An easy to avoid germs -- wash your hands often! This gadget makes it easy.

This is the latest Touch-Free soap dispenser from Simple Human. With a really bad flu session upon us, there’s whole new awareness of washing hands often to get rid of germs. That’s why this gizmo could be a welcome addition to your kitchen or bathroom. If you have trouble getting your kids to wash their hands, having this “magic” gadget will most likely have them washing their hands often. Simply place your hand under the sensor and it will dispense a measured amount of soap automatically and stop. An LED display lights up when the sensor is activated. By pressing a button on the unit you can select any of the four volume settings that allow the pump to dispense preset amounts of soap or lotion. I’m using Dial Antibacterial Liquid Soap and I found the lowest setting works best. You can use it to dispense hand soap by the bathroom sink or dishwashing soap by a kitchen sink. It can also be used to dispense hand lotion or hand sanitizer. But it’s not recommended for very thin liquids or exfoliants. It operates on 4 AA batteries, which are not included. Right now it’s available only on the Simple Human website, but it will be available in stores like Bed, Bath & Beyond soon. Price is $29.95 on the website, but that might be less when it’s in retail.

http://www.simplehuman.com/products/soap-pumps/sensor-soap-pump-2.html

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Verilux says this CleanWave Wand can even eliminate 99.9 of viruses.

Safe at home. Or at least Safer!

Verilux says that required laboratory tests prove that the CleanWave UV-C eliminates up to 99.9% of viruses (including H1N1), bacteria, molds, dust mite and flea eggs from beds, upholstered furniture and other household surfaces. So you can have chemical-free sanitizing in minutes. Hypoallergenic sanitizing eliminates germs from surfaces that don’t tolerate chemicals such as mattresses, upholstery and electronics. This wand has a built-in LED count up timer. Each surface requires different amounts of time to kill germs via the UV-C light. A computer keyboard might require just 8 seconds, while a standard bed could take six minutes. But you don't need to carry a stopwatch. As you turn on this wand by holding the on button down for a few seconds, a count timer also starts. The hang tag and the instruction booklet give you the times needed for various surfaces. Since it's harmful to look into UV-C light, the unit as an automatic switch that turns the light off if you turn it to face up towards the face. And because it’s rechargeable, the wand is cordless, so once you charge it via the included AC cord, it’s easy to use anywhere around the house. The suggested retail prices is $89.99, but when I wrote this on November 22nd, it was on sale at the company website for $69.99. You can also do a web search on a shopping site like Amazon to see if there's even a lower price. There are many versions of this wand, including a travel version, but only this model - VH01WW4 - is said to eliminate H1N1 virus on surfaces.

http://www.verilux.com/uvc-allergy-relief/uvc-sanitizing-wand

Do you ever worry about placing your head against an unknown headrest?

With airlines cutting services and expenses who knows how often the seat headrest is cleaned. The answer, bring your own. TravelKleen has a customized adhesive seal so it can be reused. You uncover the adhesive and there’s a place right on the TravelKleen to store the piece of plastic you just removed. Then use your TravelKleen for the entire trip. Use it on the bus to the airport, then on the flight and then in the rental car. If you’re really worried about germs you can even use them in a movie theatre. When you’re done for the day, or the trip, or the movie, you recover the adhesive tabs with the plastic tabs you removed, so you can continue to re-use it. There are two in a pack.  The TravelKleen headrest protectors weigh about as much as a few sheets of paper towels and take up very little space. On their website, a package of 2 is $8.95, plus S &H. At travel stores, there’s $9.99 a pack.

www.travelkleen.com

Everything you need to help keep your hotel room germ-free!

From the Magellan’s Travel Catalog: The Hotel Sanitation Kit. Feel safer when you travel with this hotel room hygiene in a compact kit. Pack a little peace of mind with these travel size germ killers. Kit includes Lysol Disinfectant spray, Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, Safe2Touch Surface Cleaner, Febreze fabric freshener spray, Charmin Fresh Mates cloths, and Purell Hand Sanitizer. And if you need to use a public drinking fountain there’s also a pocket size device the small of a small compact that opens to reveal a collapsible drinking cup. I put water it in and it works fine. All these germ fighting aids are tucked into a TSA-accepted 3-1-1 clear plastic bag for carry-on convenience at the airport. Under $30.  Actually is $29.85, plus S & H. And it can be gift wrapped.

http://www.magellans.com/store/Toiletries___Toiletry_Kits___ToiletriesTP115?Args=

And another Pacifier hits the dust! But now it can be cleansed in about 6 minutes.

Pacifiers act as a breeding ground for germs. Now there’s an easier way than constantly washing it. It’s the new Pipila UV Pacifier Sanitizer. The Pipila preserves your baby’s health and your sanity when the ‘fier hits the floor. With this first ever-portable UV Pacifier device, you won’t be slowed down each time your tot’s toy needs a good cleaning. •Eliminates up to 99.9% of harmful germs in about 6 minutes. It accommodates all standard pacifiers and the pacifier nipple shape not changed by the sterilization process. It’s portable and compact, so you can take it on the road, in the airplane, on trips anywhere. It operates with only 2 AAA batteries, which are not included. Manufacturer’s suggested age: Newborn and Up. Weighs only 0.3 Lb. This device has been a big hit in Europe and now it’s in America. Right now it’s available at Target for $29.95.

http://www.target.com/Pipila-Portable-UV-Pacifier-Sterilizer/dp/B001P3V64U/sr=1-10/qid=1258597908/ref=sr_1_10/175-4302414-1119816?ie=UTF8&search-alias=tgt-index&frombrowse=0&index=target&rh=k%3Apacifier&page=1

Company website: www.pipilausa.com