I am a rather frequent hand-washer and am intensely disgusted at people who slack in general hygiene - particularly when there is food or children involved. However, I have drawn the line at alcohol-based hand sanitizers anywhere but in a hospital. They dry my skin, they stink and they’re toxic - nothing I’d ever allow in my home. (Unless it’s in the beer fridge - that would be perfectly okay. Preferably a good cabernet.)

I’ve been gifted with some Cleanwell (not yet available in Canada, sadly, but they’re working on the approval process) and have resolved to never leave home without it. Made with Ingenium - a Thyme product - Cleanwell kills 99.5% of germs on contact, including staph, E.Coli and salmonella. It’s poison-free and totally safe for kids, 100% biodegradable and never tested on animals.

The hand sanitizer is available in spray or wipe form and both certainly have their place. A bottle in each purse and the diaper bag as well as in change areas at home, a wipe in the lunch kit and the glove compartment…it’s all about being prepared.

The hand soap smells good enough to eat and has all of the same great benefits as the hand sanitizer with the exception of being portable. Because, you know…it’s soap. Unfortunately, it contains sodium laurel sulphate, which is a deal breaker at my house, but if you use regular soap with SLS in it regularly, this one is much better than any I’ve seen.

I’m very glad I live so close to the Canada-USA border and can get there in less than an hour. I’ll be popping down to Target to pick up some more Cleanwell soon!

Win it! Thanks to Cleanwell, we’re giving away 25 coupons valued at $5 each redeemable at any store that carries CleanWell (Target, anyone?) You choose… a free hand wash or hand sanitizer product. Unfortunately, this contest is only open to US residents. To enter, simply email theopinionatedparent AT gmail DOT com with CLEANWELL in the subject line and your full name and mailing address in the body of the email. Twenty five qualifying emails will be drawn at random and the coupons will be shipped out asap. Contest closes on June 5/08 at noon MST.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED