To consider using vodka as a hand sanitiser?

[brindle]

I'm only semi-serious. But most of our local shops and online equivalents have sold out of hand sanitiser, including the antibacterial, alcohol free sanitisers that probably only protect against bacteria, not viruses like coronavirus. The small pharmacy round the corner does still have some 500ml bottles of Hibi hand rub but they've doubled the price to £19.99, and say they won't be able to get any more when it's gone.

I know that good old soap and water does the trick, but it's not always there when you need it, so having a bottle of something in your bag does seem like a sensible precaution. So I'm wondering, would a cheap-vodka hand rub do the job just as well as an overpriced bottle of the real thing? I've got a bottle in the cupboard that we won at the school Xmas fete tombola, and we're certainly not planning on drinking it.

Or getting a bottle of surgical spirit? Even cheaper and people won't think you are a secret tankie!

Amazon has hand sanitizer gel including hibi hand rub.

Amazon has hand sanitizer gel including hibi hand rub

Yeah, they have tons. For vastly inflated prices!!
I managed to get some at Aldi, but the surgical spirit is a good shout, thanks.

Yeah, they have tons. For vastly inflated prices!!
They all seem to be about a fiver - Is that over inflated? I haven’t had to buy any in a while as we seem to have a never ending supply.

Hand sanitizer is usually £1 - £2 for small handbag sized bottles, I looked out of interest yesterday and saw people selling for anywhere between £5 and HUNDREDS! Masks the same. Bastards.

You can buy pure isopropyl alcohol (aka isopropanol) from eBay or Amazon. It's not the same AT ALL as the alcohol in vodka (that's ethanol) so very important not to drink it but it'll do the same job as far as killing bacteria goes and will evaporate faster. It's also a very good organic solvent, excellent for removing sticky goo.

As anti-bacterial gel only kills bacteria and won't kill virus it isn't any help in killing the Coronavirus. But if you want handgel for general hygiene when out and about maybe try Amazon or Primark... Would probably look quite odd if you just got the vodka out of your bag say in the middle of the school run...!

Water and soap is far more effective. Just wash with water and soap and the antibac only for times when you can't wash your hands.

just carry round some of the hotel mini soaps, you get to use and leave for another person and its not a biggie leaving a small sliver of soap around

Vodka is only 37-40% proof and I think I read that it had to be 60% to eradicate viruses and bacteria? Better to drink it and wash your hands... I agree inflated prices are absolutely abhorrent. Over five pounds for a tiddly 50ml bottle?? Daylight robbery!

@ThatLibraryMiss
Is it safe to use on skin? Just googled and can't find definitive answers.

Surgical spirit and lots of hand cream

Make your own by mixing isopropyl alcohol with something like aloe vera gel.

It doesn’t have enough alcohol in it.

Here's a recipe for making your own using vodka - www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/wellness/g20706539/how-to-make-a-natural-hand-sanitizer/

Vodka is only 40%. You need 60% alcohol to kill coronavirus.

@picklebarrelfalls, yes it's safe. It's what's in nail sanitiser (mostly - there's also some colour and perfume, and sometimes some acetone). It'll strip the oils out of your skin so not a brilliant idea to use it a lot without using handcream too, but it's not as bad as acetone for that.

Still fairly cheap at boots- albeit mostly the little handbag versions- www.boots.com/sitesearch?searchTerm=hand%20sanitiser

Thanks library,
I just bought a couple of small spray bottles of it and a larger (much cheaper) refill from eBay.

I take it back— all out of stock!

Iso Propyl Alcohol. Mixed with some Aloe gel if you want to thicken it a bit.

@BearimyJeremy %proof and % alcohol are 2 different measures. Vodka is approx 40%ABV, or 80% proof.

I managed to get hand sanitiser down the dog poo aisle in Pets At Home. And was disproportionately proud of myself for my brilliant idea! It’s more expensive though because it comes with poo bags etc.

*I take it back— all out of stock
*
I know winter, I went round the city yesterday and saw not one single bottle anywhere. People are even putting up the price of carex hand wash for crying out loud.

Why not carry a bottle of soapy water then?

@RedRed9 Amazon's supply of reasonably priced Hibi santiser is out of stock ... it doesn't say it's out of stock but it does say it has a delivery time of 1-2 months which meand the same thing.

There's a marketplace seller, newly joined, selling it for an inflated £19.99 like my local pharmacy.