Wipe down surfaces, wash your hands, don’t touch your face… we are all doing our best to stay germ free these days. No matter where you fall on the spectrum, from wiping down groceries to simply being more mindful, the goal is to stay healthy. Here are a few products aimed at helping you succeed.
Hand Sanitizers
Hand sanitizer has become the latest accessory in the time of Covid. In fact, the gel has been in such demand over the past few months that distilleries across the nation have stepped in and started producing. At the start of the pandemic, pickins’ were so slim, consumers stocked up and rejoiced with what they could scrounge up. Now it seems, the options are endless. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the best way to prevent the spread of infections and decrease the risk of getting sick is by washing your hands with plain soap and water, sanitizer is a good option for when you’re not able to do that.
Dr. Andrew Alexis, MD, chair of Mount Sinai’s department of dermatology tells Women’s Health that the best germ killers are “alcohol-based sanitizers with 60 percent alcohol or higher.”
Here are a few that have been highly rated among users and are worth a look.
Squeaky Clean Hand Sanitizer
This vegan formula from Megababe kills 99.9% of bacteria on contact, hydrates with the nourishing botanicals of sweet almond & marula oil and has a light, natural citrus scent derived from orange oil & bergamot. Contains 62 percent ethyl alcohol.
Orly Sanitizer Spray
This spray-on formula contains just 4 ingredients; hydrogen peroxide, glycerin, purified water. Consumers can also feel good that each purchase helps to supply no cost sanitizer to first responders and at-risk populations in the city of Los Angeles. Contains 75% isopropyl alcohol.
Touchland
This dermatologist tested spritz hydrates with aloe vera and a blend of essential oils to leave hands soft and healthy. Eliminates 99.9% of harmful germs, never feels sticky and leaves your hands smelling great. Contains 67% ethyl alcohol
Ozonation
Heading to the sink is still #1, which is probably why products that transform home faucets into natural sanitizers are gaining more attention these days. Cashido’s OzoneOn technology, for example, claims to kill over 99% of bacteria on hands and remove 75% of pesticides on food and surfaces in one 10 second rinse… and you don’t even need soap or extra cleaners. Ozone will keep your hands clean, help your fruit and vegetables stay fresher longer, and is very popular for washing pets. While the technology is still being studied on Coronavirus, it has been proven to kill other viruses such as SARS. It is not recommended for drinking, although there is a switch you can use to toggle between ozone and regular water.
Natural Disinfectant
If you are looking to keep the house disinfected, but aren’t a fan of harsh chemicals, AVIAIR claims to have the answer. The company sells a cleanser made of hypochlorous acid, which is a natural ingredient produced when salt and water are run through an Electrolyzed Oxidizing Process. It’s non irritating, safe for the environment and according to recent studies has been shown to kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus after 20 seconds of treatment. Hypochlorous acid is also included on the EPA’s list of disinfectants to use against COVID.
For more approved disinfectants, check the products approved by the CDC.
There’s a lot to take in right now, but the key message is, don’t beat yourself up. Focus on cleaning high touch surfaces, wash your hands and when you don’t have access to a sink, use an alcohol based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. These are hard times and the best advice is to just do what you can to stay clean, protect yourself and others.
Elise Edwards
Writer/Producer
Elise began her career as a Writer/Anchor/Reporter at CNN headquarters in Atlanta, GA. She also served as Supervising Producer at E! Networks and most recently, has been busy freelance producing and writing for numerous magazines and blogs.
