Washing our hands is something we do many times a day because it’s a proven way to kill germs. So why should I talk about something you already do? Because it’s an effective — but often overlooked — way to reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals, especially for children.  Ironically, some soaps contain chemicals you should avoid, so choosing a safer soap is important and more challenging than it should be.  Follow these guidelines from the Environmental Working Group*. Wash your hands to reduce toxic chemical exposures… and decrease spread of infection. As you know, hand washing with basic soap and water effectively prevents the spread of infection. It also prevents the transfer of toxic chemicals from your hands to your mouth. Scientists have found that children actually ingest more chemicals off their hands than from mouthing toxic products directly, such as arsenic from playing on older wooden swing sets or fire retardants found on some electronics. Timing is important — be sure that children wash hands before eating and, for those who put their …