topic Re: Hand Sanitizer Warning in Community Chat

Hand Sanitizer Warning

Marp — Sat, 23 May 2020 13:44:32 GMT

NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) – There’s a hidden risk with keeping hand sanitizer in your car, especially during the hot summer months.

Flammable liquids and direct sunlight can make it explode.

“It’s flammable and it’s an irritant,” said retired Dallas firefighter Sherrie Wilson. “When it’s venting and if it’s venting in a small space like a car, and vapor is released, it can explode.”

(courtesy: Western Lakes Fire District in Wisconsin)

The Texas Department of Public Safety is sharing a photo from firefighters with the Western Lakes Fire District in Wisconsin. It shows serious damage to the drivers side door of a car caused by “hand sanitizer igniting in a hot vehicle that reached 95 degrees Fahrenheit inside the vehicle.”

Wilson said pump bottles pose a greater risk because vapors can leak into a hot car creating a combustible environment.

“What happens with flammables, is they turn to vapor, and they vaporize into a confined space which was a car. And then if there was any introduction of static electricity and that could simply be somebody getting in and pulling down on a sweater or jacket or anything like that,” explained Wilson.

There are also concerns that leaving hand sanitizer in a hot car could make it less effective.

“If the alcohol evaporates, the hand sanitizer is less efficient. It is the alcohol that kills the germs,” said Dr. Mihaela C. Stefan with UTD’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

The best advice experts have to offer, is simply carry the hand sanitizer with you.

Re: Hand Sanitizer Warning

BunSnoop — Sat, 23 May 2020 13:48:50 GMT

Wow - this is so good to know. I don't keep it in my car, but my brother does. I'll have to let him know.

Re: Hand Sanitizer Warning

4kitties — Sat, 23 May 2020 14:03:02 GMT

@Marp

THANKS! Mine is in my car, but it is not hot here yet. I will be more cautious knowing this and just take it in my bag from now on! Yikes!

Re: Hand Sanitizer Warning

shoesnbags — Sat, 23 May 2020 14:07:35 GMT

I appreciate the warning @Marp . If this can happen in Wisconsin, I would think it's much more likely to happen in really hot places. Guess I'd better remove that container in my car and stick with the itty bitty one in my purse.

Re: Hand Sanitizer Warning

Jannygaz — Sat, 23 May 2020 14:15:02 GMT

There was another article or two saying that the threat of hand sanitizer exploding in a hot car is slim BUT the alcohol could evaporate so best not to leave it in a hot car. The heat can destroy it's effectiveness. Stay well everyone

Re: Hand Sanitizer Warning

Lucky Charm — Sat, 23 May 2020 14:17:46 GMT

I try to tell everyone I know this.

Thanks for your PSA, you are reaching far more people here than I am!

I believe it also compromises the efficacy of the santizer, too.

Same goes for sunscreen, too. Not that it causes fire, but loses efficacy.

Two very important products....!

Re: Hand Sanitizer Warning

willdob3 — Sat, 23 May 2020 14:18:37 GMT

It isn’t safe to keep anything in cars.

Re: Hand Sanitizer Warning

Katcat1 — Sat, 23 May 2020 14:19:27 GMT

I keep it in my purse. I never used it when it first came out years ago. Then it was announced years ago that you can build up a tolerance to it and it won't be effective. I think I will Google that to see if that is true.

Re: Hand Sanitizer Warning

happycat — Sat, 23 May 2020 14:25:10 GMT

Thank you for the warning. I have some in car and I will be getting it out.

Re: Hand Sanitizer Warning

Boomernichols — Sat, 23 May 2020 14:36:05 GMT

@Marp Thanks much for posting this! I have canned hand sanitizer that I keep in my truck so I can clean up when I leave the grocery store. My scatter brain never thought about it exploding here in the humid, hot days in Mississippi, thanks again.

Re: Hand Sanitizer Warning

Pearlee — Sat, 23 May 2020 14:48:32 GMT

It must be a slim chance because I've been leaving bbn it in my car for years including the times I've been in Florida in spring and summer.
So far, so good.

Re: Hand Sanitizer Warning

Lucky Charm — Sat, 23 May 2020 14:54:32 GMT

@Pearlee what's *bbn*?

Re: Hand Sanitizer Warning

millieshops — Sat, 23 May 2020 15:11:16 GMT

@Marp I carry a tiny bottle of sanitizer in my purse rather than leaving it in the car.

I always thought the heat or cold would deteriorate it, but I never thought about it exploding. Thanks for that info.

Re: Hand Sanitizer Warning

Pearlee — Sat, 23 May 2020 15:35:30 GMT

@Lucky Charm. Good question. My phone does stuff I don't touch and I see it too late after I press the post button and I can't edit my posts on this phone. Grrr I hate when that happens, sorry.
One always "charming" poster accused me of lack of an education when that happened recently so thanks for asking nicely. 🙂

Re: Hand Sanitizer Warning

Kachina624 — Sat, 23 May 2020 15:48:29 GMT

I live in a very hot place. I've heard of windows being blown out due to pressure from heat in a car but I've never heard of a fire due to hand sanitizer.

Re: Hand Sanitizer Warning

deeva — Sat, 23 May 2020 15:48:44 GMT

I've kept a travel sized bottle in my center console since last summer. I live in Arizona and never had a issue. But I'll change that and keep it in my purse.

Re: Hand Sanitizer Warning

shoptilyadropagain — Sat, 23 May 2020 16:55:15 GMT

I've kept a bottle in my car for years and will continue to do so.

Re: Hand Sanitizer Warning

pegfromca — Sat, 23 May 2020 22:38:10 GMT

This so-called psa has been around for a few years now. This is false. Hand sanitizer will not blow up or start a fire in your vehicle. Hand sanitizer loses its strength.

Re: Hand Sanitizer Warning

lovesrecess — Sun, 24 May 2020 20:07:25 GMT

The sanitizer caused damages in cars several times in our area last summer. I only have one teeny bottle of it and keep it in my purse. It gets too watery and thin if you leave it in the car anyway when it is warm outside. Thanks for the reminder.

Re: Hand Sanitizer Warning

germanshepherdlove — Sun, 24 May 2020 23:23:27 GMT

My husband read this story and bolted outside. Came back into the house with his hand sanitizer.