Non-Toxic Clean: Wash your hands the natural way against COVID-19

April 30, 2020

All-natural COVID-19 fighting tips for clean hands

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to dominate health concerns around the world, keeping clean hands is more essential than ever. But some popular cleaning products have harsh chemicals that can cause issues as mild as irritating dry hands, to more severe health concerns like antibiotic resistance. For all-natural protection against COVID-19, consider these useful swap-outs in your daily hand cleansing routine.

Hand Soaps – Say no to Anti-Bacterial

Good old hand washing remains the first line of defense against COVID-19. And nothing sounds more clinically impressive than “antiseptic,” which has long been selling point for hand soaps. However, the FDA says there is currently no evidence that consumer antiseptic wash products are any more effective at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water. And that’s good news for those trying to keep toxic-free, as the most common active ingredient, triclosan, has been linked to adverse health conditions, including antibiotic resistance, increased allergies and hormonal imbalances.

Instead, explore the growing range of all-natural hand soaps that exclude other allergy-irritating chemicals (because no one needs allergies on top of a novel coronavirus).

Hand Sanitizers – Keep it Simple

Though experts say hand washing remains the most effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19, hand sanitizers provide an effective alternative when a good scrub isn’t available. The CDC recommends consumers use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Many commercial sanitizers however calso ontain artificial dyes and fragrances that often include excessive Volatile Organic Compounds (or VOCs for short). Prolonged exposure to these pollutants can disrupt organ and hormonal functions. Instead, opt for sanitizers that avoid these excessive additives. Some products also swap out artificial scents for all-natural essential oils.

To learn more about how to also protect your workplace from COVID-19, explore our Cleaning and Disinfection Guide.