To be stressed about lack of antibacterial hand gel in the shops?

[boredorboard]

School told us to provide DC with antibacterial hand gel for school. Went to every shop/chemist in town that normally sells this and all sold out. No info on restocks but unlikely as wholesalers have also sold out. Also looked online and have only been able to find some at a very high price on Amazon. So that's that then. We are going to have to rely on good old fashioned hand washing.

Wondering if there are any other products available with the magic 60% alcohol content we could use as an alternative? Any suggestions?

I got 20 for myself at work I’m customer facing and they like to shake my hand, elderly parents, kids at school and my colleagues. Not all for me.

Hand gel won't stop you getting sick. All it does is give you a false sense of security.

The best thing to do is bring soap with you and wash your hands regularly. Even bringing a bottle of water from home and washing your hands in the car and rinsing off would be better.

Aldi one is 73% ethanol, have it on my desk as co workers don’t always wash hands in the loo 😱

Can I point out that if you are going to use 60 % gel then don't touch anything until the alcohol has evaporated completely. It's the evaporation that kills the bacteria and viruses.

Agree with all the comments that good old fashioned handwashing with lots of soap and warm water is the most effective way to reduce the microbial load on your skin. Handgel should only be used when there not the option to use soap and hot water, it is not as effective a killer of microbes as soap and water. But remember nothing completely sterilises your skin, it's all about reducing the number on your skin and so reducing the spread and so handgel has its place.

Whoops it’s the Lidl classic one not Aldi that’s 62% ( in handbag) 😂

@RunningAwaywiththeCircus

Wear plastic gloves in public loos, then bin them unnecessary, wasteful single use plastic! If you're using a toilet, you generally have access to running water and soap. It is still advised that you wash your hands after wearing gloves.

Anti bac is anti bacterial, not anti viral.

Wash hands with soap while singing happy birthday twice (in your head, unless it’s someones birthday).

Viques, some schools are providing the materials. In fact the p1s at dd school were trying(some were successful) to drink the hand gel. My dh is a teacher and I've him told him detol and kitchen roll and (if possible) don't stand in the direct line of fire. I can at least, and am expected to, wear ppe.

Fgs

Antibacterial is kills bacteria

Anti viral kills viruses

Viruses are harder to kill anyway which is why unless it's really bad doctors don't prescribe anti viral meds. Vaccines and prevention is better than cure

Ok, the correct term is anti-microbial, pedants. But high alcohol gels are anti-microbial. So is soap and water.

I'm not so sure about having lots of alcohol in children's bags? Maybe I went to a rough school, but I know someone would have tried drinking it.

Ffs the clue is in the name -CoronaVIRUS

Antibacterial products are fuck all use against a virus 🙄

"Wash hands with soap while singing happy birthday twice"

Are you supposed to be running water for all that time?

I'd find that really difficult.

MIL was told by the staff in boots that the local Chinese people have bought out all their stock and sent it to their families in China.

We use Eco Hydra hand foam, there are a few floating around on Ebay although sold out on their website. 99.999% protection against viruses including Norvovirus and Coronavirus. No alcohol too.

I tried to send some into school with DD and it was taken off of her

FGS why is it so difficult to understand that people use the term "anti bac gel" to mean anti microbial gel or hand sanitiser or alcohol gel. People shouting "it doesn't hep!" because they're pedants are frankly irresponsible

Hand sanitiser works if it has an alcohol content of more than 60%. If you can wash your hands with soap that's better but if you can't then use the gel when you've coughed or sneezed or touched surfaces etc.

I plan to stock up on bottles of gin in case the hand-gel shortage spreads!

Good idea Do you think white wine would be as effective?

Sessh, the alcohol gel advice has come from experts. No need for people to dismiss expert advice just because the bottle says bacteria. It kills off this virus too at the right concentration of alcohol.

Soap and water is best, as well as proper technique.
I'm fed up of seeing women not washing their hands after using public toilets while I'm stood there washing like I'm prepping for major surgery. Come on people it's not rocket science.

Also, I can't believe there are five pages of "Just wash your hands!". I doubt anybody is disputing that washing your hands is more effective. But surely the point of these things is for using them out and about when you don't have access to a sink?

Do you think white wine would be as effective?

While wine taken orally may help COVID induced anxiety, wouldn't higher alcohol needed as an anti-microbial agent externally?

primark always have loads by the tills. i end up buying a bottle every time i go in there.

Primark has travel size bottles by all the tills yesterday - they say 75g/100g - so think they are ok? It’s 100ml bottles for 80p.

I bought one for DH for work, shop assistant said they’d sold loads.

handwashing is better, if it is good enough for surgeons. The running water carries off the bugs. We were taught this way.

Buy this and teach everyone how to wash hands. Or just print off and stick up in loo

www.amazon.co.uk/Safety-First-Aid-Group-Laminated/dp/B076M6RG7T?tag=mumsnetforu03-21