Shine a light on it

You tend not to think about germs when you're traveling - at least until you take a closer look at that hotel bedspread, or your baby drops her pacifier in the taxi, or you have to use a gas station restroom. Germ Guardian's new travel-size Mini Sanitizer Wand promises to kill 99 percent of germs, viruses, bacteria, mold, and dust mites without chemicals; just shine the UV-C light over the questionable surface.

Not quite pocket-size (10 1/2-by- 1 1/2-by-1 1/2 inches), the wand weighs about 13 ounces, runs on four AA batteries, and fits easily into a backpack or tote bag. It costs $59.99, and may be found on sale at Lowe's and www.lowes.com for about $30.

LYLAH M. ALPHONSE