Hand Sanitizers and Wipes from Clean Well, EO, No Germs, and Clean George

Why It's Good:

A recent Harris Interactive survey found that people don't wash their hands as much as you might think—in fact, hand-washing is down from a few years ago. And during flu season, this can be a very bad thing. When you don't have access to a sink, use a hand-sanitizing spray or wipe to keep the spread of illness down.

Why It's Green:

Think antibacterial soap will do the trick? Researchers at the University of Michigan say this is a wash. Plain ol' soap and water do just fine. In fact, studies show that common antibacterial agents such as triclosan can have adverse effects. Not to mention, these chemicals wash right down the sink into our water systems. The products below are gentler to you, and the environment. No Germs is paraben-, alcohol-, and fragrance-free; Clean George contains Ecocert-certified organic, and FSC-certified ingredients and is alcohol-, paraben-, and phthalate-free; Clean Well's Ingenium blend of rapidly renewable plant oils is naturally antimicrobial and free from fragrances, alcohol, and petrochemicals (plus it's cruelty-free and biodegradable!); and EO contains certified organic botanicals and its wipe is made of biodegradable wood pulp.

Where To Get It:

Click on the above products for a direct link to the retail website.

Clean Hands, No More Colds

Sickness in the workplace can have a domino effect: Your co-worker starts complaining of headache, the sniffles set in, and she calls in sick. Sure enough, you begin feeling muscle aches, feverish, and suddenly your head starts doing 1,000 rpm like the kid in The Exorcist. Whether a congested cold or all-out, miserable flu, no matter how hard we try, this is the season for sickness. Aside from packing in the Vitamin C and drinking homemade chicken soup (yes, it really does help), what can you do?

According to the CDC, the primary way the flu is transmitted is through "droplet spread”"—a nice way of describing the stuff that flies out during coughing or sneezing. Whether it disperses into the air and lands in your breathing path, or a sneezed-into hand touches a doorknob, you're getting contaminated.

One of the easiest ways to prevent this is to keep your hands clean and away from your face. No access to soap and water? No excuse. If you're traveling, try pocket hand sanitizer sprays like these from No Germs (pictured, center), Clean George (pictured, left), and Clean Well (pictured, bottom right). When you get to work, keep a tub of EO wipes (pictured, second from top right) or a larger bottle of EO or Clean Well sanitizer handy—especially if you’re touching communal property like the copy or fax machine. Going out for the evening? Slip a neatly wrapped wipe (pictured, top right) into your clutch. These are my favorite—speaking as the daughter of a doctor who instructed us how to wash our hands like a surgeon scrubbing in. I wear gloves as much as possible in winter, and when I can't suds up, I whip one out. While there's no need to go overboard (sadly, among friends, I'm known as the Queen of Wipes), try at least to get yourself started on another healthy habit in the new year: clean hands. Your body—and your colleagues—will thank you.