As promised, some safe household cleaning tips, food safety etc. Going to kick off with hand care. Proper washing is the single most effective things we can do to protect ourselves and the community against #covid19 But there’s a lot of angst involved and our hands are wrecked.

Regular bars of soap and liquid hand wash are equally effective. The nature of soap in breaking down and removing microbes is the same. People favour liquid soaps as they are convenient and seen as more hygienic. But in public places, that depends on the dispenser.

Bars: microbes will remain on the surface,but once you use it again, they are removed.Superfatted soaps like Dove, Simple and olive oil or shea butter soaps work just as well. And are more moisturising on the hands. Choose unscented where possible. And a soap dish to keep it dry

Liquid hand wash: no need to use an antibacterial soap, unnecessary and very drying. The nature of detergent is what works. A brand like @Elave_Skincare is excellent. You can sub body wash for hand wash if out of stock. Gentle products will still work, don’t need antibac

Water helps lather up the soap and make it work. Hot water is more disruptive on skin and not necessary, unless your hands are greasy.Stick to cool or lukewarm and give your hands a good lather. Contact time and the physical action of scrubbing are important.

Your skin and surface of the skin has a natural barrier and ecosystem,a microbiome if you will.This gets disrupted by the constant hand washing,soaps,sanitisers etc At best, your hands will be red and itchy, and worst the skin will split and it will be very painful. Tips:

Use a gentle soap, rinse properly and dry hands well. Use marigold gloves for housework, can’t emphasise this enough! This will save your hands. Use a hand cream at least every other wash. And if they get red, itchy or sore, a barrier cream. Favourite hand creams:

This is my favourite hand cream in the world from @aveda Unfortunate name, but this plus using marigolds is why my hands are ok! It’s expensive, so wasn’t sure if I should post it. I use cheap ones to eke this out, and as soon as my knuckles go red, I use this again.

Have to me to mention the Irish range @Elave_Skincare again for hand cream. And in fact, top to toe safe personal care. Really good family range, great for sensitive skin and a good price too. Can’t recommend enough. #cleansafe

Another favourite hand cream from @cerave especially if your hands are in a bad way. If you can’t get the hand cream, use the tub of cream. But don’t stick your fingers in it! Use a clean spatula or spoon to scoop some out. Don’t bother with the body lotion. #cleansafe

This from @Neutrogena probably the best hand cream during the day if you are in the middle of cooking etc and will wash multiple times. Slight barrier cream vibe. Really good. Short and tall tubes, it’s the same stuff inside. Get the unscented one with the red lid. #cleansafe

This hand cream from @GarnierUK wins the cheap but very effective award. My only issue is the fragrance, so not on broken skin. Need to reapply often, but instantly comforting thanks to the glycerine. #cleansafe

If your hands are at the red and sore stage but before broken skin, you can use a barrier cream across the knuckles and between the fingers. Things like Vaseline, nipple cream, beeswax based products. I’ve been known to use lip balm in a pinch! #cleansafe

When my hands have gotten really bad, I’ve used 1% cortisone cream on them. Please don’t let your hands get to that state, but if they do, you need to chat to your pharmacist. From a distance of course. The tipping point is broken skin #cleansafe

This Cicaplast cream from @LaRochePosayUKI is phenomenal for hands in dire straits. I’ve finished a whole tube. As a range in general, I use a lot of their products. But this one is unique for repairing hands that are wrecked. #cleansafe