begins to oxidize bacteria making it effective as a disinfectant and antimicrobial agent. If you’re using an electrical toothbrush without a detachable head, you’ll have the skip the dishwasher and stick with peroxide. I know “they” always tell you to throw out a toothbrush after you’ve been sick. Well, toothbrushes are expensive and at least once I’ve been suckered into an $8 musical one so unless the toothbrush was on its way out anyway, it’s getting washed.
LIP BALMS, GLOSSES, AND LINERS-Rule #1, are all you teenage girls listening? NO SHARING…EVER!!! Aside from the obvious, it wouldn’t hurt to take a facial tissue dabbed with some alcohol around the tops of these every once in awhile. A cotton ball will work but will leave cotton stuck on the top.
DOOR KNOBS- Now here’s one you probably haven’t thought of. It’s one of Lindsey’s official jobs every Saturday morning. Armed with a rag and a bottle of vinegar and water (50:50), she cleans each door knob paying extra attention to the door knob of the water closet because, well…no one washes their hands until after they’ve come out of the water closet. By the way, when cleaning toilets, don’t forget to disinfect the handle. Light switches, phone receivers, and computer keyboards are other “high touch” items and could use a wipe down regularly. Computer keys are small and you don’t want liquid getting down in there. Q-tips dabbed in alcohol are great to wipe each key with. Have some dry ones on hand too in case you accidentally over do it
And there you have it. May you have a happy, healthy season.
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8 comments:
Great stuff Jennifer!!! Thank you so much.
Well this is timely for me...3 weeks of swine flu is getting pretty old!
Jenn - I LOVED this article. Lots of good tips and they all make sense. They don't cost anything, we just need a nudge and little reminder. Loved the bit about your nephew! I witnessed one of those episodes. You are so clever.
Thanks for keeping us healthy.
Your best fans!
You go Girl - keep us on the ball.
Thank you for all those great tips on keeping the house germ free. I would like to add although not natural, one of my job's (my children are too young) is to spray the door handles with Lysol - not natural but very effective in sanitizing. Regarding the stainless steel water bottles, my husband bought an inexpensive baby bottle brush cleaner (96 cents) at Wal-mart to scrub the inside of the canteens and get all the way to the bottom. Our children use theirs for water only but when we rub the inside bottom with a rag, we have gotten some "grime" off the bottom. So, we all know dish soap goes a long way but it is worth a good scrubbing. Also, just bought the new sports top for the Klean Kanteen - any feedback on that for me?
Thank you!
And don't forget those pesky light switches - they always carry germs and dirt from the outside...........
Thanks for the tips fighting germs naturally on the outside of our bodies, but I have a tip to share to fight germs on the inside of our bodies. In early August, my daughter developed a cold with a hearty cough. The cold passed but the cough stayed and she looked terrible in the eyes. After the seeing the doc in Sept and was given a round of antibiotics - not so thrilled with that - but we went through the course, the cough hung on. So, in early October the cough still ringing throughout the house, we visited the doc again and he started mentioning chest xrays and for me to keep asthma in the back of my mind - what?!?!?! Well, no thanks. I ran home hopped on the internet and learned ACV, that's Apple Cider Vinegar, "cures" chronic coughs. People reported ACV cured the chronic coughs they have had for years and relieved them of what rounds and rounds of antibiotics could not accomplish. Well, I thought I have nothing to loose........ I put a tablespoon of ACV mixed with a little cranberry juice. Keep in mind, the more cranberry juice, the more you have to drink. And it does not taste good. But I tried it, thought not bad. I can get my 5 year old to it. And she does!!! She chugs her "concoction" each morning and she has no hacking cough. I will say since her body is small, I have pulled back on the ACV to help encourage her to stay with it. I only put 1 or 1/2 tspns in now. ACV is great for sore throats too - its properties fight the bacteria that cause sore throats. Amazing, it has been sitting in my pantry closet for years!
Hi, Jennifer, we met at the farmers market today. I love your blog and your logo, as well! I'm sure you have tons to blog about, but what are your thoughts on the swine flu?
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