Without using soap or water, hand sanitizing dispensers are easy methods of getting our hands clean, and they're conveniently located in schools, offices and public spaces. But is this liquid gel hazardous to our health?
Store-bought hand sanitizers can contain up to 62 per cent of ethyl alcohol intended to kill germs and bacteria on our hands.
David Friedman, a certified doctor of naturopathy, says some germs won't be affected by hand sanitizers and another key ingredient -- triclosan -- can be harmful to humans, according to Yahoo News.
But not all organizations would ban the use of sanitizers. Health Canada encourages use of the gel -- but never as a replacement for water and soap. So yes, this means if you just finished your business on the toilet, head to the sink and leave that sanitizer in your bag. Health Canada only recommends using a spray or liquid sanitizer when water and soap aren't available.
If you're looking for a green way to kill those 99.9 per cent of germs, you could make your own spray with household items easily found in grocery stores.
Check out this recipe by Dr. Lawrence Rosen of Pediatric Integrative Medicine, a program housed within the University Of Alberta.
Ingredients:
• 3 oz. filtered water
• 1 tsp. aloe vera gel
• 10 drops cinnamon essential oil
• 10 drops clove essential oil
• 10 drops rosemary essential oil
• 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 20 drops lemon oil
Instructions: Mix ingredients in a 4-ounce spray dispenser, and shake gently.
ALSO: Common places to find germs in your kitchen:
