Simple solution to create a zip for Windows users without __MACOSX or any other "period" hidden folders I've seen questions: 


How can I create a zip archive for Windows and Linux users?
How to remove __MACOSX folder in a list of zip files (not a single zip file)?
How can I batch zip multiple folders without _macosx files?


This question is different.

I'm asking for a way to create a zip without the .DS_Store or  __MACOSX for less sophisticated Apple computer users who have to coexist with Windows users who cannot accept a zip with the .DS_Store and __MACOSX. 

I've discovered these are called Mac resource forks.

Like I said, for less sophisticated Apple users, so no command line codes please.
Without having to use terminal,
you could try Folderwasher, which is an app that creats a zip without the .DS_store file. You can drop the folder onto the application and it compresses it.

Alternatively, you could try Keka, which also has an option to exclude the .DS_store file. Open Keka, click on zip, and check Exclude Mac OS X resource forks and drop what you want to compress on the Keka window.

There are other questions related to this topic:


Compressing folders on a mac, without the .DS_Store on Superuser
Compress without .DS_Store and __MACOSX on AskDifferent