Back-to-school shopping lists almost always include hand sanitizer.  The problem is, standard alcohol-based sanitizers aren’t very healthy in the long run.  They’re contributing to things like “superbugs,” and are just…not a great thing.

But this stuff, Prefense, is one of the things I’ve mentioned before as one of my favorite products ever discovered through doing blog reviews.  It’s perfect for running errands with the kids – or for a day at school.

See, rather than being alcohol-based, it’s silica-based.  That means it doesn’t “poison” the bacteria to death.  Instead, it cuts up their exteriors so they can’t survive.  But it’s harmless to us (because we’re so much bigger, for one thing).

It can even be applied ahead of time (hence the name), and will remain on the hands through several hours and several washings. Consequently, I have my kids apply it right before we leave the house, and we call it good until they get home.  Even if they have to stop for a potty break and wash their hands, they’re still set.

It comes in a foaming bottle – either a tallish one or a pretty small one.  The smaller one is a good purse size, and I’ve been using the same one for years; I just refill it.  (It doesn’t look like it would come open, but it does.)  At some point my nozzle clogged up, but after a couple brief emails back and forth with the company, I washed it well and it was as good as new again.

I’ve also discovered that, although it’s not as nice a way to make use of it, you can put it in a spritzer bottle, in a pinch, and spray it onto your hands.

This is definitely a go-to for us, and highly recommended.