Clean Well

With all the swine flu craziness lately this review is seemed timely. Clean Well, "Nature's Germ Killer", offers kid friendly biodegradable hand cleaning products. I tried out the hand wash, hand sanitizer and hand wipes.

The Orange Vanilla hand wash smelled delightful. I wanted to eat it! The soap is foamy and came in this cute colorful containers. The label is designed to come off easily to reveal the cute container. Other scents are Lavender Absolute, Ginger Bergamot and Spearmint Lime - and retail for $5.49 each. I liked the soap (especially the scent). I did notice my hands seemed to be extra dry after using it - I'm not sure why but I just used a little lotion after each wash and that helped.



One thing I want to mention is the conflicting information I have discovered in terms of using alcohol and alcohol free cleaners. A recent article in The Wall Street Journal (Put up your dukes: Fighting disease with soap and water, May 12, 2009) stated that plain soap (vs. antibacterial soap) with water removed more germs than alcohol based cleaners. The article also states hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol are more effective. The use of cleansers with triclosan is not recommended due to concern over creating bacteria resistant "bugs". While, Clean Well is not alcohol based, it does not contain triclosan and (according to their website) "kills 99% of germs naturally". So I present you some factual information and will leave decisions up to you. There is definitely a need to use significant care and caution around our little ones if alcohol based cleaners are used. The alcohol content can be poisonous to them.

I feel comfortable using Clean Well for the girls. I like having an option I feel is safer for them than alcohol based cleaners. I use it at home and while I'm out I tend to use an alcohol based cleaner. I love the convenience of the pocket wipes ($2.49 per pack) and the one ounce hand spray ($.299). Both the wipes and spray are super easy to slip in the diaper bag or in even your pocket for quick clean up.

One thing stressed by Clean Well and I fully agree with is the importance of hand washing. Hand washing with soap and water really is the most effective way to get rid of germs. Here's a video just to show you the correct way since most of us (myself included) don't spend enough time at the sink.