Earlier I wrote about my need to research whether or not I could use the creams I depend on to soothe my gardener’s hands without diminishing the effectiveness of my hand washing regimen. On the Gardening Life News Facebook page one of my readers reassured me that I could continue my usual wash/moisturize routine without worry. I really appreciate readers like Sarah who willingly share their knowledge.

By now we’ve all heard the message that hand washing is one of the best ways to protect ourselves and our families from getting sick. And, since that post in late February I’ve been reading as much as I could about best practices. Here are some additional things I’ve learned:

• Good hand washing involves five simple steps, according to the CDC. They are wet, lather, scrub, rinse, dry.

• Keeping the skin on your hands healthy helps soap and alcohol disinfectants do their job. To keep your hands in good shape you need to moisturize regularly.

• Don’t share your moisturizer. We’ve allocated one moisturizer tub or tube for each member of the family.

It sounds like pretty basic stuff, but it’s pretty obvious that not everyone has been following the recommended practices including me. Now I am and I’m ready to submit an order for one of my favorite salves and a soap we’ve come to like a lot to make sure we have an adequate supply (adequate, let’s not hoard.) Check out the items at the bottom of this page to see a couple products that I really like and click on the links below if you want to read more about hand washing and moisturizing effectively.

Articles I’ve found useful include these:

Hand-washing: Do’s and Dont’s from the Mayo Clinic.

When and How to Wash Your Hands from the CDC

Medical News Today

Don’t just wash your hands to prevent coronavirus, moisturize them too. from the Washington Post

If you’re interested in trying Amish Farm Bar Soap or O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream (or giving it as a gift) you can purchase it on Amazon by clicking on the Buy on Amazon button at the bottom of the product picture. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The Amazon Services LLC Associates Program is an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.