What did we do before hand sanitizer?

[LamingtonBear]

Just that really. I've noticed people using it, even where there are hand washing facilities.

No hand sanitizer to be had in the shops, still plenty of soap.

I know it has its uses out and about, but it seems to have replaced actual hand washing.

We did what we should be doing now and washed our hands which is more effective than hand sanitizer anyway, that should only be used if you cand get to a sink

I remember becoming aware of sanitizer about 20 years ago when ds was a baby. I wonder if we have a generation who are so used to being doused in the stuff that they haven't learned to hand wash.

Good old soap and water. It's better than sanitizer anyway.

I have had it on me for years, but only if I couldn't wash with soap and water. I work in the community, so sometimes good to give the hands a good rub.

We spent a lot of time washing our hands, especially women.
washing up, cleaning, most domestic chores involved having your hands in soapy water.
Now, we tend to let machines do it, or some have cleaners so don't get their hands wet.

We washed them as and when we could, I guess it is the same as all these different spray cleaners/wipes we have nowadays. We used soap and water (and a bit of elbow grease) and lived to tell the tale.

Soap & water.

I am actually carrying a mini shower gel bottle filled with liquid handsoap and a small bottle of water with me in DS’s diaper bag, even did that before the virus. I hate the thought of not being able to wash my hands.

We all died

I don't think the majority of the population actually use handsanitizer regularly. Hence why hand sanitizer has flown off the shelves and soap hasn't. Everyone already has soap, hand sanitizer is for times when you can't access soap. It's all very well to be all smug and "just wash your hands" but you can't wash your hands in a lot of situations, on the tube/bus for example

You go to Tesco you can't then run back inside to wash your hands after putting your trolley away.

There's loads of situations where it's impractical to wash your hands and then hand sanitizer comes in.

This doesn't apply in the case of a new virus like Corona, but in the days before antibacterial this and that was all over the place ... we built up our immunity by exposure to germs.

And like saying "soap and water is all you need to not smell"

Well yes that's true if it were practical to shower 20x a day. But you also use deodorant on top of showering. It's not practical to constantly wash your hands in every situation .

Of course after toilet, before food prep/eating, but out in public it's quite a challenge

I wonder if we have a generation who are so used to being doused in the stuff that they haven't learned to hand wash.

More likely a generation too lazy to wash our hands at all. The sheer number of dirty buggers who don't wash their hands in public loos is almost criminal. Then you have all the people who eat unwrapped food - crisps/sandwiches/chips etc without having washed their hands first - Eurgh!

I can't say I've noticed people using hand gel until the last couple of weeks, so if anything, it's good that there's more awareness now.

Personally, I've always had one in my bag/pocket, but rarely used it as usually I try to wash my hands properly throughout the day when I can. I would only get the gel out when that wasn't possible, i.e. loo with no soap, or after being on public transport, after handling money, or touching door handles/hand rails before eating etc.

I went on a cruise a couple of years ago - there were hand gel dispensers everywhere (presumably due to risk of norovirus) - in the restaurants and bars, pool side, reception, shops, gym etc. Also good to see the public toilets had signs up telling people to wash their hands, and plenty of soap at all the sinks, so no excuse not to. It was great to see people were using the gels - usually a small queue to use them at meal times.

It's one of those things that we need to re-educate people and make it socially unacceptable to sneeze without a tissue/sleeve, or to leave the loo without washing hands etc - people need to be called out on it like with drink driving and smoking in public.

We used soap and water (and a bit of elbow grease) and lived to tell the tale.

Of course, all the people who didn't live to tell the tail can't come onto Mumsnet can they??

We died in agony with pustulating boils.

Oh. Hang on a minute. We didn't.

We did what we should be doing now and washed our hands which is more effective than hand sanitizer anyway, that should only be used if you cand get to a sink

Or if the sink has no hot water, or if the sink has no soap. Some public toilets are pretty grim, even in "decent" places like department stores, restaurant chains, shopping malls, etc.

Gloves! we wore gloves outdoors and washed indoors

Of course, all the people who didn't live to tell the tail can't come onto Mumsnet can they??

Are there any reputable statistics on how many people in the UK die each year as a result of not washing their hands? I'm going to guess its not many.

I work in a hospital, and often see people opting for hand gel where they could be washing their hands especially after changing a nappy.

Are there any reputable statistics on how many people in the UK die each year as a result of not washing their hands? I'm going to guess its not many.

A death certificate gives the actual cause of death, not what may have led to that cause. Just in the same way someone dying after smoking Benson & Hedges cigarettes throughout the life will have a death certificate saying lung cancer, not Benson & Hedges. Poor hygiene is a known contributory factor in many illnesses - particularly the likes of norovirus, coughs, colds, flu etc - some people die from those conditions, but no one will ever know exactly how they contracted them.

I've never ever ever used one. Not once. And I won't be starting any time soon.

I first used hand gel when MRSA was a real concern.

It's also well documented that diseases etc., fell substantially, hundreds of years ago, when the importance of sanitation and hygiene was realised.

Before sanitiser we used soap and water. We probably did not wash our hands as often. I am now getting into the habit of washing my hands when I return home from being out. However, when working, I normally visit the washroom on arrival at work anyway, and before leaving, so washing hands on arriving home is a new thing for me.
Sanitiser is useful if out all day. eg, walking in the hills. Probably not useful to prevent a virus as such, but useful if after using hands to climb over Stiles, and before eating a packed lunch.
In the old days, before wet wipes, I remember on holiday, my mother taking a wet flannel to wash our hands. Probably not very effective, but possibly removed excess sand when on the beach

I tried it, but I hate sticky hands and some of the gels smell revolting (perfume). Only used it in hospital after that, the gel there seems to be nicer to use.

Rightly or wrongly I keep wipes with me for after using supermarket trolleys or door handles when out. Even washing your hands is not much use if you then touch a germ laden door to get out, and they always open inwards so you can't use an elbow.

Where are you watching people change nappies?

Hand sanitizer isn't a bad thing. No one is going to wash their hands all the time and if people are using hand sanitizer regularly then it's going to help prevent spread of diseases. Like if everyone uses it after handling money/pushing shopping trolleys/touching buttons etc

Using only hand sanitizer is not good no, as it doesn't remove dirt. But actually medical hand sanitizer is pretty good at removing bacteria/viruses (apart from for noro)

Frequent handwashing is pretty harsh on your hands. Hand sanitizer is better tolerated, so again a combination of hand sanitizer and handwashing is good.

Most supermarket have notices confirming how often the loos are cleaned .......but have you ever washed your hands then got hold of the door handle to leave the washroom , and the underside of the handle is absolutely coated with black greasy residue ?