The Safest Way to Kill Germs
Sunday, March 16th, 2008
Antibacterial liquid soap contain triclosan (and bars with triclocarban) are no better at preventing infections than regular soaps-and may also decrease the effectiveness of some antibiotics, according to a review of 27 soap studies at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. The bottom line, skip products labeled antibacterial. Here are some ideas to help get your started in the right direction as far as the kinds of suds you should be lathering up on your hands and treating cuts and scraps with:
• Plain soap and warm water: Scrub for 20 seconds, including under your nails and between your fingers. If soap, water and something to dry your hands on aren’t near try…
• Alcohol-based sanitizer: Formulas containing 62% ethyl alcohol are ideal for on-the-go cleaning and don’t contribute to antibiotic resistance. The down side is that alcohol won’t work well if there is visible soil on the hands. And keep these products away from smaller kids. They may cause intoxication or poisoning if ingested. None a fan of alcohols, then try…
• Nonalcoholic sanitizers: Formulas containing benzalkonium chloride, or BAC, are favored by some children because of the lack of alcohol. The downside to these kinds re that BAC has been associated with antibiotic resistance, the less often than triclosan. There are also some products out on the market that do no contain BAC that work just as well, such as Burt’s Bees hand sanitizer.
More on soap: Thought that green stuff with your sushi was there just to clear your sinuses? Japanese researchers found that wasabi actually fights bacteria. And some companies are taking the germ fighter from the restaurant to your rest room as they introduce wasabi soaps. And they work no better than just regular soap though. Just washing your hands for 30 seconds with any soap will rid you of 99.9% of germs. If you like the soaps because they smell divine, then use them, but be sure and wash for at least 30 seconds.
