I spent the weekend in our Manhattan apartment. One thing I seem to do more here than anywhere else is wash my hands. With all the revolving doors, subway handrails, and elevator buttons, I just know my hands are human petri dishes by the time I get home. So the first thing I do is wash my hands. While it might seem that antibacterial soaps are best for this task, a thorough washing with regular soap and warm water is just as effective at removing germs.  And there are some compelling environmental reasons for not using antibacterial soaps. So choose something that won’t dry out your skin, and smells great, like L’Occitane Shea Butter Verbena Liquid Soap.  At $22 for 16.8 oz, it’s an affordable luxury.