Sanitation: One of the most important preparedness discussions.

[merl]

Hand sanitizer is a placebo, it creates a false sense of security, thinking you're disinfecting your hands. You can carry more alcohol swap packets in a smaller space. It's just a personal choice. Do what ever one feels most comfortable with.

I thought those hand sanitizer gels were just gelled alcohol. Why would a packet make a difference othere than including a scrub cloth?

[hatidua]

why waste water washing clothes

Psychological/mental well-being.

After hurricane Jeanne in '04, my neighborhood was without power for over two weeks and this was only three weeks after hurricane Frances had hit just two miles north of there. The amount of clean-up necessary was substantial as the 4th largest hurricane to hit FL happened in an area not hit by anything in over 100 years (a lot of trees that had never seen serious wind before, now all down). Getting downed tree limbs out of canals, roofing/housing materials and other debris moved out of roads/driveways was hot/humid/filthy work. One thing that really lifted people's spirits was being able to bath and then putting on fresh socks/shirts/shorts tomorrow morning when you wake up. By the end, most of us tossed all of the clothes from the prior month in the trash - mangrove mud never comes out. However, washing some clothes every few days to keep a few sets of clean things to wear was one way of keeping the motivation level high enough to go fire up the chainsaw and keep doing that kind of thing, one 95* day after another....after another.

Clean clothes aren't 'necessary', but they do make a tangible difference in a person's mindset during an event.

[rbeau30]

I also heard about a study showing that non-alcohol based anti-bacterial soaps and hand sanitizers are even less effective than alcohol-based ones.

[Wulf202]

Clean clothes are an integral part of hygiene. If youre living in filth you have a higher chance of contracting something.

As far as dish soap for washing clothes. Try it. Dish soap foams. If you want to make your own out of shelf stable ingredients theres plenty of recipes online.

Bassicaly shaved bar soap. Borax. And washing soda. Also cheaper than tide by about ten fold

[ChunkyMonkey]

Psychological/mental well-being.

After hurricane Jeanne in '04, my neighborhood was without power for over two weeks and this was only three weeks after hurricane Frances had hit just two miles north of there. The amount of clean-up necessary was substantial as the 4th largest hurricane to hit FL happened in an area not hit by anything in over 100 years (a lot of trees that had never seen serious wind before, now all down). Getting downed tree limbs out of canals, roofing/housing materials and other debris moved out of roads/driveways was hot/humid/filthy work. One thing that really lifted people's spirits was being able to bath and then putting on fresh socks/shirts/shorts tomorrow morning when you wake up. By the end, most of us tossed all of the clothes from the prior month in the trash - mangrove mud never comes out. However, washing some clothes every few days to keep a few sets of clean things to wear was one way of keeping the motivation level high enough to go fire up the chainsaw and keep doing that kind of thing, one 95* day after another....after another.

Clean clothes aren't 'necessary', but they do make a tangible difference in a person's mindset during an event.

At 95 degree and very high humidity.. I'd be butt naked!!!!

[Wulf202]

Most of those studies are flawed. Oak86 has chewed me out several times for quoting studies that are terribly managed.

Alcohol kills germs. Washing the germs off is far better but this assumes a clean water source.

Also uv light kills germs. Hanging a smelly shirt on a clothes line for a few days will kill the germs. The crusty stuff will still be there which can agrivate the skin and cause rashes leading to infection if un adressed.

[rbeau30]

Clean clothes are an integral part of hygiene. If youre living in filth you have a higher chance of contracting something.

This is the way my brain was thinking, then I took a mental note every time that I touched my clothes with my hands. Then the thought of how many times do I touch my face with my hands on a given day. I figure It couldn't help to keep clothes somewhat clean, when I can get to some extra water.

Leaving dirt and stuff on clothes... while the UV light may kill germs wouldn't the germs more readily survive on a soiled set of clothes? kinda how turbidity affects the time at which UV light rendering water safe to drink?

[Wulf202]

Clothing uv exposure is better than just cycling them.
I.e. its better than nothing.

Turbidity renders uv water treatments useless or at very least questionably. Turbitity and chemical treatment requires increased contact time

[ChunkyMonkey]

This is the way my brain was thinking, then I took a mental note every time that I touched my clothes with my hands. Then the thought of how many times do I touch my face with my hands on a given day. I figure It couldn't help to keep clothes somewhat clean, when I can get to some extra water.

Leaving dirt and stuff on clothes... while the UV light may kill germs wouldn't the germs more readily survive on a soiled set of clothes? kinda how turbidity affects the time at which UV light rendering water safe to drink?

On the subject, look into third world country solution.

Wear cotton then hang it overnight iin a breezy area - smells fresh in the morning.
If you are to wash with detergent, make sure you have a cold water detergent. Most detergent in the US selves requires HOT/WARM water.
If you don't have detergent, soak, scrub, sun dry and coal iron! This method is known to kill most pathogen.
It's hard to find clothes wringer in the US, but get one if you run into one. $50-100 and when the power out, you'll find it real useful. IF you dont have one, mop wringer works too.
etc etc etc

I had a list of these kind of useful tips somewhere. Will post them when I find it.

[hatidua]

I keep a 6oz bottle of Lemon Joy in my travel bag: you can wash anything in that stuff, even in saltwater (hair/body/clothes/dishes/-anything). It might not be the 'perfect product' for some purposes but it's the best jack-of-all-trades soap I've used and if I only have space for one soap, it's going to be Lemon Joy. As far as washing clothes, soap up while wearing them in the shower, even if it's an outdoor shower devised from hanging a bag of water from a tree limb.