Kid-Friendly Sanitizers
A Natural Alternative To Alcohol-Based Germ Gels

What:
A Bay Area company enters the sanitation sector with an all-natural proprietary blend.

The Dirt:
CleanWell is a natural hand sanitizer and soap collection that was not tested on animals, is biodegradable, and kills about 99.99% of germs, including Staphylococcus, E. Coli and Salmonella, through its proprietary Ingenium solution. CleanWell’s data claims that it was tested by microbiology labs, according to FDA and EPA standards. It is important to note that while sanitizers help augment the cleaning regimen, they are not meant to replace hand washing.

According the studies posted on the National Institutes of Health website, a 2001 study at the Jiangsu University of Science and Technology in China showed that thyme extracts were able to block activity of Staph and E Coli, among other bacteria. Another study, this one performed in Spain, at the Aragón Institute of Engineering Research in the University of Zaragoza , showed that natural microbial agents such as thyme, oregano and cinnamon, can help destroy organisms.

While standard ethyl-alcohol-based hand sanitizers aren’t dangerous unless a child drinks them, the National Capital Poison Center’s Summer 2007 newsletter recommended keeping sanitizer, mouth wash, face toner and hair tonics, which include alcohol, away from kids. The ingredient can make kids woozy and a bit drunk and it can lower blood sugar.

As for the real dirt on CleanWell, the smell is a mild green herbal scent and the solution absorbs easily. The paraben-free soaps contain white tea and aloe and come in Orange Vanilla, Lavender Absolute and Ginger Bergamot.

Bonus:
The product is great for travel, with a small purse-size spray and individually packaged wipes.

Where:
The product line ranges from $2.99 for a small hand spray to $38.99 for a pack of assorted products. Cleanwell is available at Target and select Whole Foods and other local retailers. Buy CleanWell through their Website through April 25 and you’ll get 30% off in celebration of Earth Day.