Community Chat

[Pearlee]

People are posting about hand sanitizer being readily available "everywhere" now. First, not true. Maybe in their areas but not everywhere. And where I have seen it in my area it goes in a flash so a day or so later the shelves are bare again. Be careful with your glib advice, those who are saying it is everywhere. We don't all live where you do. 🙄

But more importantly be careful before buying and read the ingredients! I saw a plentiful supply in a store but the label said it was 65% ethanol. I know that is an alcohol of some sort but I didn't
buy it and went home and Googled it. The article I read in the NY Times about it said standards have been relaxed during the pandemic to produce hand sanitizer more quickly. Some of the ethanol ones have been pulled from the market for containing an ingredient that is a carcinogen.
I'm seeing other hand sanitizers made with isopropyl alcohol and some with ingredients that don't contain alcohol. Read the label carefully.

When I bought some a few weeks ago made by a distillery, the label stated it is 70% alcohol and meets WHO requirements for hand sanitizer ( the other ingredients were fine, water and glycerin as I remember).

But be careful and read the label before buying, if and when you find it.

[bunnygirlbrem]

Also make sure you don't buy something labeled alcohol-free, even if it says it kills 99.99% of germs. A lot of places (here included) are selling hand sanitizer made with benzalkonium chloride. That won't kill COVID.

[shoesnbags]

On the cdc website it lists 70% alcohol for disinfecting surfaces in your home, but in the section for cleaning your hands it says to "use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol."  So it varies according to what you're using it on. 

This is on cdc.gov under "Cleaning and disinfecting your home."  It's 3 pages long, with household surfaces on page 1 and cleaning your hands on page 2. There's a picture of a corona virus at the end on page 3, so I take that to mean these recommendations include COVID19. 

[Sage04]

I can´t use anything that contains more than 60% alcohol. I got artnaturals hand sanitizer from Publix. Only two to a Customer and I love it. It´s unscented, infused with Jojoba oil, sulfrate and Paraben free, and Vegan.

Amazon has it also but Publix has a better price.

[Pearlee]

@Sage04. But is there the 60% alcohol in it necessary to kill COVID? The brand name makes it sound like not. I'm not interested in a hand sanitizer that doesn't kill that virus.

[Sage04]

@Pearlee  this one has what the CDC recommended. I don´t like the idea of going around scratching my hands and having bumps all over my hands. What kills the Virus? Are they sure? Personal Hygiene helps.

This one has 62.5

[AngelPuppy1]

I have seen bottles of sanitizer lately with names I have never heard of and many look like they were bottled in someone's kitchen!  I don't know --- I am leary of all of these.  

[Imaoldhippie]

Dont stress yourselves out trying to find/buy hand sanitizer.  Just use plain soap and warm water and vigorously wash your hands.  You can then apply a moisturizer if necessary.

[Pearlee]

And in the car? No soap and watervthere.

[Buckeye3491]

Per the CDC web site ... "CDC recommends using alcohol based hand rub with greater than 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol in healthcare settings."

Of couse, only if soap and water are not available.