You Might Be Buying a Hand Sanitizer That Won't Work for Coronavirus

[highplainsdem]

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/03/you-might-be-buying-a-hand-sanitizer-that-wont-work-for-coronavirus/

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends rubbing on hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol when you aren’t able to wash your hands. Huge pumps and multipacks of bottles are flying off store shelves. But “alcohol-free” products—which are not recommended by the CDC—are also getting snatched up in the consumer frenzy.

Some of the hand sanitizers made by the brands Purell and Germ-X rely on benzalkonium chloride instead of alcohol as the active ingredient. Such non-alcohol antiseptic products may not work as well for many types of germs, the CDC says, or may merely reduce the growth of germs rather than killing them. They may be better than nothing, experts say. But people are buying them without knowing the difference.

Purell Hand Sanitizing Wipes have jumped in price on Amazon.com from $11.88 in January to $79.99 on Wednesday afternoon before jumping to $199.99 on Wednesday night, according to the price tracker Keepa.com. They are currently sold out.

The front of the package doesn’t mention that it’s alcohol-free; the back includes small print that lists benzalkonium chloride as the active ingredient and the label “alcohol-free formula.” Nowhere on the Amazon product listing does it say it’s alcohol-free.

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[Clash City Rocker]

1. Yeah, we're using rubbing alcohol at our house

[Dem2]

2. Same

We had some 70% and were concerned that it wasn't strong enough, but when the 60% recommendation came out, I was relieved.

[Vinca]

3. So are we and I've got Clorox wipes in my car for the steering wheel, etc.

Ever been in a Rav4 that smells like an operating room? This can't be over soon enough.

[Mike 03]

4. Thanks. I've been using one of the products containing benzalkonium

chloride ("Wet Ones&quot , so I'll switch over to something else.