Antiseptic Handwash

[Son of a Beach]

(NB: This topic has been split off from a Minimal Impact topic HERE. It originated from a discussion regarding minimal impact toilet waste which went on to discussion of keeping hands clean and hygenic.)

Consider carrying hygienic hand wipes so you can wipe (wash) your hands after toileting. The big TP companies make these. But be careful of the added detergent/anti-bacterial substance - keep these away from streams and fish.

My wife is a big fan of the antiseptic hand wash stuff that you can now buy in large pump packs, or small tubes from the chemist, and which most of the hospitals have on the walls so that anyone can use them.

It is an alcohol based gel which you rub onto your hands. It kills everything, and then evaporates into nothing at all. Brilliant stuff. She uses it after changing the baby (I still use soap and water when available, but I use this stuff when we're out, and it is great).

[walkinTas]

I was looking for something like this. Does it come in convenient bushwalking size tubes? Where do you buy it?

[corvus]

Been using this stuff for years and IT WORKS togther with Wipes you should keep " crapgut " my word free ,also to remember to clean yor nails

[corvus]

tW this is available in the Supremarkets now just look in the toothpast ?franger section

[Son of a Beach]

tW this is available in the Supremarkets now just look in the toothpast ?franger section

Now there's a word I haven't heard in a long time!

Anyhow, I believe you can get it in small containers (the alcohol antiseptic hand wash, not the frangers). Although my wife buys the huge pump pack for home, she then pours a small amount into a small squeezy bottle with a suitable nozzle on it to take out in the bag.

[walkinTas]

Thanks Corvus and Son of a beach, I like the idea. Wipes mean litter. A tube that washes your hands hygienically clean without water sounds like a perfect solution. And it weighs less than water. Germ free and I can keep the water for drinking.

[Joe]

This stuff is worth buying the more expensive kind too. I used to work in Disability Support. Part and parcel with that is sanitizing your hands 20 or more times a day. Aqium is the brand I prefer nowdays. I keep a tube at work now as well, great for cleaning hands at morning tea etc after handling money all morning. The cheap types dry your hands out and crack the skin after repeated usage. Aqium is good poo, worth every cent.

http://www.aqium.com.au

[corvus]

I have just transfered some into a small pump bottle (ex Stingoes) and that gives you a good coverage without using too much and you only need to take enough for your trip .

[norts]

I have a 70 ml container of Aqium in my pack that is sitting directly behind me now. Pack is packed ready for the weekend. Sits in an outside pocket.

Handy when you arent near water

Roger

[walkinTas]

And its made by an Australian owned company. So far so good. Field trials real soon.

[Son of a Beach]

Aqium... yeah, that's the one we have at home in the large pump pack, next to the baby change table.

[Son of a Beach]

aha! Brilliant! I was just in the hospital this morning (taking my wife in for a scan) and I noticed a large pump bottle of Aquium sitting on the bench where anyone could use it. I pointed it out to my wife and told her about this forum topic, and quick as a flash she had a brilliant idea...

Put a small bottle/tube of Aqium in the storage space in the handle of the iPood which I just bought the other day. There's not much room in there for toilet paper, and after using the iPood is the moment when your most likely to want to use the Aqium, therefore it is the ideal use for the iPood's storage space, and the ideal place for the Aqium.

[Joe]

aha! Brilliant! I was just in the hospital this morning (taking my wife in for a scan) and I noticed a large pump bottle of Aquium sitting on the bench where anyone could use it. I pointed it out to my wife and told her about this forum topic, and quick as a flash she had a brilliant idea...

Put a small bottle/tube of Aqium in the storage space in the handle of the iPood which I just bought the other day. There's not much room in there for toilet paper, and after using the iPood is the moment when your most likely to want to use the Aqium, therefore it is the ideal use for the iPood's storage space, and the ideal place for the Aqium.

I had had the exact same idea. But have been struggling to find an appropriate sized squeeze bottle for the task....if anyone finds one please post details here of where to find it.

[Son of a Beach]

I had had the exact same idea. But have been struggling to find an appropriate sized squeeze bottle for the task....if anyone finds one please post details here of where to find it.

Great minds think alike. The one we keep in the nappy bag would almost fit in the iPood. It's similar to the smallest one in this picture:


Click the image for the source page, including info on buying these bottles in bulk - doesn't give dimensions, only capacity (4oz). Not that you'd be likely to want to buy them in bulk. Let me know if you find anything that fits.

[corvus]

wonderfull lateral thinking

[johnw]

wonderfull lateral thinking

I've also been using antibacterial handwash for several years. Have tried Aquim in the bulk pump pack as other have mentioned. However I seem to have delicate skin, and while Aquim is OK for day trips, I've found that my hands get very dry and can actually start to crack if I use it on overnight/weekend walks or longer. I've also tried "Germ Free" which seems more gentle on your skin but relatively expensive and more difficult to find. On my recent Overland track trip I was looking for something milder in an appropriate sized pack. I accidentally stumbled on Milton "Clean Hands" (Aloe Vera & Vitamin E "flavour") in my local independent chemist in Sydney. Never seen it in any other store anywhere, so I don't know what availability would be like in Tassie, but it worked perfectly for the whole 7 day trip and still using it. At $3-95 for 100ml bottle it was also cheaper than most of the other brands. I found some info here http://www.cleanhands.com.au/home.php. Unfortunately the free sample link says that they don't have stock currently.

As for decanting bulk solution into smaller containers I've been using small bottles that I found in a $2 shop somewhere for about $2 or $3. They're branded "Coopers" and look exactly the same as these Coghlans camping bottles http://www.coghlans.com/images/productBig/124.jpg. Two of the bottles have a folding spout which is ideal for dispensing the hand gel.

johnw

[Son of a Beach]

I've still not found the perfect sqeezable container for carrying small amounts of antiseptic handwash that will fit into the handle of an iPood. However, I may be getting closer. After following a long chain of links that started out from an article at frank_in_oz' hiking blog, I eventually came across these candidates:

• fresh breath drops (you'd actually have to empty this container first)
• MiniDrop Dropper Bottles from Backpacking Light
• MicroDrop Plus Dropper Bottles also from Backpacking Light

[tasadam]

Why not send the makers of the iPood an email asking them to make something?
Or ask them if they already know of one that will fit.

[Son of a Beach]

and 2 years on, there is now a suitable product available in the supermarket. see this topic.

[Cath]

Also, by buying the handwash with alchol in it, it makes a great fire lighter. By squirting a bit on some wood or tinder, use matches or a fire steel to light it.