Hand sanitizer in supermarkets

[Medievalist]

Is anyone else finding that the hand sanitizer provided in supermarkets is getting thinner and thinner? The one in my local co-op yesterday was like water - I'm sure they must be watering it down. I've gone back to using my own as I just don't trust the stuff supplied by supermarkets.

It's not watered down, it just doesn't have as much if the gloopy gel stuff in. It's the alcohol content that matters rather than the texture, and it's being produced rapidly in huge quantities.

It varies a lot. The thing that bothers me more is the state of the area they keep it all in. At Morrisons they have got new stations that have everything you need, it is always clean and tidy. At Tesco it is all bunged in a table which just looks grubby, the floor surrounding it is dirty and there is almost always paper towels strewn about on the floor. Asda isn't much better.

I know early on they had to rush things in to place but it's obvious this is for the long hall so they need a cleanable, tidy solution. The tesco table of doom as we call it has really put me off shopping there.

I’ve not noticed that, but the quality between places is huge. Primarks stinks and is so sticky, puts me right off.

it just doesn't have as much if the gloopy gel stuff in.

But maybe it the gloopy stuff that helps it coat your hands properly? When it's the consistency of water half of it seems to end up on the floor.

As somebody who isn't going out much anyway perhaps I'm not best placed to comment, but I never fancy touching a pump that so many other people are also touching (yes i understand that you will shortly spread sanitiser over the bit of your hand that touched the pump) and generally use seeing their pump as a cue to fish mine out of my pocket and use it.

I much prefer the thinner ones, less gloopy stuff that leaves your hands all sticky...

Our stuff at work is thin and takes forever to evaporate its horrid

I like the ones in Waitrose that you operate with a foot pedal. No need to touch anything. Still watery though.

As somebody who isn't going out much anyway perhaps I'm not best placed to comment, but I never fancy touching a pump that so many other people are also touching (yes i understand that you will shortly spread sanitiser over the bit of your hand that touched the pump) and generally use seeing their pump as a cue to fish mine out of my pocket and use it.

I’m exactly the same! However, I’ve had a few shop assistants and a church warden get really stroppy with me for using my own. The church warden in particular was really off with me. I’d just sanistised my hands outside the doorway and then as I stepped into the porch he barked, “ERMMMM...EXCUSE ME??????” and pointed at the wall mounted hand sanitizer. I said “oh thank you I’ve just sanitised my hands outside using my own but I will do them again so you can see as I realise you didn’t see me” and whipped mine out again and did it again in his eyeline. He barked at me again and said “Ours is PERFECTLY sufficient you know?!” then shook his head in disgust at me. The shop assistants weren’t anywhere near as rude but did seem irked that I took my own out of my bag rather than use the rather grubby looking ones on the tables. I did explain it’s because I felt it’s more hygienic as everyone is touching the pump.

I think some people just like the power trip.

The ones in Dunelm have automatic sensors so you don't need to touch anything.

Had to use the hand sanitizer in the supermarket this morning and it was really slimy stuff, horrible!

I got itchy hands with the one Next provide for customers as it's really highly scented. I'm now mostly using my own but like a PP have been 'told off' in a few places for doing this even where I'm quite clearly using it in front of them!!

I don't use it anyway, I wash my hands before I go out and wash my hands again when I come back.

I've not really been in any "non-essential" shops in the last few weeks so I don't know what theirs is like. I think they are more likely to shout at you to use theirs (or any) but the supermarket staff don't appear to care.

I have my own bottle for when I can't wash my hands.

The thicker ones gum up the dispensers so a lot of the time they aren't working and need frequent de-gunking. That's why a lot of places are moving to thinner consistency. The alcohol content is the same.

I take my own. One I know is high enough alchol, that my skin doesn’t dislike and most importantly doesn’t stink!

Yes, the ones that smell like cheap aftershave are not nice. I bring my own and would only the one provided if I had run out or forgotten my own. They should be pleased. It will be saving them money.

I take my own but I had one shop refuse to allow me in because I said I wanted to use mine rather than their manky bottle.

No way am I touching a pump that hundreds of people are touching every day. I’ve hardly been going out but when I do, I use my own sanitizer rather than the ones the shops provide, and not every time I walk into a shop either.

Marks and Spencer's is lovely. Very thin so not sticky and smells like expensive eau de cologne. I nip in just to use it!

I feel vindicated that others feel the same about others touching the same pump!

@NameChange84 gosh, I think I'd turn around and leave immediately if I want desperate to get in that shop or church

@cologne4711 you must be one of the people whose face doesn't immediately get itchy as soon as you remember your not supposed to touch it. I'm impressed!

They are watering it down in Tesco stores. I have seen a security guard filling them up with a jug of water on numerous occasions. I would'nt be surprised if it is just water and no gel at all!

I always use my own and just apologise to anyone overseeing it but that I don't want to use one everyone else has touched

I always use my own too! Unless it’s an automatic as I hate touching things so many others have 🙈
The amount of times I’ve had people argue with me about it is crazy x

I still don't bother (and obviously still haven't been in non-essential shops as they've been closed since Christmas Eve where I live). As for touching my face, I have the mask on, so if I do touch it, it's usually to readjust the mask. I do really try not to though!

I can't get the automatic ones to work. Then I faff about touching it just like the person before me faffed about touching it to try to make work and the person after me will faff about touching it...

Then there are the simply empty ones. They get touched a huge amount by the wishful.

I need huge amounts to soak into my gloves -- why? Because I am always wearing gloves. I don't take them off, so if anything at end of my arms might be contaminated & might need sanitising, it's my gloves would need it.

I just don't use sanitiser to be honest, for obvious reasons.

I don't use sanitiser at all, I just wash my hands.