The difficulty in finding hand sanitizer

[bcla]

The shortages are totally out of whack. I know the manufacturers have been working overtime and of course new manufacturers are making it. But it shouldn't be this hard. We've been at this for 3-4 weeks and I'd hope that people who stocked up aren't just hoarding it.

 

[fsjking]

The shortages are totally out of whack. I know the manufacturers have been working overtime and of course new manufacturers are making it. But it shouldn't be this hard. We've been at this for 3-4 weeks and I'd hope that people who stocked up aren't just hoarding it.

You went from probably 5% of the population using it to 95%. They can not just increase production to 20 times capacity. Demand is outstripping the ability to produce it. Unless they know that this is going to be a long term situation, they aren't going to start building new factories or retooling factories to produce it either. That's a multi-million dollar expenditure in a downturning market.

 

[bcla]

You went from probably 5% of the population using it to 95%. They can not just increase production to 20 times capacity. Demand is outstripping the ability to produce it. Unless they know that this is going to be a long term situation, they aren't going to start building new factories or retooling factories to produce it either. That's a multi-million dollar expenditure in a downturning market.

The estimates are that use has been at 3-4x the regular use. I used to see it a lot.

It's really not that difficult to do this. Almost any food, beverage, or cosmetics/toiletries manufacture can temporarily adapt to blending this stuff and many have. But the really frustrating thing is that they're prioritizing this for certain uses, which means very little at retail.

I've noticed too that many liquor distillers are blending it now, but they're either only for distribution to medical or first responder uses, or maybe they throw in a small bottle with the purchase of liquor.

 

[soccerdad72]

Truth be told, I'm not really using that much hand sanitizer these days anyways. Since we've gone to a stay at home mandate, I've practically used none. I don't use it when around the house, I just wash my hands instead. I only use it when I venture out, which is maybe once every three or four days lately (for a take out order or the occasional grocery shopping trip). First responders and those working in essential positions really should be the only ones who need a large quantity right now.

 

[fsjking]

The estimates are that use has been at 3-4x the regular use. I used to see it a lot.

It's really not that difficult to do this. Almost any food, beverage, or cosmetics/toiletries manufacture can temporarily adapt to blending this stuff and many have. But the really frustrating thing is that they're prioritizing this for certain uses, which means very little at retail.

I've noticed too that many liquor distillers are blending it now, but they're either only for distribution to medical or first responder uses, or maybe they throw in a small bottle with the purchase of liquor.

You are talking about companies that aren't set up to make sanitizer and distribute it through retail channels. A liquor distiller does not have a retail hand sanitizer bottle and label set up. They don't have a production line to bottle those. They may have something to bottle liquor, but then they'd have to take that out of service to use it for sanitizer. They don't have contracts in place with a distributor to get them to grocery/pharmacy stores, nor contracts with stores to get them on shelves. They don't have a supply chain in place to get them there either. They can make the stuff and give it away to the local hospitals and first responders though without needing any of that. To get it into retail would cost much much more than they'd make in the couple years, at max, this demand lasts.

 

[skyblue17]

Since I am rarely leaving the house, I'm finding that I don't really need it. I still have some of my initial supply and I carry a small bottle with me when I do go to get groceries but other than that, I don't use it. Soap and water when at home is better anyhow!

 

[Diznygrl]

I feel like once the stay at home orders start to get lifted the demand for hand sanitizer will increase even more. As others have said, you don't really need it while sitting in your house all day. But once people start going out more and getting on with their lives, they will be using it like crazy. I think this will be one of those effects of "post-COVID trauma" that will stick with people for quite some time.

For me, hand sanitizer has been a part of my daily life for years so it's kind of annoying that people somehow just discovered it in the last few months and are buying it all up!

 

[dreamin_disney]

I've twice been able to catch Bath & Body Works hand sanitizer in stock by checking their site between 6-7am eastern time. That seems to be when they load their inventory each day. I've seen it generally stay in stock for an hour or two. Its not the cheapest, but better than nothing!

Does the bath and body work havethe right amount of alcohol ?

 

[DVCjj]

Thanks!!! Scored a 5 pack! Now we can smell like An optimistic blend of fresh raspberries, sparkling pear & pink lily petals!

View attachment 487891

Win/win. It actually sounds like it smells kinda pretty.
I was not happy when B&B went to these shaped containers. I would always refill the other square-ish ones with the larger opening from a big bottle of Purell.

 

[bcla]

Does the bath and body work havethe right amount of alcohol ?

Almost everything they have is 68% ethanol. The recommended concentration is at least 62%, which is what standard Purell has.

 

[slideaway]

def a bit pricy but i‘ve ordered a few small bottles from megababe for friends and family & they now have larger pump bottles i’m unable to link but their website is megababe beauty and I believe they’re also carried at ulta

 

[dreamin_disney]

I’ll have to try and order. I can’t handle floral scents because I have allergies. The rose vanilla and Ginham have floral scents right? The Japanese blossom kills me! Anyone with floral scents allergies , which scent do you recommend that’s not floral or to strong?

 

[CaleCakes]

def a bit pricy but i‘ve ordered a few small bottles from megababe for friends and family & they now have larger pump bottles i’m unable to link but their website is megababe beauty and I believe they’re also carried at ulta

So happy I saw this post! I've been desperate to find hand sanitizer for weeks (along with everything else like wipes and tp like everyone else) so thank you for posting this! I grabbed 2 big pumps and a few small ones (plus a few other things I've been wanting to try from megababes). I had ordered 2 pretty pricey sprays from etsy but I can always use sanitizer.

 

[TCRAIG]

Went to Art Naturals and got 6 bottles of Megababes - use VIP20 coupon code to save 20% and free ship...

 

[robinb]

You went from probably 5% of the population using it to 95%. They can not just increase production to 20 times capacity. Demand is outstripping the ability to produce it. Unless they know that this is going to be a long term situation, they aren't going to start building new factories or retooling factories to produce it either. That's a multi-million dollar expenditure in a downturning market.

True. I never use hand sanitizer, even at WDW. I bought 2 mini travel bottles and 1 larger bottle for my car back in February. I only use it when I go out. So far, so good but it wasn’t an everyday habit for me pre-COVID-19.

 

[godisney14]

You went from probably 5% of the population using it to 95%. They can not just increase production to 20 times capacity. Demand is outstripping the ability to produce it. Unless they know that this is going to be a long term situation, they aren't going to start building new factories or retooling factories to produce it either. That's a multi-million dollar expenditure in a downturning market.

After all this has happened and knowing what we know now, I’m sure hand sanitizers will definitely see a long-term demand in higher quantities. Even in a downturn market. We’re talking about a few dollars a month to keep oneself healthy. Much cheaper than a consultation with a doctor.
You don’t need to build new factories for this, and it’s not rocket science for the major CPG brands.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I sent that link to my DD#2, who needed to find sanitizer for her guys at work. She bought a gallon of it, to see if it worked and to check shipping..it got to her in less than a week, and her guys are happy. She bought little travel spray bottles for them to put the sanitizer in, for when they are in the field, and some bigger sized ones for at the shop.

Did she comment about the smell? I saw some comments from people who said the type of alcohol used had an odor and they wanted to use essential oils to cover it. Hand sanitizer usually has a strong alcohol smell anyway (which dissipates quickly) -- any ideas on what this product smells like and if the smell disappears fast?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Good news for anyone who has ordered Hand Sanitizer from Amazon and had any problems with the shipment: One of my orders was incomplete (product was fine, but not all the bottles were there), and the company was not answering my inquiries. So I contacted Amazon via live chat this evening. The Amazon rep researched my order and ended up giving me a full refund. The Amazon A-Z guarantee really works!

 

[amcnj]

I rarely used hand sanitizer. Mainly had it for travel, for times you were going to eat something and didn’t have access to a place to wash your hands. Consequently I still have several small travel bottles, and only use them now when leaving the grocery store. But it looks like I may need more before this situation gets better.

 

[nkereina]

Does the bath and body work havethe right amount of alcohol ?

Yep

I’ll have to try and order. I can’t handle floral scents because I have allergies. The rose vanilla and Ginham have floral scents right? The Japanese blossom kills me! Anyone with floral scents allergies , which scent do you recommend that’s not floral or to strong?

You won't necessarily have many choices - it will all depend on what's in stock on the Bath & Body Works web site. I was able to get Vanilla Coconut, Ocean, Peach, and Eucalyptus Spearmint - none of those have floral scents. As of right now, they have Vanilla Coconut, Sweet Pea, Gingham, Peach Bellini and Watermelon Lemonade in stock so I would avoid Sweet Pea and Gingham if you're sensitive to floral smells.