Antibacterial Gels and What to Not Buy

   I've been doing a lot of research and holding off on blogging lately.  Through networking with the Environmental Working Group and the Learning Disabilities Association, I've learned a lot of new information and I've been adding my voice to those encouraging our Maine State Government to enact legislation that protects us from disreputable manufacturers. 

  The greater part of teaching is actually studying.  You, dear readers, will hopefully be joyful to learn that I've also been studying with a writing tutor.  As I learn more on the emerging science behind safe housekeeping, the persistence of predatory advertising and toxic cleaning chemistry in general, I hope to share this information with you in a finer fashion.  

The following is taken from my (new and improved) Conscious Housekeeping Class.

 As in all things, each of us must decide what seems reasonable to us. If you are at all curious about or skeptical of this information, I urge you to research your own trusted sources. Ultimately, I present this information as a suggestion for you to accept or reject as you will. Times change, new information becomes available, sometimes old information resurfaces. Do what you feel is best not because you are told to by me or any advertisement and especially not because “it's always been done this way”. Do what you feel is best because you are confident in your understanding of the facts.

This is not magic nor mysterious; it is basic science and it is powerful information in your hands.

What to Know When Buying Antibacterial Gels and Hand Rubs

     For an alcohol based antibacterial gel to be effective, the product must be at least 60% alcohol and the amount of gel applied to the skin must be sufficient to keep the hands wet with the solution for at least 15 seconds. This is not less time than it takes to effectively wash your hands with soap and water. While these alcohol based hand rubs are convenient carry along products, they are expensive, toxic and flammable. Alcohol is absorbed through the skin so keep that in mind as you hand it to you kids. Precautions to handle these risks are required in a group care setting. These products do not affect viruses, clean dirt or grime off of your hands and are not as effective when dirt is present.

     Alcohol free antibacterial gels containing benzalkonium chloride belong to a family of very strong biocides, bacteria exposed to them and survive become immune. Manufacturers of cleaning chemistry are now on the 4^th generation of biocides and the bacteria continue to get stronger. This chemistry is dangerous in the hands of the general public and should only be used in a hospital setting. (a biocide is chemistry capable of destroying all forms of life, not just micro-organisms, biocides are the "big guns")  

     The antibacterial hand rubs with the ingredient “thymol” are a good choice. Thymol is made from the herb, Common Thyme. Thymol has been proven to be a very effective antibacterial, is found in Listerine as an antiseptic and Seventh Generation wipes as a disinfectant. It is non toxic and has many other beneficial properties.

What to Know When Buying Cleaning and Personal Products

Advertising, be it in print, on packaging, the radio or TV, has replaced basic education and common knowledge of the entire range of hygiene, housekeeping, health and beauty issues. This is alarming and very dangerous for us and our families. We surrender our control to the manufacturers of toxic chemistry when we make purchasing decisions based on advertising. Manufacturers and advertising agencies recruit psychology majors from elite universities, well trained in the manipulative arts. They know how our minds and emotions work and they use this knowledge to create their vast wealth at the expense of our self determination, our mental and physical health.

“Greenwashing” is a term meaning a company or it's products that are advertised as being “green” but is a lie. I suggest checking out greenwashingindex.com, a website created by Enviromedia and the University of Oregon's School of Journalism. It is a watchdog website that posts feedback from consumers and businesses reporting false statements or have questions about advertising they've seen. This is information coming from the general public.

Genuine Green Cleaners can be certified by third party organizations such as Green Seal, Eco-logo or Design for the Environment, but some truly green cleaners are not certified. Green Seal tests and approves products as safe, then charges the manufacturers exorbitant amounts of money for the right to display their logo. Each product from the same manufacturer is subject to the same fee. Ecologo is trying to merge with Green Seal which hopefully will reduce the financial cost of green labeling for the manufacturers who qualify. Design for the Environment is “the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's program to help consumers, businesses and institutional buyers identify cleaning and other products that perform well, are cost effective and are safer for the environment.”. Ecolabel Index and Consumer Reports Greener Choices also provide reliable online information but as always use your own judgment.

What You Should Not Buy

Air Fresheners Fresh air and cleanliness have no smell. Our sense of smell brings us delight and alerts us to danger. Most commercial air fresheners contain the worst chemistry, coating the insides of our noses with an oil that disrupts our ability to smell. Ask yourself “How are their claims possible?” Apply your intelligence and really watch the next time you see an air freshener commercial. If there is a bad smell, your nose is alerting you to danger and this is not something to cover up. Address the source of the smell. If you want a pleasantly scented home, use air fresheners scented with genuine essential oils or scent it yourself with essential oils or vanilla flavoring.

Dusting Aids and Furniture Polish Consider their advertising claims with your good common sense. Is it possible their products can actually reduce the amount of dust that falls? You'll be dusting less and the allegedly desirable shine is because the coating of chemistry that lays on your furniture absorbs the dust with it's moisture so you can't see it. Wooden furniture benefits from an application of a quality wood oil in late fall before winter brings dry air. Dust with a cloth slightly damp with water. The manufacturers and the advertisers of commercial dusting aids and furniture polish are after your money with lies.

Aerosol anything This is the worst method of applying any product. These cans no not recycle well as the can may still be pressurized even if the can is empty by household standards. Never puncture or incinerate an aerosol can because it could explode. Why even go there when there are other options?

Poor Quality Spray Bottles When buying cleaning products, avoid the spray bottles. Buy the refill size with a screw top, fill and accurately label your own squirt bottles. Squirt the cleaner onto your cleaning cloth or under the toilet rim. It is dangerous and wasteful for this chemistry to travel through the air as a mist. Ammonia and bleach based cleaners are volatile, meaning they evaporate quickly and you breathe it in. One exception is hydrogen peroxide based cleaners used to disinfect. It must completely coat the item and remain for a length of time to be 100% effective. Spray bottles are best for this application. Hydrogen peroxide based cleaners are not particularly volatile but still should not be purchased in a poor quality sprayer as they leak easily which is wasteful and messy. If you have poor quality spray bottles of ammonia or vinegar based cleaners near a bleach based cleaner and they leak, a toxic gas will form.