Right around the holidays, I remember breathing a silent sigh of relief! We had managed to get through escape the brunt of cold and flu season without incident. And then it hit us…first it was my daughter…then it was my husband and I. The only one who has managed to remain healthy this year is my son (it must be all of those colorful fruits and vegetables he eats!).
We’ve implemented a ton of cold and flu prevention techniques, and while I find each to be effective, perhaps the most important is hand-washing. As an RN, the proper way to wash hands was one of my first learned skills and I’m constantly reminding me children of how important it is…before meals…after using the restroom…after school and outdoor play time. But with all of this hand-washing, the question begs…should we be using antibacterial soap each and every time we wash our hands?
With concerns over resistance (microorganisms that no longer respond to the medications currently available), we have actually use two different kinds of soap in our home. One is an antibacterial hand soap, like Lysol’s Touch of Foam, which kills 99.9% of germs. This is what we use after we’ve been exposed to germs. Antibacterial soaps can be harsh on hands and this new foam soap was designed to protect skin and includes microbubbles which leave hands soft and moisturized. Lysol’s Touch of Foam antibacterial hand soap is available in 3 scents (Creamy Vanilla Orchid, Rose & Cherry in Bloom, and Wild Berry Bliss) and available at Walmart for $2.97.
When we want to wash our hands after making a craft or playing outside, we use conventional soap without an antibacterial agent. In doing this we hope to minimize the risk of resistance while still killing harmful bacteria when there is a risk of exposure.
So how should families wash their hands? Remember these two tips and you’ll put up a first line of defense against germs
1. Lather up! Interestingly enough, the temperature of the water is not important.
2. Scrub a dub! Be sure to wash for a full 20 seconds for effective germ removal. Not sure how long that is? Just sing the ABCs and you’ll be good to go.
Lysol will host a Touch of Foam Mobile Hand Spa where customers can receive a free hand massage after a hand washing with Lysol Touch of Foam. The tour runs through April 26th and will visit local malls, retailers, and shopping districts. For more information, visit Lysol on Facebook.
Images: Lysol
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Good tips!