If you're interested in becoming a Kooty Key wholesaler or retailer, contact Ken Kolb at kootykey@gmail.com

​The Kooty Key is an innovative little tool developed by a lifetime traveling salesman. Since he was on the road most of the day he routinely accessed public restrooms, restaurants, banks, stores, etc. Over the years he noticed how air blowers in restrooms were becoming more prevalent do to the focus on ecology. Restrooms that have air blowers usually do not supply paper toweling as an alternative drying method. In the past many people concerned with proper hygiene would dry their hands with the paper towel and then use it to grab the door handle of the restroom upon exiting. One day—during the peak of the flu season he was standing at the sink washing his hands, watching people use the facilities and then immediately exit the restroom without hand washing or cleanup of any kind. He thought about how often he had struggled to find a method of grabbing the handle upon his exit without re-contaminating himself with the millions of germs residing on the door handle. At that moment as he reached for his car keys a thought was born—the Kooty Key!

I was contacted by the makers Coeus Technology, makers of Monofoil. I am very impressed with the product, so I asked if I could post about it because, unlike most germ killing sprays or wipes which kill the "current" germs, Monofoil continues to kill germs on the surface for a long time after being applied.

Monofoil is a revolutionary new antimicrobial product that uses a physical action as opposed to a chemical action in destroying microbes. This antimicrobial product is being used by area hospitals, schools, professional sports organizations, and theme parks. Countries like China, Saudi Arabia, and Australia have recently been introduced to this new technology.

Monofoil destroys algae, fungi, bacteria, and viruses by attracting the harmful microbes to it. Then the cell membrane is pierced, bled out and then electrocuted. The technology of Monofoil enables the product to remain intact to the substrate it is applied to. Allowing it to stay in place for up to 30 days as continues to work time and time again. This ready-to-use product is available in gallons, spray bottles, and wipes. Coeus Technology has recently added to its product line a new laundry additive. Thus allowing the clothes we wear to be protected for up to 50 washes. Better yet, Monofoil is hypo-allergenic, non-toxic, and safe to use around children and pets.

One of the benefits of using Monofoil is the cost effectiveness of the product. It is fairly priced when you consider how long it lasts you. No more need for us germaphobes to buy chemicals that can be harmful to humans and have no longevity anyway.  Another benefit is in the way the antimicrobial works. The way it kills a microbe is unique in that it does not simply poison the cell, but destroys it. Most chemicals will poison or sicken the microbe, allowing it to adapt to the chemical. This is how a “superbug” is formed and is definitely life threatening. Not the case with Monofoil. This product completely eliminates the problem and sticks around to do it again.

Monofoil is  unconditionally registered with the EPA and is made in the USA.

Coeus Technology is a Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business located in central Indiana. The partners who started the company are both from Indiana and have studied biology at Indiana University. Both also served in the military for their country.  

I am neither sponsoring nor endorsing their product. It just looks like a "game changer" to me.

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The restaurant menu, doctor’s office magazines, and other public reading material. You think these are ever cleaned? Since cold and flu viruses can survive up to 18 hours on a surface, there’s a good chance those germs can get passed on to you. Don’t let the menu touch your plate or silverware, and wash your hands thoroughly before your food comes. Remember that the bathroom door handle isn’t the cleanest thing in the world, so when leaving the bathroom, open it while holding a clean paper towel.

The grocery cart and basket. Think of all the hands that grip those handles. Eww. A 2007 University of Arizona study discovered that two-thirds were contaminated with fecal bacteria. Definitely pack disinfectant wipes with you and wipe the handles down before touching.

Gym Equipment. If you belong to a gym, you might want to know that a 2006 study in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine found rhinoviruses (what cause colds) on 63 percent of the gym equipment at the fitness centers they tested. To avoid the germs, try not to touch your face, nose, or eyes while working out, and as soon as you’re finished, wash your hands and face thoroughly to prevent getting sick.

Don’t  touch the first floor elevator button. In an elevator, the first-floor button harbors the most germs.

Watch escalator handrails – they are filled with germs

Use the FIRST toilet – most people use the middle stall in public

The office coffee pot drips with germs

Hang on to your own coffee mug

Your desk may be dirtier than the toilet. The typical office desk area has 400 times the amount of bacteria than the average toilet seat.   Start your cleaning with your phone.

Avoid hand shaking and kissing – well, at least make sure you wash your hands and practice good oral hygiene.

HOTELS

1. Pack your own sheets. If you have any concerns about your hotel’s cleaning practices, pack a queen-size sheet to throw over the bedspread so you’re not exposed to dust mites, germs, or allergens lurking in the cover.

2. Pack a long-sleeved sleep shirt and long sleep pants. Again, if you are concerned about the hygiene of the bedding, reduce contact by wearing body-covering pajamas and light socks to bed.

3. Use your bed for sleeping only. Don’t do work on it, eat on it, and don’t watch movies or TV on it. Not only is that more hygienic, but you’ll likely find it easier to fall asleep that way.

4. Ask for an allergy-free room. Some hotels are now offering rooms that are built and furnished to minimize the amounts of dust mites and other allergens. Even if you don’t have allergies, this might be a good choice for people prone to colds and flus. Other hotels provide allergy packs, including face masks, special pillows, and mattress covers. But you have to ask for them.

5. Choose modern over old. Yes, Victorian bed-and-breakfasts are far superior in terms of charm and personal touches. But they also lead in the amount of allergens and dust you are likely to encounter in the rooms and public sitting areas. So if health is a real concern while traveling, go for good-quality modern hotels.

In no particular order, here are some of the germiest items in a hotel room:

remote control
door handles
light switches
phone
alarm clock
pens
faucet handles
bed spread
carpet

Don’t feel like you can’t use any of these items, just use caution and common sense. Clean the remote control, phone, clock radio, door handles, and light switches. Don’t walk around barefoot: throw on a pair of slippers. And don’t use the bedspread if you can help it.

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Being a germaphobe, I have to wash my hands before eating, especially in a restaurant where I had to touch the door handle to get inside.  I am still amazed at how many restaurants, theaters, stores, etc. don’t understand bathroom germs.

Here’s my idea of the perfect public mens or ladies room.   TOUCHLESS AFTER ENTERING.  First, the door.  It should always SWING OUT. This way, you touch the handle to open the door going in, but don’t have to touch the door to leave, after you’ve washed your hands. Just push the door open with your butt.

Toilets and urinals should all have motion sensors so you don’t have to touch a handle, or try to flush using your foot to move the handle.  Sometimes using your foot isn’t that easy.

Sinks should be motion detected along with motion detected soap dispensers.   I don’t trust air dryers – I’d rather use towelling although I know some people feel the opposite.  Either way, the air dryer or the towelling dispenser should be motion detected.

With this, you’ve entered, done your thing, flushed, washed, dried and left without touching anything. Perfect.

Here’s a pet peeve. For restrooms that are already built with the door swinging in – where you have to touch the filthy door handle to leave, you want to use a piece of towelling (this is a problem when there are just air dryers). But so many stores don’t have a waste basked by the door where you can toss your “door opening towelling”.  So I just wait till nobody is around, open the door and drop the towelling on the floor.  I do this at a golf club that I play almost every week. For years, there is always several pieces of towelling inside the door but management just doesn’t catch on to what is happening. Still no basket.

Tell me your ideas on what the perfect restroom should be.

I ran across this video and was impressed, as I am with any invention that helps us stay healthy and avoid germs.  I have no affiliation with this company and know nothing about them, but watch the video and go to their site.

Here are some of the uses for this product.
1. People at work/office buildings
2. Road trips/driving long distances (the Potty Pax™ is the perfect item for rest stops, gas stations, and truck stops)
3. Daycare/preschools (each child can have their very own Potty Pax™)
4. Camping grounds/hiking trails /RV or trailer park facilities
5. Indoor & outdoor sports venues
6. College dormitories w/community toilets
7. Outdoor concerts and other live performance venues & events
8. At theme parks, picnic grounds, public parks & playgrounds
9. Senior retirement home facilities
10. Malls, hospitals, restaurants, grocery stores, or any place where you might have to use a public restroom.