I think I’ve mentioned before that Jenna’s medical issues have transformed me into a germaphobe.  I never thought about germs as much as I do now.  But when a common cold quickly evolves into pneumonia requiring hospitalization, you start thinking about these things a lot more. The nights we’ve been up with a baby struggling to breath have been more than enough already.  So, how have we been combating germs??  LOTS of hand washing and gallons of hand sanitizer and antibacterial soap.

But then I started to become more “green-aware.”  I started reading about the main product in antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizer, along with it’s potentially dangerous side effects.  That ingredient is Triclosan.  Triclosan is a potent endocrine disruptor that acts on the thyroid gland and the sex hormones estrogen and androgen.  Over time, Triclosan degrades to dioxins, which are toxic and carcinogenic and accumulate in fatty tissue (such as breasts).  Read more about the dangers of Triclosan here and here.

I recently found CleanWell hand sanitizer and antibacterial soaps.  Instead of Triclosan, CleanWell uses a patented formulation of essential plant oils that they call “Ingenium™.”  Ingenium™ is the only all-natural anti-microbial that meets or exceeds FDA and EPA standards for germ killing efficacy.  Here are the facts from the company:

  • Kills 99.99% of harmful germs on contact including MRSA, E coli, and Salmonella
  • 100% poison-free.  100% green.
  • Alcohol free.  Safe for kids.  No ingestion risk.
  • No toxic chemicals.
  • 100% biodegradable.
  • Certified cruelty free.  Not tested on animals.

The foaming hand soap (above) comes in three great scents, but we love Orange Vanilla the best.  They are packaged attractively in a brightly colored bottle with a label that easily peels off for a more “stylish” look.  You can see a photo with the labels off here.

Their hand sanitizer comes in a 1 oz. pocket-sized spray, a 6 oz. desktop spray and convenient individual wipes.  It has a fresh, “green” scent and leaves hands feeling soft.  It’s also safe for sensitive skin and boasts four times more uses per ounce than traditional alcohol gels.

CleanWell products have been featured on Today and NPR, as well as at Parents and DWELL magazines.  They are available for purchase at Target, Wholefoods, and online at Amazon.  We found them at our local co-op.