With cold & flu season in full swing, allergies just around the corner, and kid’s activities going strong, on-the-go cleaning options are an absolute essential. Not just any wipe will do, though. Today, we’ll talk about why you need natural on-the-go cleaning wipes now more than ever. Then, we’ll take a look at why Handzies is one of my favorite brands to keep on hand (pun definitely intended).
Why You Need Natural On-the-Go Cleaning Wipes
The other day, I went to Costco to pick up a few bulk essentials. The scene was utter madness. People wearing masks and disinfecting carts like crazy. Signs warned customers about water limits and the hand sanitizer shelves were completely bare! The water thing is kind of scary as some people actually rely on bottled water because their own tap water isn’t safe.
The hand sanitizer shortage kind of shocked me, though. I mean, don’t people know that soap is always better? Even the CDC and researchers at the Purdue University say that good old-fashioned soap and water is best and that those sanitizers don’t work as well as people think they do.
Of course, sometimes soap and water aren’t readily available. Maybe you’re in the middle of a traffic jam on the freeway when you notice your little one’s drippy nose. Perhaps your daughter is next up at her gymnastics meet when you spot the giant glob of cheese next to her mouth. Or you’re hiking, camping, or even just in the middle of the store with a cart full of that coveted water that you can’t leave unattended.
What do you do then, when running to the bathroom to use soap and water is easier said than done? That’s where on-the-go cleaning options come into play. Keep in mind, though, that they’re not all created equally.
Are all On-the-Go Cleaning Options the Same?
Short answer? No, absolutely not. Some are harsher on your skin, a few just plain don’t work, and some can actually cause more harm than good. Let’s look at the most common on-the-go cleaning options to see what I mean.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers
Sure, they’re flying on the shelves like crazy (and completely sold out on Amazon), but do they even work? As mentioned above, most experts recommend them as a last resort, when soap and water aren’t available. Even then, they don’t work a fraction as well as you may think they do. The CDC points out that they aren’t as effective “when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.” They also “might not remove harmful chemicals, like pesticides and heavy metals, from hands”
Plus, they only work at all when they contain at least 60% alcohol, which can be an absolute nightmare for sensitive skin. Then there are the other ingredients, like Propylene Glycol, which is also found in antifreeze or triclosan, which is linked to bone loss in women.
Baby wipes
Baby wipes seem like a good solution at first glance. I mean, they’re made for your newborn’s most delicate parts, right? Before you agree and plop a package into your go bag, though, let’s look at some of the ingredients in a brand that’s actually made for your child’s hands and face. A brand that, by the way, claims to be “suitable for sensitive skin.”
Water, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Glycerin*, Carbomer, Coco-glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, p-Anisic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Fragrance
The ingredients in bold can cause skin irritation at the least and are classified as “expected to be toxic or harmful” at the worst. Not to mention the fact that I can’t even say half of those ingredients! Oh, and by the way, baby wipes DO NOT kill germs, plain and simple. They just sort of wipe them around.
Chemical-based hand wipes
Okay, so I’ve convinced you that baby wipes and hand sanitizer aren’t your best on-the-go cleaning options, right? So, you’ll just grab a package of those popular “wet” wipes from the shelf and call it a day! Hold your proverbial horses, there, partner. Those aren’t all that great for you, either! In fact, the Environmental Working Group gives them a score of 6 (with 0 being best and 10 being the worst).
Among the long list of ingredients, you’ll find irritants like fragrance, potential immunotoxins like benzethonium chloride & Propylene Glycol (remember, that’s an ingredient found in antifreeze). Hmm, those chemical-based hand wipes aren’t looking so good now, are they?
Natural wipes
At last, we come to an option without a list of ingredients that will make you dizzy just trying to say! Natural wipes stick with a very short list of easily pronounced ingredients. Handzies, for example, contains purified water, natural castile soap, tea tree oil, tangerine oil, citric acid and a 100% naturally derived “solubilizer” to help the water bind with the oils. You can also get them without the citrus scent if you prefer.
Here’s what you won’t find, according to the Handzies ingredient list: NO parabens, NO formaldehyde-releasers, NO halogenorganic compounds, and NO phenoxyethanol. Also NO alcohol.
Maybe you’re flashing back a few paragraphs to where the CDC said that hand sanitizers need 60%+ alcohol content. If so, you’re thinking, “Oh yeah, well how do these work without it?” Well, smarty pants, I have two answers for you!
First, it’s not necessary, since the wipes are literally a form of portable soap and water. Second, the essential oils have their own natural antibacterial properties. Fun fact, that’s part of the reason why perfumers and apothecaries rarely got the plague!
Handzies are great for sensitive skin
The best part for me, though, is that I can actually sanitize my family on the go without wreaking havoc on my daughter’s sensitive skin. She’s 4 and has a mild case of eczema, so she’s super sensitive to harsh detergents and soaps. When she gets irritated, it is usually worse on her arms and face. Handzies worked great for her. No irritation at all, even when I used them to clean her hands and around her mouth. I just use the Free and Clear for her, and the citrus scented ones for the rest of my family (I love the fresh and natural tangerine scent). I use them everywhere! They really do clean and remove dirt & germs rather than just smear them around like so many of the other options do.
Handzies are fantastic natural on-the-go wipes! I’ve used them at tennis practices for my son and gymnastics for my daughter. My kids always come out of those places with their hands so, so dirty and this is really great to keep in their bags. I also keep some in my car and my purse.
Alcohol-based sanitizers and other options may seem like a good idea at first glance, but when you dig deep, you’ll realize that the ingredients can actually cause more harm than good. Bottom line, soap and water are definitely the way to go when it comes to keeping your family clean and free of germs. When you can’t get to a sink, though, Handzies natural on-the-go cleaning wipes are the next best solution.
Thank you to Handzies for the opportunity to work together. Be sure to check out their website to learn more about their natural on-the-go wipes.
Note: With the Coronavirus scare Handzies is periodically selling out on Amazon. They are continually sending shipments so you may have to check back to see if they have been restocked. “
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