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#99115 - 07/06/08 09:26 AM Hand sanitizer
mwg78 Offline
newbie

Registered: 07/05/08
Posts: 3
Loc: Fredericksburg, VA
Would this make a good replacement, or at least supplement, to the use of soap and water while backpacking?

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#99116 - 07/06/08 10:03 AM Re: Hand sanitizer [Re: mwg78]
Eric Offline
member

Registered: 09/23/02
Posts: 294
Loc: The State of Jefferson
I carry a small spritz bottle of Everclear. All the hand sanitizers contain perfume which strikes me as an animal attractant.

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#99117 - 07/06/08 10:24 AM Re: Hand sanitizer [Re: Eric]
phat Offline
Moderator

Registered: 06/24/07
Posts: 4107
Loc: Alberta, Canada

Ditto on the small bottle of alcohol - Although sometimes I like the gel and have been known to take a small bottle of purell - since I carry an alcohol stove using a little as hand sanitizer is fine.

I don't *wash* hands with it - I use good old water and sand/rocks/whatever for that. The only time I use it is upon leaving the toilet area after a poop. Not eating your own or someone else's feces is usually a lot more important in preventing gastrointestinal upset
on the trail than treating your water.
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#99118 - 07/06/08 12:43 PM Re: Hand sanitizer [Re: mwg78]
Weldman Offline
member

Registered: 11/21/05
Posts: 193
Loc: Sunnyvale, Ca

Have you seen this product at Wally World or most drug stores


http://www.persani.com/pen.html


Great Product and take up very little Space




Mike

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#99119 - 07/06/08 04:42 PM Re: Hand sanitizer [Re: phat]
6brnorma Offline
member

Registered: 05/11/05
Posts: 252
Loc: Arizona
Quote:

Ditto on the small bottle of alcohol - Although sometimes I like the gel and have been known to take a small bottle of purell - since I carry an alcohol stove using a little as hand sanitizer is fine.

I don't *wash* hands with it - I use good old water and sand/rocks/whatever for that. The only time I use it is upon leaving the toilet area after a poop. Not eating your own or someone else's feces is usually a lot more important in preventing gastrointestinal upset
on the trail than treating your water.


And of course...it's a great fire starter (the gel) in wet conditions. Something I learned here!

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#99120 - 07/07/08 08:01 PM Re: Hand sanitizer [Re: mwg78]
ndsol Offline
member

Registered: 04/16/02
Posts: 678
Loc: Houston, Texas
I generally use Band-Aid Cleansing Foam, but not to be used more than three times daily. Doesn't dry out your hands and provides good sanitation. I agree with Phat that this is more important than water treatment.

I find it amusing to watch backpackers wash their hands in a creek (with no soap) and then eat dinner with their hands, but yet will not drink water from that same creek without treating it.

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#99121 - 07/18/08 08:23 AM Re: Hand sanitizer [Re: ndsol]
bulrush Offline
member

Registered: 04/19/07
Posts: 132
Loc: Michigan
I have found the alcohol gel that I used burns, but is not a great fire started. It burns for a short time and with a tiny flame that is hard to see in daylight.

A flint (ferrocerium rod) and dry paper towel works much better. Or a match or lighter works too.

On a similar note, why not carry extra 90% alcohol and spray it on your hands? Then you don't have the perfume issue. It might dry your skin out in the winter though.


Edited by bulrush (07/18/08 08:24 AM)

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#99122 - 07/18/08 09:15 AM Re: Hand sanitizer [Re: bulrush]
phat Offline
Moderator

Registered: 06/24/07
Posts: 4107
Loc: Alberta, Canada

I frequently do exactly that - since I carry an alcohol stove I simply dribble a little but on
my hands and rub around, after leaving the privy.
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