Hand sanitiser sold out everywhere

[Bellini12]

I’m absolutely NOT in panic mode about the corona virus. However, I thought it may be sensible to get a couple of bottles of hand sanitiser for the kids to use at school and also for me as I have an Invisalign brace and do have to put my fingers in my mouth when out and about to remove it to eat when on the go if I don’t have access to wash facilities.
But it is sold out everywhere or charging crazy prices online. I suppose everyone else has had the same idea but I also expect there are a few panic buyers out there.
Do you think this will all calm down soon?

I just don’t understand how come the big shops (Superdrug/Boots etc) aren’t replenishing?

Will always use soap and water but those hand gels are convenient if you don’t have access to a washroom.

I work in a small town pharmacy. We had a delivery of 60 and were limiting them to 2 per customer (and lots of complaints about that) and we still sold out of them in less than 3 hours.

Big shops can only replenish as quickly as they get the stock in. If people are ordering 20 bottles online then there will be less in the warehouse to send out to stores

Then there should be a limit on the number any one person can buy at a time.
These bloody hoarders and panic buyers make me so cross! Selfish behaviour.

What don't you understand about them not replenishing, OP? Demand is outstripping supply at the moment. I'm sure they are doing what they can to get more on the shelves but the manufacturers only have a certain amount of capacity and there has been a huge increase in demand.

You need to find a friend who works for the council
My sister is a home carer and gets given hand sanitizer's on a weekly basis

My house is full of them, in every handbag, car, kitchen. I don't usually use them I find them very drying

Are you saying that your sister gives you hand sanitizer paid for by the residents of your area and you stock pile something you don't usei in your house? No wonder council tax is always going up if that's being repeated across the country. Isn't that theft of some sort?

I just don’t understand how come the big shops (Superdrug/Boots etc) aren’t replenishing?

Where would they get it from? The factories don't have stock lying around, they can't suddently magic new production lines out of thin air or raw materials, there may not be any spare capacity to make any more. It's obvious why there's a shortage isn't it?

They had loads in my local Co-op yesterday, and didn't see anyone at all buying it, including me. Bar soap and hot water are all that is needed.

I had to buy some for work last week, got it from Amazon but had to spread the purchase across several retailers

I've had no problem getting it. Got a couple with my Tesco order & my local Coop has it in stock too.

Pharmacies here are getting huge deliveries today and tomorrow.

The reason it is gone is that a lot of schools sent home notes over the last few days saying that children needed their own bottle at school, so some parents had to buy several bottles. That's why it is sold out here anyway.

There is LOADS more on the way. Just use soap in the meantime. Good luck.

I'm hoping they aren't sold out here, I have some for going out with the baby so I can clean my hands on the go. Not because of the virus, just because he's little and I got told it was a good idea before all this blew up.

Veterinary iodine (available online) will kill every fucking thing
Will turn you into an Oompa Loompa though

I ordered 2 on my weekly shop and they didn't come. I was gutted!

@Cwenthyth Yes, we tend to reserve it for the animals

I am having a bit of a thick moment

I have a 50ml bottle and it says that the ethanol is 70g per 100g

As it is 50ml this means its only 35g per ethanol per 50g right? So a bigger bottle would be effective but this small bottle isn't?

Or am I being very silly?

(I often can be very silly!)

Sigh. Hand sanitiser is anti bacterial not anti viral. Stock up on bar soap, instead. If you don't have access to wash facilities, bring a bottle of water!!!

"Sigh" yes because we can all keep a bucket, soap and a towel beside us at work to wash our hands in!

As pp said 70% alcohol sanitizer kills viruses. Maybe check before you "Sigh" in such a pompous way in future?

I just don’t understand how come the big shops (Superdrug/Boots etc) aren’t replenishing?
Stocks will replenish, its mainly because of the way shops order things in advance. They only order enough to cover what is normally needed. Previously they wouldnt run out because the demand wasnt there, now it is and more people are buying it so less in stock. They will start to order more for the forseable future, factories will increase production if possible but there isnt unlimited warehouses full of goods just in case they are needed anywhere! They cant just magic them up from somewhere!

Then there should be a limit on the number any one person can buy at a time.

There is in most shops at the moment, only 2 at a time.

@Crunchymum It'll be the same strength, no matter what size bottle

There is none here at all, signs in the window say they don't have it and can't get deliveries of it. I am wearing gloves outside and wash them when I get home. I do have an auto immune condition though and am always a bit wary at this time of year due to being on immune suppressants

70g/100g = 70%
35g/50g = 70%

It’s concentration not absolute amount of alcohol :-)

Thanks @AutumnCrow

Although I have severe contact dermatitis on my hands so actually using it, won't be pleasant!

@Cwenthryth

Thank you so much (and I told you I was a bit silly )

At least I have some for work, I have hospital grade hand gel at home (DC3 was tube fed for a year so it was part of the hygiene for changing her tube!)

Same @Crunchymum, the only one that doesn't leave my hands red raw is the cucumber cuticura which is obviously sold out everywhere! I have some carex as I have to get public transport a fair bit, planning on soaking my hands overnight in gloves with cream underneath.

You might want to grab it and flog it on- check out this utter madness!