what do you think of hand sanitizer?

**melanies** · 10-08-2009, 02:57 PM

I get these HUGE bottles (40 ounces) at Costco for maybe $4.50 or so and I have small plastic bottles that you can get for a dollar at the drugstore. I fill those from the large bottle.

Oh and to answer the question (lol) I think use of it helps to not spread germs. I am not always a stickler about it but its nice to have it there

**Thevail** · 10-08-2009, 08:27 PM

My skin is really dry so i don't use that stuff. Dd does though, she's on busses and at different schools all the time.

**Trishagirl** · 10-08-2009, 08:48 PM

I have some in my pure and in the bathroom but don't use it much. I work for a dentist & he uses it all the time between seeing patients. I use it at work cause it's available if I blow my nose or sneeze.

**skw6559** · 10-09-2009, 11:29 PM

I use it everyday at work and at times when I can't wash my hands easily. I think the nice thing about it is that it is easy to use and most people don't wash their hands long enough typically.

**Rosebush3** · 10-10-2009, 08:10 AM

I never buy it. I only use it at work when I have a leaking package of raw chicken come through the checkout and it just isn't feasable to go to the bathroom to wash my hands every time. It is alcohol based, not triclosan based. I use it get the ick off my hands, I don't worry about germs. I am not that careful and I almost never get sick. I haven't been ill in years, neither have my children.
The FDA states that antibacterial soaps offer no more protection that simple soap and water. They have no benefit for users and have the potential to cause drug resitant bacteria.
Not all bacteria on us is harmful, some of it is beneficial and protects us against the more harmful ones. I'm not killing off the good ones that might be there. Even the CDC says antibacterial soaps are not necessary. All of the antibacterial products flushed down the drain are also killer to a septic system. There is antibacterial handsoap, dishsoap, laundry detergent, household clearers and more, it's just too much.

**Raven** · 10-10-2009, 03:17 PM

Most people I know have jumped on the antibacterial germaphobic bandwagon. Unfortunately most of them see the stuff as better then plain soap and water and so feel that they don't have to wash their hands since they use the hand sanitizer. I don't know, to me its gross to walk around with a bunch of dead bacteria on my hands. lol

I do have a small bottle of it in my car that I use less then once a month. And I rarely if ever allow my daughter to use it. I feel we have immune systems for a reason, and like everything else if you don't use it gets weaker! If you never come into contact with germs how is your body suppose to become resistant to them??

My friend who practically bathes her kids in hand sanitizer every time they touch anything, get sick a lot, my daughter, who instead of relying on sanitizer, knows how to properly wash her hands, and is allowed to play at the park and in the sand and get dirty without being drenched in sanitizer is sick maybe once a year for a day or two. Go figure.

**fairydana** · 10-10-2009, 04:06 PM

I do have some in my purse, in my locker at work and in my vehicle. I do use them when I cant wash my hands. I do use it more at work than anything.

**brainyblonde** · 10-10-2009, 08:14 PM

I only use them when there is no soap and water available. I don't like the way they dry out my hands.

**WV_mom_of2** · 10-12-2009, 12:41 PM

I keep a small bottle in each vehicle and a bottle in my purse. Dd(17) carries a bottle with her at all times too. She is very generous and shares it at school. I tell her the more people she sanitizes the less likely she is to catch something LOL. They eat alot at school and don't get to wash their hands(like when the class has an assignment to bring food from a country they are studying, etc.). She also has an after school job working with small children so I'm glad she uses it alot.

Ds won't carry it to school because he says it comes open in his pocket. He does use what is in the classrooms though.

I keep a bottle in my kitchen and one in the bathroom too. And I always have a bottle on the counter at work for me and the other girl to use. She rarely ever uses it or even washes her hands, which I think is gross considering we work with the public, handle A LOT of money each day and clean bathrooms. I've seen her spend hours handling money then grab her lunch and eat it without a thought. YUCK!

I wash my hands with soap and water A LOT both at home and at work. I use the sanitizer when I can't get to soap and water(there is no bathroom in my office).

**Lady_V** · 10-12-2009, 01:23 PM

I started using it years ago when I was doing nursing in peoples homes... for -after- I washed my hands... because I just KNOW that the handles are dirty...

The Old Man uses it a lot because he is in, out, on and under peoples homes all the time and there are just times that he wants to 'feel clean'.

A letter came home from Diva's school on Friday, a child has been confirmed to have N1H1 and they requested that every child bring a bottle of hand sanitizer to school. Her classroom is on the third floor... the bathrooms are in the basement. Washing with soap and water after ever sneeze, cough or touch is rather hard for them.

I have noticed a lot of people carrying bottles around more and more...

I do think the 'scare factor' has something to do with it... but if you are going to use the bottles... WIPE the bottles too!!! Otherwise, you touched it with dirty hands and now your nice clean hands are grabbing the bottle to put it back in your bag.

**annymoll** · 10-12-2009, 02:18 PM

I prefer soap and water, but have sanitizer at all times handy, especially the wipes- for shopping cart handles, wiping down the phones and the keyboards, doorknobs... blah blah blah. I would love to wrap some up and give as gifts to those who sneeze and cough into their hands, then handle money or food, wanna shake hands, etc. without washing or sanitizing. You people are gross.Build your own immunity that way if you choose, but stay away from me. I am a germaphobe and am never sick.Lots of fruits and veggies.Where is my Lysol?Must purge the air in here.