The COVID-19 pandemic has created a germaphobe out of even the people with the least regard for germs as of 9 months ago.
Everyone is hyper aware of the surfaces they’re touching, avoiding touching their face when out and about and has a newfound respect and love for the hand sanitizer formula. It’s a tense time, to say the least, and one of the best ways to liven up spirits is by giving gifts. As we begin to head towards fall and winter avoiding getting sick is probably going to be at the top of everyone’s priority list, rightfully so.
We’ve gathered our favorite gifts, gadgets and gizmos for avoiding germs in everyday life. Gift one to a friend or yourself and give a leg up in surviving these upcoming months of continued pandemic mayhem. The comprehensive list below showcases a few key products whose main job is to prevent and/or minimize coming into contact with all types of illness-causing germs, bacteria, and allergens. These are the best gifts for germaphobes we found.
1. Peel Brass Keychain Touch Tool
High touch surfaces are pretty much a germaphobe’s worst nightmare. You have no idea how many people have touched that keypad at the supermarket or when the last time that door handle was cleaned, and in this day and age it pays to chance it. Use this touch tool to push, pull and press for you when you’re out and about so you won’t be grabbing for your hand sanitizer as desperately. It’s designed with both a hook and pointer so there’s no need to touch surfaces with your hand, and it’s made of 360 brass that’s designed for strength. Plus, after the pandemic is over it’ll make a great bottle opener.
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2. Cleanifi Pro Pod
What’s the best way to keep germs away? Sanitize. Everything. This pod from Cleanifi can do just that. It’s built with 6 UV-C germicidal LEDs that can kill 99.99% of bacteria, pathogens, viruses and other nasty grime that can land and stay on your phone. Throw anything in there — your phone, keys, wallet, AirPods and other gadgets and with the press of a button they’ll get sanitized in five minutes. It also works as a wireless charger so you can feed two birds with one stone with this handy gadget! It’s designed to fit most phones including larger models like the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra and iPhone 11 Pro Max.
3. Cyber Clean Putty
This putty from Switzerland is seriously powerful stuff. It eliminates 99.99% of germs and absorbs dust, dirt and other elements in tight cavities. Just press it on to your keyboard, car cup holder or other hard-to-reach spot and let it go to work. Best of all, on top of leaving your gear clean, it will leave behind a refreshing lemon scent. It’ll pick up those potentially harmful microorganisms that hang in the air and leave your spaces bacteria-free.
4. simplehuman Touch-Free Liquid Soap Pump
Wash your hands without touching anything with this touch-free soap dispenser from simplehuman. It’s made with stainless steel that is sure to last for years to come and look nice in any room in your home.
It’s got variable dispensing — less soap comes out if you hold your hand close to the nozzle, while more will spill out if you hold your hand farther down. The flexible silicone valve shuts securely and seals to prevent messy dripping between washes, and it has a clog-free tubing pump so your soap will always be there when you need it.
5. Washable Keyboard
This super flexible, silicone keyboard is waterproof, so cleaning it is easy. It’s also very lightweight and portable so it’s easy to store. It’s made of soft material that has high elasticity for great key retention, is non-toxic and completely odorless. The keyboard can be cleaned with soap and water or disinfectant. It also has a silent click, as the softer material allows for a quieter typing experience overall. Despite being waterproof, in order to extend the life of this device it’s not advised that you dunk this keyboard in water or spill large amounts of water on it.
6. Phone Soap UV Sanitizer 3
This device is so useful we had to include multiple options on this list. If you want to avoid germs, you might as well throw your smartphone out the window. This is the device we touch the most throughout the day, and therefore all of the germs on our hands are transferred onto it and stay there for a while. Thankfully, there’s Phone Soap — a device that sanitizes your phone and charges it all in one go.
Using UV lights, this sanitizer kills 99.99% of germs and has two charging ports that can accommodate a wide range of devices. It also has an acoustic amplifier, so you won’t miss important notifications and alarms while your phone is cleaning up.
7. Touchless Toilet Flush Kit
Never manually flush the toilet again. The touchless Toilet Flush Kit by Techo will convert your toilet into an automatic toilet flusher without having to replace the current toilet or toilet seat. Your toilet will automatically flush when you wave your hand over the detection range, eliminating any unnecessary contact with your toilet handle, and thus reducing the number of germs you come into contact with.
8. UV Toothbrush Sanitizer
Another germy item we tend to overlook is the toothbrush. Being in the bathroom, it comes in contact with bacteria and germs all day long. This toothbrush sterilizer kills 99.9% of harmful germs and bacteria on your toothbrush within just a few seconds and can prevent them from reproducing in the future. This UV system is designed to turn off when people get close to it, protecting you and your family. It also has a wall-mount design that you can place anywhere, making it both a sanitary and convenient to your bathroom.
9. SafeRest Hypoallergenic Waterproof Mattress
Although not a product for sanitizing per se, mattress protectors keep your mattress clean and healthy through protecting against dust mites, allergens and bacteria. This one is hypoallergenic so you won’t get all stuffy after using it. It’s also great for battling bed bug infestations and will not change the look or feel of your mattress underneath your sheets. Rest comfortably knowing your mattress has your back while you sleep.
10. Air Purifier
Our next pick is a 3-in-1 Air Purifier by GermGuardian. Not only does it purify the air to capture 99.97% of dust and allergens, it also kills germs with its UV-C filter and captures unpleasant household odors with its charcoal filtration system. It’s a HEPA air filter that can remove allergens, spores and harmful germs as small as 0.3 microns from the air. It’s a certified air filter for use with pets around, has an activated charcoal filter for reducing odors caused by bacteria and mold growth, and is designed for quiet operation. On its lowest setting it’s great as a white noise machine during sleeping, and it has a timer for up to eight hours.
11. NasalGuard Allergen Blocker Nasal Gel
Upgrade the air you’re breathing using this NasalGuard Nasal Blocker Gel that filters out pollen, allergens, pollutants and other harmful airborne particles.
Whether you’re traveling or just taking a run outside during flu season, applying a pin-sized drop of this stuff to your nostrils and upper lip can protect you from virus-sized particles floating in the air.
This product is safe to use for the whole family at any time of the day.
12. Antimicrobial Pillowcase
Pillows are an often-forgotten source of potential filth, but thankfully there are pillows built to decrease the microbes, germs, fungus and mildew growth that so many pillows contain (ew). This pillow is infused with Kleen Silver material that won’t wash out over time and is manufactured to protect against these pathogens and keep you healthy while you sleep. It’s infused, rather than coated, with this technology for maximum effectiveness and is 100% safe to use and EPA certified. Give your friend the gift of a cleaner night’s sleep with these pillow cases.
13. Travel Bed Sack
Even though traveling is at an all-time low, sleeping in hotel rooms, motel rooms or strange beds may still be necessary for some for work purposes. If staying in a hotel or AirBnb is part of your plans, these bed sack is a must. Who knows how many people have slept in a certain bed before you, and if you have a friend who stresses about this problem too this is peace of mind in a present. It’s made big so you’ll have ample space to shift and move around, and the cozy, smooth fabric will keep you warm and comfortable. Protect yourself from harmful microbes that may be living inside hotel sheets or on your sketchy friend’s couch along your road trip route with this handy set.
14. LARQ Insulated Self-Cleaning Water Bottle
This one’s a favorite pick of mine personally. As a frequent user of water bottles I know how NASTY they can get, and how easy it can be to completely forget to clean them. This water bottle takes that extra step out of the equation for you as it has UV-C LED technology built inside its sleek, vacuum-insulated container that cleans your water every two hours. The USB-rechargeable battery gives you powerful self-cleaning power for up to a month on a single charge, and the connector is completely splash proof.