Handling Flu Season In Eco-Friendly Ways
A Look at Cloth Handkerchiefs, Tissues and Antibacterial Gels
Winter means cold air, runny noses and flu season. Disposable tissue companies rejoice in getting their products used, but while each box costs relatively little money, their toll on the environment is not inconsiderable.
Even if consumers buy paper facial tissues made from 100% recycled material, the used product invariably goes into a landfill. While most people feel indifferent to carrying around a balled up half-used tissue in their pocket or purse, many seem to balk at the idea of carrying around a cloth hankie. “It’s unhygienic!” is the common misconception.
Hygiene and Cloth Handkerchiefs
While cloth hankies are shunned from public care services, such as clinics, daycares or drop-in centres, it doesn’t mean that cloth tissues can’t be used at home. Paper tissue is used for expedience and hygiene’s sake in daycares: Keeping a space germ free in a runny-nose environment is a losing battle, and most flu viruses flourish in damp environments, such as used hankies.
Frequent hand washing keeps colds and germs at bay; those who do not have access to hot water and soap in the course of their workday, are urged to keep some antibacterial gel on hand. These alcohol based jellies are not intended for children’s use. Children may suffer poisoning through dermal contact or excessive use.
Advantages to Cloth Hankies
Cotton handkerchiefs can be more absorbent than paper, as the fabric can expand when moist, and dry off. There is also less friction, as paper is coarser, and often chaps noses when blown frequently. Using a soft flannel hanky for those with runny noses can ease the burn on peeling skin.
While it is debatable whether washing a load of handkerchiefs and air-drying them on a rack saves money or is less energy efficient than buying a box of paper tissues, there are some considerations. Cloth handkerchiefs reduce the toll on our forests, and with a cold water wash and minimal detergent, a load of 40 hankies is roughly the size of two double-sized bed sheets: a small- to average-sized load when all are washed at once.
Having re-usable hankies for use at home will cost less and be easier on your nose and wallet. An excellent guide to keeping cloth hankies orderly and attractively on hand can be found at the Instructables “How To Stop Using Paper Towels, Napkins and Baby Wipes” by Nerdnurture.
Disadvantages to Cloth Handkerchiefs and Antibacterial Gels
As mentioned previously, cloth hankies are often moist, and this makes for an ideal growing environment for viruses. While you can carry several hankies around with you and use them sparingly, it is recommended that you wash your hands after every time you blow your nose.
A faster or at least, more convenient method is the ever-growing popularity of sanitizing hand gels. However, most contain Triclosan, an anti-bacterial agent that when mixed with chlorine used for cleaning drinking water, it turns into chloroform (a carcinogen that also causes liver and kidney damage). Health Canada posted the concern that these antibacterial cleansers are actually reducing our bodies’ natural resistance to colds and microbes as we develop resistances to antibiotics.
Obviously buying a sanitizing gel that is Triclosan-free is a start, and there are organic hand sanitizers on the market. Some are made from organic alcohol, and others, like Body Shop’s Tea Tree Oil Hand Cleanse Gel may be a solution. Some even consider a do-it-yourself approach to making one’s own hand-cleansing gels: White vinegar, tea tree oil and witch hazel are all natural antiseptics.
In short, it is possible to reduce your carbon footprint as you regain health.
Wash your hands every time you blow your nose
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