Keep your mitts on
New Yorkers have to continually maneuver around some icky situations in the city, from dog poop left on the street, throw up outside bars, pee puddles in the subway stations, never mind the general germs from the millions of people that pass on a daily basis. I carry anti-bacterial gel in my purse to use after hanging onto the poles on the subway trains during my commute. I often leave my gloves on to avoid the sharing of germs, but then my nice gloves get just as icky. I'm far from being a germ-a-phobe but it just makes sense to be a bit cautious as to what you touch while on public transit.

I'm obviously not the only commuter to be concerned, just last week City Mitts debuted, the "germ-free solution to city and subway grime." Granted you can wear any gloves during your ride to protect from touching germs directly, but the nice thing about these is that they have grips on them to avoid slipping and falling on riders around you and they are also light weight and thin for warmer weather use.

They come in black and silver or black and pink and are made from a new antimicrobial microfiber, embedded with silver ions, inside and out, which prevent growth of bacteria. I first saw the gloves at the Shecky's event last week and have since spoken with the Founder, Emily Beck.

She said, "I was always that person on the subway trying to balance themselves on one finger so I wouldn't have to grab the slimy pole. City Mitts kills germs inside and out, looks cool and sleek, and gives you one less thing to worry about--just grab the pole!"

Still not sold on the idea? The New York Daily News found on the subways: Feces and skin infection at the Penn Station ticket machines, e.coli on the R train, urinary infection on the C train, diarrhea on the 7 train and influenza & cold virus on the #4 train. ewww!

Besides City Mitts there is also the TranStrap, which could be used as a more of a manly alternative to protecting against germs while on public transportation.

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