What is GlitterBug?
GlitterBug helps you show them the right techniques
GlitterBug is a range of training products that are invisible in normal light (just like germs), but glow under UV light.
So if your job is to teach people about germs and the importance of hand hygiene, GlitterBug means you don’t just tell them about the subject, you give them a fun, interactive and extremely memorable demonstration.
GlitterBug can be used for teaching any age from kindergarten to seniors.
What lessons have we learned from COVID-19?
THE GLOBAL COVID-19 pandemic has really opened our eyes about how diseases spread between people and we have learned the importance of social distancing and hand hygiene.
But understanding the importance of good hand hygiene is one thing – learning how to actually achieve it is another.
That’s where GlitterBug comes in.
Who uses GlitterBug?
Proper hand hygiene is critical to stop the spread of diseases, bacteria, germs, and other nasties. Despite the importance of hand hygiene, there are still so many people who don’t wash or sanitise their hands properly. The reason? They haven’t been taught how to do it properly, or they think it isn’t so important.
We have the solution! GlitterBug helps you break down students’ preconceptions about hand hygiene and train them how to clean their hands effectively. It’s great for all ages from kindergarten to seniors.
GlitterBug in schools and pre-schools
Good hand hygiene is potentially the most important life lesson children can learn at school.
Even after the coronavirus challenge has passed, understanding how germs are spread and how to protect themselves from colds, flu, gastro bugs, and food poisoning will be a tremendous benefit for their whole lives.
GlitterBug for community health
GlitterBug is a fun way to teach hand hygiene in the community.
Demonstrations can be tailored for any age group, from pre-school to seniors.
GlitterBug for food safety
Working with food provides many opportunities for infection. Sick workers handling food can pass infection to customers. And careless food handling can spread food poisoning.
GlitterBug is a valuable tool to teach food safety.
It's easy to buy GlitterBug for your organisation
Pay with confidence
This GlitterBug web site uses world-class encryption and security to protect your credit card details
Prefer a Purchase Order?
We are always happy to accept purchase orders from Federal and State Government Departments, Schools, Hospitals, Training Organisations and Community Groups. In many cases, we will ship on receipt of PO so you get your GlitterBug straight away.
Send orders to [email protected]
Potion, Gel or Powder?
There are three products in the GlitterBug Range. Which one do you need?
Use GlitterBug Potion for HAND WASHING Training
GlitterBug Potion is for teaching students how to thoroughly wash their hands.
Ask them to rub it in like a moisturiser. After they have washed their hands, the UV torch will generally show glowing Potion left behind on wrists, in nail beds, in finger webbing and so on.
You can then teach them to more effectively wash these commonly missed areas.
Use GlitterBug Gel for HAND SANITISER Training
GlitterBug Gel is for teaching students how to effectively apply hand sanitiser.
Get students to apply the Gel like a sanitiser (you can even remove the label so they think it IS sanitiser). Then use the UV torch to reveal areas that were missed.
This training is ideal for healthcare and childcare workers who use sanitiser constantly. It is important for them to see that every time they use sanitiser incorrectly, they risk spreading infection.
Use GlitterBug Powder for CONTAMINATION Training
GlitterBug Powder is used to demonstrate how germs can be spread from one surface to another.
Sprinkle the nearly invisible Powder on a surface (we often use a tennis ball). After a period of time where students interact with that surface, use the UV torch to reveal all the places to which the Powder has spread.
This is a great way to remind students about cross-contamination.
Free fun Poster download
How simple soap destroys COVID-19
We found a fantastic video that explains the science behind soap and water
The secret life of a sneeze
Here’s an awesome video sent to us by one of our customers, QED Environmental Services.
It uses GlitterBug Powder to simulate the germs in a sneeze, and shows how they can spread.
Thanks to Sally at QED for this awesome video.
Using GlitterBug to show how food poisoning bacteria can spread
Here’s a little video we made that uses GlitterBug Potion to show the dangers of cross contamination in the kitchen.
Feel free to use this demonstration in front of your own class.
Find out more about The Rotten Food Cookbook
St Christopher's deserves a medal
Dr Matthew Malone from Liverpool Hospital took time out of his schedule to visit his son’s kindergarten class at St Christopher’s Public School and demonstrate the dangers of germs and the importance of hand hygiene.
See the article in the Catholic Weekly.
What if bacteria weren't invisible
This video shows the dangers of cross contamination using a very visible bacteria substitute. But we like to be a bit sneakier.
GlitterBug Powder is great for this demonstration. Sprinkle a little of the invisible powder, then use the UV torch to see how far it spreads. Your students will be amazed!
Great work from a young scientist
We received an amazing GlitterBug science report from a Grade 5 student who clearly understands the scientific method. We think you’ll love it too,
UV LED Shortages – Rapid antigen tests to blame?
We’re struggling to get reliable stock of the UV flashlights and we think we know why.
The Swiss cheese model of virus prevention
No single defence against infection is perfect. They all have some area of failure, like the holes in a slice of Swiss cheese. That’s why multiple layers of defence are required.
How soap kills the coronavirus
You have been told that it’s really important to wash your hands for 20 seconds, but this video explains why this is so important.
How to effectively wash your hands (and not do a crappy job)
Almost Half of Children Not Using Proper Hand Hygiene at School
A new survey has revealed that almost half of children aged five to 10 years old are not practising proper hand hygiene by using soap when washing their hands at school.