
How does Glo germ™ work? The liquid or gel and the powder contain the plastic simulated germs, and the lamp illuminates them to test the effectiveness of your (and your workers’) practices. For handwashing training, Glo Germ™ Liquid is rubbed onto one’s hands like lotion. How do I clean with Glo germ™ powder? For surface cleaning, dust Glo Germ™ Powder onto surfaces and generally throughout the entire area.
How do I use Glo germ™?
For handwashing training, Glo Germ™ Liquid is rubbed onto one’s hands like lotion. For surface cleaning, dust Glo Germ™ Powder onto surfaces and generally throughout the entire area. Then wash your hands or clean the area as normal. One’s hands and the surfaces appear clean.
Is the Glo germ kit a good eye opener?
Anchor Lisa Budeau put Glo Germ powder on her hands, went about her day, and then used a black light to show exactly everything she touched. Doctors say the Glo Germ kit is a great eye opener for people.
How do you use Glo germ powder on lettuce?
To show the way bacteria spreads by cross-contamination, use an unwashed head of lettuce and the bottle of Glo Germ™ powder to thoroughly coat the lettuce in ‘germs.” 1. Sprinkle the powder onto the head of lettuce, getting in between the leaves and on the outside.
How long has Glo germ been around?
Glo Germ has been around for many years and is used by millions of people worldwide. Organizations are constantly restocking this effective infection control tool and singing it's praises for over 30 years. So, why do we get so many questions at tradeshows on how to use Glo Germ?

Does Glo Germ show bacteria?
Glo Germ is used to show how bacteria and chemicals are transmitted to commonly touched objects.
What does the Glo Germ Powder allow you to do?
In this age of concern over infectious diseases, security, and liability, Glo Germ™ is an effective tool to demonstrate handwashing, surface cleaning, hygiene, and containment techniques.
What is Glo Germ made of?
These products contain: Glo Germ™ Powder Purified Water, Glyceryl Mono Stearate,Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, White Petrolatum, Glycerin, Organic Soy Bean Oil, Isopropyl Myristate, Mineral Oil, Carbomer 934, Disodium EDTA, Triethanolamine, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol, & Propylene glycol.
How much Glo Germ do I need?
Shake the bottle of GloGerm oil well and place a small amount, about the size of a quarter, into the palm of one hand and spread over both hands completely as if applying hand lotion. Be sure to cover hands completely, particularly under nails, around cuticles and between fingers. Wipe off excess with paper towel.
What can I use instead of Glo Germ?
NOTE: For a cheaper (but messier) alternative, use glitter glue instead of Glo Germ. The best results should be after using soap for at least 20 seconds.
Is Glo Germ Powder Safe?
OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200 This product is not considered hazardous as defined.
Does hand sanitizer remove Glo Germ?
We are using 2 types of hand sanitizer (alcohol-based vs. alcohol free) for our independent variable. What I've found so far is that the hand sanitizer does not remove any of the glo germ.
Can you see germs with a black light?
Black lights, also known as ultraviolet lights (UV), are often used in professional cleaning to help detect if hidden pathogens are present on walls, high-touch areas, ledges, furniture, and scores of other surfaces.
How do you make glow germs?
How to Make Your Own Glo GermPrepare 85 percent, or 8.5 parts, mineral oil for the lotion base by placing in a mixing bowl. ... Place 1.5 parts Glo Germ powder in the mineral oil base and mix gently with a disposable plastic or metal kitchen spoon. ... Pour the mixture into an empty lotion bottle.
What are the 4 types of germs?
But some germs can make you sick. Infectious diseases are diseases that are caused by germs. The main types of germs are bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
What is Glo Germ liquid?
Glo Germ is a fantastic product which safely and graphically demonstrates to students and adults alike how germs are spread. Used throughout the United States in schools, hospitals and food services, Glo Germ consists of an odorless lotion or powder which glows brightly when exposed to ultraviolet light.
What is Glo gel?
Description. Our Glo Germ Gel contains proven safe ingredients which simulate the presense of real germs, 5 micros in size. Glo Germ Gel will illuminate under UV light, showing where actual germs would reside.
What are the 4 types of germs?
But some germs can make you sick. Infectious diseases are diseases that are caused by germs. The main types of germs are bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
Does Glo Germ work with hand sanitizer?
What I've found so far is that the hand sanitizer does not remove any of the glo germ.
What is Glo gel?
Description. Our Glo Germ Gel contains proven safe ingredients which simulate the presense of real germs, 5 micros in size. Glo Germ Gel will illuminate under UV light, showing where actual germs would reside.
How many ounces are in a Glo?
Each 8 ounce bottle is good for 75 - 100 applications.
What is Glo germ?
Glo Germ can be used with the most simple hand washing demonstration or be used as an integral part of the environmental cleaning service verification process. It can be used in games, activities, orientations, meetings, competitions and all other types of gatherings for your organization. Really, the possibilities are endless.
How long has Glo germ been around?
Glo Germ has been around for many years and is used by millions of people worldwide. Organizations are constantly restocking this effective infection control tool and singing it's praises for over 30 years. So, why do we get so many questions at tradeshows on how to use Glo Germ?
Why do we do product orientations?
Product orientations will get all employees on the same page for effective infection control.
Why do people wear gowns?
Show how germs and disease remain and need to be changed often. Most employees see a gown as only a protection from germs for them but don’t see them as transfer agents for viruses and bacteria.
Why do you put gel on gloves?
Have students/employees don gloves and apply gel to test how well it holds liquid and how it spreads. It will help employees realize that gloves are only effective up to a point.
Can you use water and soap to clean gloves?
Water and soap don’t do the trick unless there is friction and targeted cleaning. Glove Removal Testing with Fluorescent Powder. See how germs are spread while donning or removing gloves. Germs often spread when an employee removes gloves carelessly. Glitterbug Powder is perfect for this exercise.
What is the Glo germ experiment?
Glo Germs’ Resistance to Different Types of Soap – Gel Experiment #4: To test different hand soaps and see what affect antibacterial soap has on the Glo Germs (which simulate actual germs), you will need at least three kinds of soaps to compare.
How to get rid of glo germs?
Try bar hand soap and several kinds of liquid hand soap (with lotion and without, antibacterial, and even a natural or organic liquid soap if you wish). 1. Wash your hands with each kind of soap to see the effect on the Glo Germs. Make sure to record the results so you can compare them.
How to get rid of germs on fruit?
1. Rub a small amount of Glo Germ™ powder over the surface of the fruit. Wash your hands thoroughly, then slice the fruit on a cutting board. 2. Now, observe the cross-contamination of the germs, using the blacklight.
How to show bacteria spreads by cross-contamination?
To show the way bacteria spreads by cross-contamination, use an unwashed head of lettuce and the bottle of Glo Germ™ powder to thoroughly coat the lettuce in ‘germs.”
How to use glow germ gel?
1. Try rubbing Glow Germ™ gel onto your hands, making sure to apply it to all areas, front, back, and around all the fingers. 2. Rinse your hands in cold water. Rinse for 1 minute (don’t rub your hands against each other), and then observe the results in a dark room with the blacklight. 3.
What to do with germ powder?
Another experiment you can do with the simulated germ powder is to cut up a piece of fruit. Try cutting up a mango, apple, or pear. (Note: Make sure you have adult supervision!)
How to make a gel wash?
1. Put the same amount of gel in both participants’ hands. Give one person a bottle of liquid soap, and tell him to wash his hands, using only cold water. The second person will wash his hands in warm or hot water, but without using any soap. Set the timer for two minutes, then start washing! 2.
Student worthiness
The experiment has been completed successfully by our team on multiple small groups of students.
Primary biological content area covered
During this experiment, the children will focus on what germs are and how they can be prevented, but also how easily they are spread.
Description of activity
In this activity the students will learn how easy it is to spread germs. First all the children will be asked to wash their hands. Some children will put Glo lotion or powder on their hands and then shake hands with another student who has clean hands.
Lesson plan
In this experiment, we will have half of the students use the Glo germ lotion while the other half use the Glo germ powder. With the use of the black light, the students will be able to see how easily germs spread by highfiving, shaking hands, and simply touching the table in front of them.
Potential pitfalls
While doing this project, we learned that we would need a space where we could place some sort of cover on the floor because the powder was caked onto the ground and it was hard to get it off the floor. Although this may not be something that we can do anything about, we noticed that the powder and lotion was getting onto our clothing and some of the student's clothing.
Health Connection
The activity relates to grade-appropriate health skills because the students are looking at how quickly the germs spread. Students at this level will be able to understand the health problems with how germs spread and how they need to be taken care of by washing hands for around 20-30 seconds.
Literature connections
Living with Germs: In Sickness and In Health by John Playfair. Oxford Publishing (2004).
How to get rid of glo germ on hands?
Point out that spots on the back of their hands need to be cleaned as well. The Glo Germ will remain on there if they did not scrub hard or long enough! Teach the following principles: Don’t touch the edge of the sink once the hands have been washed. Use warm water that is not too hot or too cold.
What should the conclusion of a germ simulation be?
The conclusion should sum up the information that was discussed in the introduction and apply what was learned during the activity. In addition, use this time to display evidence in order to back up what was seen during the germ simulation. Show examples and tell stories. The following steps will help give you ideas that will create a lasting impression in the minds of the audience.
What does the gel on your hand mean?
You can explain that the gel or powder represents times when you get your hands dirty through coughing, sneezing, shaking hands, touching unclean things, eating and so forth. Ask Question.
How to get rid of glo powder?
Dispose of the plastic mixing spoon in the household trash or thoroughly wash the metal spoon with warm water and soap. Set your bottle of lotion aside away from heat. Heat may melt the molecules within the Glo Germ powder and alter its glowing ability.
How to make Glo lotion?
Prepare 85 percent, or 8.5 parts, mineral oil for the lotion base by placing in a mixing bowl. The Glo Germ lotion is 85 percent white mineral oil used as a base. Place 1.5 parts Glo Germ powder in the mineral oil base and mix gently with a disposable plastic or metal kitchen spoon.
How to make a lotion with a flashlight?
Pour the mixture into an empty lotion bottle. Pour a little of your mixture into your hands and rub together gently. Turn off any incandescent lighting and turn on an ultraviolet light or flashlight directed at your hands.
Can you duplicate Glo germ?
How to Make Your Own Glo Germ. There is a reason Glo Germ has a patented formula for their lotion -- it cannot be duplicated in the kitchen. A scientific process homogenizes the plastic molecules of the synthetic colorant within the dye portion of Glo Germ, making the "dye" easily washable and non-staining.
Can you inhale Glo germ?
Do not inhale the Glo Germ powder ; it is a known lung irritant. Avoid excessive shaking or expelling the powder through the air.
What is a glo germ?
Glo Germ powder, our simulated germs, mimics the way that germs spread. As it covers the hands it then transmits to any surface that the hands come in contact with; however, unlike real germs, Glo Germ powder glows under an UV (ultra-violet) light.
How long to scrub Glo germ powder?
Then, we followed the CDC guidelines making sure to use running water, lather with soap and scrubbed for at least 20 seconds all over our hands, before rinsing and drying them fully.
How does soap work?
Soap molecules are surfactants, meaning that they have a hydrophilic (water-loving) end and a hydrophobic (water-repellant) end as part of their composition that help break down oils and grease. Surfactants also influence how water behaves by reducing the surface tension of water and helping it spread more easily. As you lather and scrub your hands together you create friction. This resistance force helps lift dirt and germs off with the soap before they are ultimately rinsed off by the running water.
Why are germs invisible?
Normally, germs are invisible to us as they are microscopic organisms, but we have a trick up our sleeves to help show simulated germs. These germs, just like the real ones, are not easily seen so we used them to conduct an experiment to find out how easy (or not) it is to engage in proper handwashing.
How do scientists measure the intensity of an infectious disease?
Scientists measure the intensity of an infectious disease such as COVID-19 by its reproduction number, (R 0 ). This is the average number of people a sick person will infect and for COVID-19 this number has been estimated at the end of February to be between 2 and 3 people. The higher the reproduction number, the quicker the disease is predicted to be able to spread and therefore the more people it has the potential to affect. This number is complex, not constant and based on an idealized scenario where nobody is immune to the disease. Various factors will play an important role in how the disease will ultimately spread including the environment, demographics and human behavior. So just how contagious is COVID-19? Comparatively, the new coronavirus is more contagious than the seasonal flu but less contagious than measles, for example.
How long can a viral discharge live on a surface?
These viral discharges can land on a surface and can live for days (depending on the surface material and location) on them if not properly disinfected. This means that doorknobs, counter tops and handrails can all be potential fomites – a contaminated object or material that can help spread the infection of a disease.

Primary Biological Content Area Covered
Materials
- We Will Need: 1. Black Light (3) 2. Glo Germ Lotion 3. Glo Germ Powder (2-3 Containers) 4. Sink 5. Soap 6. Paper Towels 7. Hand Sanitizer 8. Covering for the floor 9. Dark Room
Handouts
- Steps for Experiment: 1) Ask students what they know about germs and how they spread. 2) Turn lights off and show students their hands with the black light before we use the powder and lotion. 3) The teacher will rub the Glo germ lotion or powder on their hands and high five or shake their hands. The students will then shake each other’s hands so t...
Description of Activity
- In this activity the students will learn how easy it is to spread germs. First all the children will be asked to wash their hands. Some children will put Glo lotion or powder on their hands and then shake hands with another student who has clean hands. Using the black light the class will examine how the lotion or powder spreads onto other's hands, representing how easily germs ar…
Lesson Plan
- In this experiment, we will have half of the students use the Glo germ lotion while the other half use the Glo germ powder. With the use of the black light, the students will be able to see how easily germs spread by highfiving, shaking hands, and simply touching the table in front of them. Next they will wash their hands with just water and we will use the black light again to see if the …
Potential Pitfalls
- While doing this project, we learned that we would need a space where we could place some sort of cover on the floor because the powder was caked onto the ground and it was hard to get it off the f...
- Although this may not be something that we can do anything about, we noticed that the powder and lotion was getting onto our clothing and some of the student's clothing. It was al…
- While doing this project, we learned that we would need a space where we could place some sort of cover on the floor because the powder was caked onto the ground and it was hard to get it off the f...
- Although this may not be something that we can do anything about, we noticed that the powder and lotion was getting onto our clothing and some of the student's clothing. It was also getting on our...
Health Connection
- The activity relates to grade-appropriate health skills because the students are looking at how quickly the germs spread. Students at this level will be able to understand the health problems with how germs spread and how they need to be taken care of by washing hands for around 20-30 seconds. Germs can cause many different diseases and sicknesses so children need to see the …
Literature Connections
- Living with Germs: In Sickness and In Healthby John Playfair. Oxford Publishing (2004). Germs are Not for Sharingby Elizabeth Verdick. Free Spirit Publication (2006). Magic School Bus Inside Ralphie: A Book about Germs by Beth Nadler. Scholastic Books (1995).
Connections to Educational Standards
- Educational Standards: S3-4:34 Students demonstrate their understanding of Energy Flow in an Ecosystem by Identifying the source of energy for the survival of organisms S3-4:36 Students demonstrate their understanding of Equilibrium in an Ecosystem by Explaining how one organism depends upon another organism to survive. S3-4:42 Students demonstrate their understanding o…
Next Steps
- While doing our experiment, one of the parents that was observing brought up the idea of testing out how well hand sanitizer works. In some of the experiment runs through, we had half of the children go wash their hands with soap and water while the others just used Purell® hand sanitizer. When examining the difference under the black light, it turns out that the "germs" are al…