Hand Sanitizer

[creativecstasy]

Hi everyone,

2014 will be my third burn. I've got a great routine to keep my hands in good condition (featuring THESE TWO Burt's Bees products at night, plus gloves to really soak it in) but I'm looking to step it up a notch this year.

I'm thinking of eschewing the typical purell type hand sanitizer and going with a lotion or moisturizing product instead. I'm primarily considering Gold Bond Hand Sanitizer and Moisturizer and EO Hand Sanitizer Gel.

My question is if anyone has used anything akin to these moisturizing hand sanitizers before, and if you found it to be a good product on playa. I suppose I'm nervous that it either won't work as well as the typical product and/or that the lotion will lead to MORE playa sticking to my skin. Any comments on personal experience are appreciated.

thanks!

[shroom]

i only used hand sanitizer after using the bathroom. i kept a small bottle in my bag and also a small bottle of lotion. i have used some of the moisturizing santizers at home but not on the playa yet.

[Elderberry]

Over use of hand sanitizer can reduce your tolerance to germs and disease, as your body doesn't get the opportunity to build up immunity. (http://foods4thoughtblog.wordpress.com/ ... anitizers/ Pretty much only 3 & 6.

[Jovankat]

Over use of hand sanitizer can reduce your tolerance to germs and disease, as your body doesn't get the opportunity to build up immunity. (http://foods4thoughtblog.wordpress.com/ ... anitizers/ Pretty much only 3 & 6.

Probably not in the space of a week though...

[Gunslinger]

Over use of hand sanitizer can reduce your tolerance to germs and disease, as your body doesn't get the opportunity to build up immunity. (http://foods4thoughtblog.wordpress.com/ ... anitizers/ Pretty much only 3 & 6.

Probably not in the space of a week though...

Amen to that! And unless you're going to immediately wash your hands with soap and water after using the potties (I do! but I also have a small water reservoir and soap in my trike basket) I highly suggest sanitizer! nobody wants e-coli or such at BM

[shroom]

Over use of hand sanitizer can reduce your tolerance to germs and disease, as your body doesn't get the opportunity to build up immunity. (http://foods4thoughtblog.wordpress.com/ ... anitizers/ Pretty much only 3 & 6.

Probably not in the space of a week though...

Amen to that! And unless you're going to immediately wash your hands with soap and water after using the potties (I do! but I also have a small water reservoir and soap in my trike basket) I highly suggest sanitizer! nobody wants e-coli or such at BM

agreed. i'm not using a porta potty anywhere without some hand sanitizer.

[Lonesomebri]

And they call me crazy for my luggable loo. Look, the only e-coli I'm touching is my own! While using hand-sanitizer for only a week won't deplete your immune system, my suspicion is that some people might use those products a lot off playa....but I could be wrong. My germs are trained and conditioned to fight, and win, in the battle with outsiders.

I volunteer with dogs. All the refined people use alot of hand-sanitizer. The dogs lick me everywhere, they stick their nose in other dogs urine, they sleep in my bed, they poop outside and step in their own waste while playing, they lick my clothes, they lick my legs when I get out of the shower... Then I see the folks using the hand-sanitizer, and wonder if it comes in a body wash?

On the playa I bring a bottle of spray olive oil for my hands and feet. It seems to be less goopy than other moisturizers.

[gyre]

Neutrogena intensive moisture wrap body treatment unscented. 10.5 oz version.
They seem to have a larger version, maybe with more water?
Water soluble and washable.
They have a hand lotion, but I don't like it as much.
I find it will remove grease from your fingernails, with ivory soap, after it soaks in.
Even paint.

Better than any exotic harsh cleaner I've tried.
A makeup artist makes me suspect that cold cream is the important ingredient.

I'm sure there are better products.
I haven't found anything cheaper that was worth having.

There is a compact hand lotion that is more portable.
Drier though.

[BBadger]

Oh man, send in the germaphobes.

You know, a person probably get more bacteria on his or her hands from handling his/her own junk than the person would ever from touching surfaces in the portapotty. Then, ironically, after emptying one's bladder the person puts his or her palms on the very surface that is the primary destination after soiling one's hands: the hand sanitizer pump. It accumulates the ass-germs of every person who has used that hand-pump. After all, the hands are only "sanitized" after pumping, right? And who wipes down the pump handle after palming the thing?

Yeah, that's right, wipe your newly ass-germ-covered hands with that alcohol-based sanitizer. Sure it kills the bacteria, but where does all that residue go? Nowhere. It's right there on your hands, providing a nice food source for other bacteria once the sanitizer dries ups. This is all of course in the context of an incredibly dusty and dirty environment that clings to your hands the moment they get wet. Wet, from a drying agent you put on your hands, which cakes more drying agent (playa dust) on your hands that will cause cracking and damaged hands, allowing those lovely ass-germs to enter your blood stream. Oh, and feel that lovely burn of alcohol on your bloody cuticles? ASS GERMS.

But holy shit, you've gotta clean your hands off right after leaving the portapotty! Maybe some of that bacteria survives on that thin layer of dust managed to cling to your skin without some sort of liquid (or did you pee on your hands?). You wouldn't want to get it on your dusty bike handles or anything. Maybe you'll be kneading bread at your camp?

[Elliot]

Not sure I want to open this can of worms, but....

Q: What is the one thing you always touch right after using the toilet, before you wash your hands, that you never ever ever clean or sanitize in any manner, way, shape or form?

A: Your belt.

I did not think of this myself. I read about a college student who used his own belt as the source of a bacteria specimen for a class lab assignment. He was told to never bring something so dangerous to school again.

My favorite 30-year-old double-layer leather belt would probably qualify as a Super-Fund Toxic Site. I just don't know what to do about it. Soak the belt in disinfectant every time I do laundry?

[creativecstasy]

Not sure I want to open this can of worms, but....

Q: What is the one thing you always touch right after using the toilet, before you wash your hands, that you never ever ever clean or sanitize in any manner, way, shape or form?

A: Your belt.

Well that's something I'll never be able to unread.

[Elliot]

Not sure I want to open this can of worms, but....

Q: What is the one thing you always touch right after using the toilet, before you wash your hands, that you never ever ever clean or sanitize in any manner, way, shape or form?

A: Your belt.

Well that's something I'll never be able to unread.

Like I said... can of worms, and I suppose I should apologize. But what if belts are suddenly identified as the source of 72% of all e-coli outbreaks? Stranger things have happened. You heard it here first.

[ygmir]

Not sure I want to open this can of worms, but....

Q: What is the one thing you always touch right after using the toilet, before you wash your hands, that you never ever ever clean or sanitize in any manner, way, shape or form?

A: Your belt.

Well that's something I'll never be able to unread.

Like I said... can of worms, and I suppose I should apologize. But what if belts are suddenly identified as the source of 72% of all e-coli outbreaks? Stranger things have happened. You heard it here first.

I don't wear a belt, and, I'm not touching yours........so I feel safe.

[Elliot]

... ...
I don't wear a belt, ...

I do even better, just not on shift.

I suppose I ought to put my money where my mouth is and buy a new belt for my shift uniform. Or soak an old belt in a jar of cheap vodka for a day or two, just to see how it turns out. The belt might disappear.

[Maizie]

... ...
I don't wear a belt, ...

I do even better, just not on shift.

I suppose I ought to put my money where my mouth is and buy a new belt for my shift uniform. Or soak an old belt in a jar of cheap vodka for a day or two, just to see how it turns out. The belt might disappear.

But hey, it'd be germ-free!

[shroom]

great, now i have to put sanitizer on my pants too.

[theCryptofishist]

Oh boo hoo. Every time I use a public toilet, I get to take my pants off while I'm sitting on the pot.


If Cecil Adams hadn't assured my many years ago that the seat is the least dirty part of the damn thing, I'd probably have Ebola by now.

[FIGJAM]

Do you get elbowla when you use your manual chair?

[theCryptofishist]

Yes. Ebowla in the shoulder...

[FIGJAM]

Showbola???

[theCryptofishist]

That's a musical...

[FIGJAM]

Muscles, tenders, who cares?

[BBadger]

• Flush the toilet in the bathroom after taking a dump = vaporized fecal matter and urine particles going all over the enclosed space of your bathroom, onto your towels, cups, tooth brush -- and you! After all, if you can smell it, something is making it to your face. Yeah, that's right, the porta-potty is probably doing you a favor by not flushing.
• Office water cooler = never wiped down, must use hands to activate the knob, splashes up liquids from cups that touch peoples' mouths.
  Major source of bacteria = Other humans. Oh no, what about those CROWDS?!!

Wow, you might as well just stay in your tent the whole week if you're afraid of germs.

But no. Want to avoid getting sick? You'll get a whole lot more mileage out of:

1. Not touching your face until you know your hands are clean using soap, not just sanitized.
2. Washing your hands before preparing meals.
3. Keeping your orifices away from other orifices.

[robbidobbs]

Yep, don't put your fingers in your mouth.

[tatonka]

Ive never used it , had always seemed like a waste of money. Then later I heard it lowers your your ability to fight germs normaly.

[otakup0pe]

Ive never used it , had always seemed like a waste of money. Then later I heard it lowers your your ability to fight germs normaly.

Indeed it does. That is why plenty of people in this thread explicitly state they only use it at Burning Man or similar events.

[robbidobbs]

Yep. And on playa I live in the potties. I'm taking a spray bottle w bleach water this yr. and I don't put my fingers in my mouth.

[Savannah]

Not sure I want to open this can of worms, but....

Q: What is the one thing you always touch right after using the toilet, before you wash your hands, that you never ever ever clean or sanitize in any manner, way, shape or form?

A: Your belt.

I did not think of this myself. I read about a college student who used his own belt as the source of a bacteria specimen for a class lab assignment. He was told to never bring something so dangerous to school again.

My favorite 30-year-old double-layer leather belt would probably qualify as a Super-Fund Toxic Site. I just don't know what to do about it. Soak the belt in disinfectant every time I do laundry?

I read about a push to discourage doctors from wearing neckties for the same reason. How often does a necktie get washed?

[Elliot]

Yeah, neck ties might be second on the list, but a distant second. I imagine a man would not straighten his tie until after he has washed his hands. (I don't remember wearing a tie.)

I'm thinking that my belts might benefit from an application of Lysol once in a while? Or some such disinfectant? What would do the job without damaging the belt or smelling funny?

[Oldguy]

Shoes, I never step into the blue box unshod. Thinking about using gloves to take off dusty, infected shoes now. Thanks NOT.