A hand sanitizer an indulgence?  I know what you're thinking. But even everyday items can be worthy splurges. Consider this...

One Ms. Germaphobe and one, now famous, H1N1 virus meet-up in the aisle of a drugstore. Ms. Germaphobe can either choose the standard anti-bacterial hand sanitizer or CleanWell's All-Natural Hand Sanitizer to fend off the loathsome H1N1. Both kill 99.99% of germs, but CleanWell's All-Natural Hand Sanitizer is made without toxic chemicals which makes Ms. Germaphobe happy. Did I mention she also happens to be a hypochondriac?

CleanWell All-Natural Hand Sanitizer made by CleanWell Today
315 Pacific Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: 415.839.6393
$8.99 for three 1oz. spray bottles (each bottle contains 200+ sprays)
www.cleanwelltoday.com
info@cleanwelltoday.com
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 Ever had one of those moments when you smell something stinky, then realize that it's you?  Well, that was me not long ago. I'd just come in from my morning run and flung my hat on the table when my olfactories caught a whiff of the unmistakable funk of sweaty technical gear. Yuck.

So I did what any logical person would do. I threw my hat in the wash. When that didn't work, I soaked it in super hot water, then vinegar, and just when I thought my hat was a goner, my lovely husband showed me an article in Runner's World reviewing new sport detergents.

Unbeknownst to me, residue from your average laundry detergent acts like a sponge, soaking up moisture and, you guessed it, causing all your technical gear to smell. So it wasn't me; it was my laundry detergent.

Though glad to have Runner's World do the dirty job of testing the four most popular sport detergents on the market for me, I did some additional homework on the companies themselves. Based on Runner's World's reviews and my research, I settled on using Penguin's Sport-Wash®.

Why? Because Penguin has been "concerned about the effects of our products and packaging on the environment for as long as we've been in business. Penguin takes your safety, and that of the planet, seriously." Not surprisingly, the detergent is biodegradable (made from vegetable surfactants). That's not something to run away from, and now, neither am I.

Penguin Sport-Wash®, $10 for a 20 oz. container
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• 100% PVC-free container, as are all products and packaging
  
• Made with biodegradable vegetable surfactants
• All Penguin products have been chlorofluorocarbon-free for more than 20 years
• Penguin aerosol products do not contain Freon or Trichlor III
  

Penguin Sport-Wash® is sold at REI, Dick's Sporting Goods, Lucy or find retailers near you

Penguin Brands Inc.
P.O. Box 1036
Sharon Hill, PA 19079
Phone: 610.534.8700
Fax: 610.534.4424
info@penguinbrands.com

It's hard to get excited about a toothbrush. Especially a manual one that doesn't have all the bells and whistles of those super-powered, UV sanitizing gizmos with sonic technology.  But give me a chance to explain...

I've been a fan of Preserve's toothbrush for a while. It comes in a variety of bristle softness, from ultra soft to medium (I prefer soft), has a comfortable arched handle and what they describe as "tiered bristles for gentle, thorough cleaning". All I know is it's doing its job. The fact that it's made from recycled plastic (handle used to be a yogurt cup), is recyclable, BPA-free and made in the USA (minimizing its carbon footprint), makes me want to flash my pearly whites. Bonus: its packaging doubles as a travel case.

But you can't brush you teeth with a toothbrush alone, and until recently, I'd been searching for a natural toothpaste.  So how happy was I when I found  Trader Joe's Antiplaque Toothpaste with Fennel, Propolis and Myrrh? Ecstatic.   Unlike many toothpastes, it is free of saccharin, lauryl sulfates and propylene glycol.  It's also refreshing, literally and figuratively.  After brushing, my mouth was tingly fresh, while I found its anise flavor unique and unexpected. You can't beat the price either---I paid $1.99 for a six ounce tube. That's something worth smiling about.

Preserve Toothbrush, $2.79 (available at Target, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's)
Trader Joe's Antiplaque Toothpaste, $1.99 for a six ounce tube

Preserve Products
www.preserveproducts.com
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Trader Joe's Antiplaque Toothpaste
www.traderjoes.com
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