Life’s Little Messes…

Last week I told you a little bit about Kleenex’s new Hand Towels, “an innovative solution” that delivers one clean, fresh, dry towel every time you wash and dry your hands.  In the past, I’ve always used a communal hand towel to dry my hands (although I refuse to do this when I’m at an unfamiliar place).  And I guess that’s ok…if no one in the house is sick.  But it’s actually more sanitary to use a single-use towel and recommended by the CDC.  But why?

According to the CDC, wet hands (regardless of whether or not they’re clean) can transfer pathogens more readily than dry hands.  Now I know why we were taught to turn off faucets and open bathroom doors with a dry paper towel.  Proper drying can help prevent the transfer of viruses and bacteria to surfaces, food, and other people.

Kleenex Hand Towels are soft, absorbent and free from inks, dyes and fragrances.  Hand-washing is the single most important step in preventing the transmission of microorganisms.  Hand drying comes next.  The Kleenex website offers educational activities designed to teach hand hygiene.  Remember when you learned to sing the ABCs while washing your hands as a child?  That song can be followed by the Drying Song.

A box of Kleenex Hand Towels retails for $2.99 and the product is available at retailers nationwide.

This is part of a compensated campaign with Kleenex and The Motherhood.

Wash and Dry Those Hands! *Giveaway*

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Crystal A. Congrats!

As a NICU nurse, I am constantly washing my hands.  While it may be instinctual for me, we are constantly reminding our families to keep our babies safe by washing their hands.  We have signs posted on the unit, sinks available on entry into our unit, and 20 second timers that can be used to ensure that we’re all washing our hands for the appropriate length of time. We don’t reuse towels.  I remember learning about the congregation of germs on communal towels.

Drying hands properly is as important as correct washing. I can barely get my son to wash his hands, let alone dry them most of the time.  That’s why Kleenex came up with The Drying Song.  Do you want to hear it? : )  Here are the adorable lyrics:

My hands are gonna be clean
When I wash and I dry with mommy and sing
This song that’s exactly two clean hands long
Warm water and soap and bubbles that shine
A Kleenex Hand Towel that’s mine all mine
And a song that’s exactly two clean hands long
No yucky old towel’s gonna ruin my day
I dry my hands the Kleenex towel way
So if you’re a fan of clean hands too
Roll up your sleeves and I’ll sing with you.

Did you know that even if a hand towel doesn’t look dirty, it isn’t clean?  Or that one-time use towels have been shown to be more hygienic (per Kleenex)?  Or that the CDC guidelines for hand washing recommend hand drying with a single-use towel?  Kleenex recently launched their brand new disposable Hand Towels.  I just received a few sample packs and I’m looking forward to trying them out (I’ve been known to use kitchen towels to dry my hands).  Kleenex Hand Towels are free from inks, dyes, and fragrances and are comprised of Dry-Touch fibers for enhanced absorbency.  A box retails for $2.99 and they’re available at retailers nationwide.

Battle the Bug With Kleenex…Plus a $50 Visa Card Giveaway!

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Deborah Wellenstein. Congrats!

Despite the fact that we’re not officially in the midst of cold and flu season, Swine Flu and other viral and bacterial illnesses are very much a presence in our country.  Hand washing and antibacterial gels are a staple in our household.  Here are some facts you may not know about the cold and and flu.

It is estimated that there are more than 125 million workdays missed by parents who stay home with a sick child

One sneeze can spray 100,000 infectious droplets into the air at more than 200 MPH

Cold and flu viruses can live up to 24-hours on hard surfaces and up to 3 hours on your skin

Rhinovirus is most active from late fall, spring and summer

Up to 189 million school days are missed each year due to a cold

If and when you do get sick, you may want to consider the all-new Kleenex Anti-Viral Tissues.  I haven’t tried them yet, but these “super” tissues can actually kill viruses.   Here is a little more information from the site:

• The blue-dotted, moisture-activated layer indicates it’s a Kleenex Anti-Viral Tissue
• Tissues are fragrance free
• The middle layer of Kleenex Anti-Viral Tissues contains active ingredients that kill 99.9% of cold and flu viruses
• They are extremely soft and gentle enough even for small children

Wash your hands before you eat, after you use the bathroom, after you play with a pet and when you come in from playing outdoors

Get a good night’s sleep every night. Sleep can help strengthen the immune system

Dispose of used tissues in the trash as soon as possible