"Cleanliness is next to godliness..."

So, ok I must admit I strictly abide to the saying, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” This is also one of the reasons why I came up with quotes like “Dirtiness is next to ugliness” or “Oiliness is next to ugliness.” I know, I know, I am once again unleashing how shallow, OC (obsessive compulsive) and a germaphobe I am but nowadays you can never be sure with all of the germs and bacteria lurching around. We all have our own quirks and as the saying goes, “to each is his own.” Well, my quirks revolve around cleanliness and how petrified I am of germs and dirt.

I guess I would have to attribute this to my grandmother, Lola “Dy” short for “Lidy” (God bless her soul), who was deathly afraid of germs and bacteria herself. I would say a portion of the earnings of the rubbing alcohol and toilet paper industry in the Philippines came from her when she was still living. There are so many stories to tell about her and I mean that in a loving way but I will not go into all of that right now I will write more about her in the future.

While, some people have a stick of butter, eggs and a bottle of milk included as the basic staples of their grocery list, Lola Dy’s grocery list included a bottle of rubbing alcohol and rolls of toilet paper. The brand of rubbing alcohol she used then was “Rhea” rubbing alcohol. I wondered why she preferred “Rhea” and not “Green Cross” rubbing alcohol which was a bigger brand in the Philippines then. Perhaps, “Rhea” smelled better than “Green Cross and “Rhea” smelled less medicinal? Hmmmm… As for her toilet paper she preferred buying “Joy” toilet paper which was a brand in the Philippines too. I wonder if both these brands still exist in the Philippines (lol) that’s something to talk about another time.

Back to Lola Dy. Lola Dy, would never allow us to touch her unless we cleansed our hands with rubbing alcohol. She would never pick anything not unless she used a toilet a paper as a cover, meaning she will not let her hand directly touch an object she would have to use a toilet paper and pick it up with a toilet paper. And if ever she picked up an object directly she would have to douse it with rubbing alcohol. She will never allow an object to directly touch her hands nor skin without sanitizing it. Let’s say she had a phone call, before she picks the phone she will wipe it thoroughly with a toilet paper wet with rubbing alcohol and she will do the same with the chair that she’ll be sitting on (will occasionally nix the alcohol and just use a toilet paper to cleanse the sitting area). I’m sure you get the picture.

With that said, I am proud to say that I have a little Lola Dy in me. I don’t go around using rubbing alcohol or toilet paper on everything single thing that I touch but I am not going to deny that I occasionally use rubber gloves when I’m cleaning and feel eeky about touching something. And I always wash my hands after touching something that I think is dirty; after going to the bathroom and before eating. If I am outside of our home, I always use a hand sanitizer as need be.


Thank God for the convenience of hand sanitizers. I remember when I was first introduced to hand sanitizers; I think I was a sophomore in college back in 1997 (this was in Manila of course). One of my block mates has been using a“Bath and Body Works” raspberry hand sanitizer. She would frequently use it. So I was curious about it and asked her if I could have some. So I did! Ah, I loved it! It was a far cry from rubbing alcohols. It smelled fruity in a pink gel form. It also did not dry your hands. I was instantly hooked. Since then I asked my mom (who was a flight attendant then) to get me some when she flew back to the the states. Ah to my surprise, it came in a variety of scents: apple, vanilla and raspberry, etc.

But then my mom lost her job and I consequently lost my source for my “Bath and Body Works” hand sanitizers. Luckily, Bench (clothing company in the Philippines) started their own line of hand sanitizers which is called “Alcogel.” The “Alcogel” hand sanitizers weren’t as fancy and girly as  “Bath and Body Works” hand sanitizers but they did serve their purpose which was to keep me clean and free from germs so they were good enough. And soon after, they started selling “Bath and Body Works” hand sanitizers in the Philippines anyways so it wasn’t like I was missing on anything.

I have been using hand sanitizers since then. I would always have a bottle in my bag and another bottle stashed in my work desk (when I was still working). Hand sanitizers have become one of the basic necessities in our household. My husband has also become a fan of using them and has a bottle of “Bath and Body Works” sparkling peach hand sanitizer is his office bag. We have hand sanitizers in almost every corner of our home: our bedroom, living room and office. I’ve also stashed a small bottle of hand sanitizer in our car (just in case).

What about you? Do you use hand sanitizers? What’s your take on hand sanitizers?