No need to worry about junior knocking back the Purell

That's if you were worried about Junior knocking back the Purell, which I'm not. (But check back when he's 15, and I might be singing a different tune).

Cleanwell Sanitizer is not alcohol based, and this is most definitely a plus, but not because the Today Show has got me all in a panic over substance abuse. No. I live in Michigan. For those of you below mid-Ohio, do you have any clue how cold and specifically how dry it gets here 4-5 months out of the year? Believe me, when you have hands so dry and cracked that they catch on things, then the last thing you want to be putting on them is alcohol. That nice "cooling" and "I feel all clean and sterile" feeling we might relish in the warmer months is now replaced by searing pain and even drier, scratchier knuckles than before (and folks. that's just not sexy).

Cleanwell, by comparison, is a kinder, gentler, and infinitely more pleasant smelling product that the standard variety. It even softens--just a little bit. And I'm not even washing my dishes with it. It is made with natural products--And yes, I checked. When they say natural it does not seem to be a stretch of the imagination, as it is with so many other "natural" products out there today--the active ingredient is Thyme Oil (lovely!) and other ingredients include citrus essence (refreshing!) aloe vera (soothing!) and oats (tasty!) (ok. don't be put off by the oats--this product is definitely lump free and not delicious. Not toxic, but definitely Not Delicious).

Jokes aside, the fact this product is not stingingly astringent also means I don't have to hesitate when I give my 4 year old a quick squirt on his own chapped little hands, and this I appreciate. It comes in a compact little spray bottle, and so far has not leaked in my purse, unlike those boozy varieties. This I also appreciate.

But does it work? i.e. are those germs killed? This, my friends, I cannot tell you. Have we been snot, cold, cough, bug free household for the last few weeks since we've had it? Definitely not. But when a neighbor brings a drippy nosed kid over, I will definitely crack open the Cleanwell just to attempt a preemptive strike. We can only dream, right? I mean, it's a hand sanitizer, not a flippin' miracle cure.