Yes, Hand Sanitizer Is About to Expire
By now, most of us have rummaged through the nooks and crannies of our homes for forgotten caches of hand sanitizer. We unearthed sample bottles, handed out by some unknown event, like loot, removed the mini-bottle from the first aid kit in the trunk of the car and wiped the dust from the half-empty bottle that took up space under the sink. But how effective are these ancient stocks of disinfectant actually? Does hand sanitizer go bad? Well, unfortunately …
Hand sanitizer loses effectiveness over time
As it turns out, while disinfectant doesn’t exactly go “bad”, it does lose its potency over time. CDC recommends that hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol is a good substitute when soap and water are not available.
The problem is 60%: alcohol is volatile, which means it evaporates easily. This means that a bottle of hand sanitizer that has been on the bottom of your duffel bag for an unknown amount of time may now contain less alcohol than the label says.
Check expiration date
Hand sanitizer is regulated by the FDA and must have a batch number and expiry date printed on its bottle. This shelf life is usually around 2–3 years from the date of manufacture and is a rough estimate of when the active ingredient, which is alcohol for hand sanitizer, falls below 90 percent of what is stated on the label. If your hand sanitizer is 70% alcohol, the expiration date is the time that the percentage is expected to drop to 90% of that value, which is 63%. This is still within the limits of efficiency, but by a smaller margin.
Once you open the bottle, the alcohol percentage will drop as it is exposed to air. So if you have a bottle that was opened on some long-forgotten day, there is a good chance that the alcohol percentage will drop significantly, even if it hasn’t expired. When the percentage of alcohol falls below 60%, the disinfectant will become less effective, although it will still have some effect.
Store hand sanitizer properly
It is important to store your hand sanitizer properly. This includes storing it in direct sunlight, as this can cause the alcohol to evaporate. It’s also important to keep hand sanitizer out of the reach of young children, as the colors and smells of some brands can be confusing. The FDA has reported an increase in poison control center visits since the start of this pandemic, mainly due to accidental swallowing of hand sanitizer. Remember, if it’s colorful or smells good, chances are your little one will try to drink it. It’s also important to avoid storing hand sanitizer above 73 degrees Fahrenheit, as it is considered a flammable liquid .
Soap and water are effective
If you’re worried about the effectiveness of your hand sanitizer, it’s best to wash your hands often as well (which you should still do). As noted by the CDC, hand sanitizer works well under certain circumstances, but is not a substitute for regular soap and water. Hand sanitizer also doesn’t work if you have greasy or heavily soiled hands.
That said, if you don’t have access to soap and water, but you have an old bottle of disinfectant, that’s still better than nothing. Just remember to wash with soap and water as soon as possible and avoid touching your face.