I usually use my bags without thinking about it or being overly cautious, but at the moment I don't dare to use anything other than Neverfull DE out of fear that they might take damage from hand sanitizers. At the moment my activities are of course limited to shopping food or pharmacies and visits to the vet, but I think the situation will remain so for a very long time that hand sanitizer is used. How do you deal with it?
Hand sanitizer and Canvas
- Thread starter GJ*
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I've been wondering about this as well. I always used an alcohol free hand sanitiser to protect both my bags and also my hands from drying out. Now, the brand I used to use is no longer produced, and with the coronavirus outbreak I know I should be using sanitiser with 60% alcohol. Of course I'm most concerned about protecting myself, but I don't want to harm my bags either!
I ruined a Hermes Evelyne bag earlier this year when air travel was still permitted. A brand new bottle of sanitizer completely spilled and ruined the leather. Per Hermes, nothing can be done for alcohol stains
Long story short, I now stick to carrying antibacterial wipes. They just seem safer to me since less liquid.
I’ve actually stopped carrying a bag. When I go somewhere (grocery store, pharmacy) I leave my phone in the console of my car, and stick my debit card, drivers license & key fob in my pocket. It stinks not to enjoy my bags, but I keep reminding myself it’s temporary.
I have only been using my reverse pochette Métis. Glazing issues aside, this bag feels pretty indestructible and the crossbody option to keep it close is necessary right now. I have wipes and antibacterial spray in there- no issues yet.
The hand sanitizer, to my understanding, is not effective without the alcohol. You really need to rethink this. Health before fashion...
The only “handbag” that is getting any action if I do leave the house is my Rebecca Minkoff backpack but I put things that I need access to in my back pocket like my phone and the card I will be using at the store.
I usually have my hand sanitizer inside a toiletry pouch for when I want to use it when I’m on the go. Many stores in my country provide hand sanitizers so I mainly just use the sanitizer that I have in my car after doing groceries.
Just wait until your hands are dried before picking up your bag and it should be fine. Alcohol evaporates into nothing very quickly and the moisturizing agents/stablizers/etc that are in hand sanitizers are super minimal compared to something like hand lotion. I don't think it's an issue unless you are saturating your bag with it.
I've always kept alcohol based hand sanitizer in my purse and my car way before this pandemic ever happened and have never had an issue. I just apply, fan my hands in the air for like 5 seconds (yes it can look funny to others lol), then pick up my bag after they're dried. I also transfer the hand sanitizer into a screw top bottle WITHOUT a flip open lid (I use tiny sauce bottles meant for bento boxes I found at a Japanese store. These are really small and you will need a syringe to transfer it but it takes up very little space). This way there is no chance of it opening by accident and spilling all over the insides (you could also just keep it in the a ziplock but that is kind of annoying, I think as long as it's not free floating too much in your bag then it's probably fine).
I've always kept alcohol based hand sanitizer in my purse and my car way before this pandemic ever happened and have never had an issue. I just apply, fan my hands in the air for like 5 seconds (yes it can look funny to others lol), then pick up my bag after they're dried. I also transfer the hand sanitizer into a screw top bottle WITHOUT a flip open lid (I use tiny sauce bottles meant for bento boxes I found at a Japanese store. These are really small and you will need a syringe to transfer it but it takes up very little space). This way there is no chance of it opening by accident and spilling all over the insides (you could also just keep it in the a ziplock but that is kind of annoying, I think as long as it's not free floating too much in your bag then it's probably fine).
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If you rub in the hand sanitizer in fully, and the alcohol evaporates, it shouldn’t be an issue. I think it’s whatever else is in hand sanitizer that leaves a residue but it may not necessarily destroy or damage the canvas if you wipe off.
I used two hand sanitizers on a vintage Recital (small bag, on the back, so not really concern if it gets damaged).
First photo is a collage showing the bag before (top), with hand sanitizer (middle) and after (bottom). I tested with a homemade spray hand sanitizer with 70% isopropyl alcohol (rest is aloe gel). I let it sit for a few seconds (same time for you to realize you got hand sanitizer on your bag) and then wiped off with a tissue. No damage left behind.
Second photo is a commercial gel hand sanitizer that is 60-80% ethyl alcohol. Again, I let it sit for about 10 seconds, long enough to take this photo and to grab a paper towel from the kitchen, and also no damage.
Acetone I’m sure would cause damage, but I personally am not worried about alcohol based hand sanitizers on canvas. Leather, yes. Canvas, no - as long as you’re careful and wipe it off if any does get on your bag.
I used two hand sanitizers on a vintage Recital (small bag, on the back, so not really concern if it gets damaged).
First photo is a collage showing the bag before (top), with hand sanitizer (middle) and after (bottom). I tested with a homemade spray hand sanitizer with 70% isopropyl alcohol (rest is aloe gel). I let it sit for a few seconds (same time for you to realize you got hand sanitizer on your bag) and then wiped off with a tissue. No damage left behind.
Second photo is a commercial gel hand sanitizer that is 60-80% ethyl alcohol. Again, I let it sit for about 10 seconds, long enough to take this photo and to grab a paper towel from the kitchen, and also no damage.
Acetone I’m sure would cause damage, but I personally am not worried about alcohol based hand sanitizers on canvas. Leather, yes. Canvas, no - as long as you’re careful and wipe it off if any does get on your bag.
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Yes, that's what I said. I know I need to use sanitiser with alcohol. I just don't want it ruining the leather. My only option at the moment is not using my LVs.
I just question why you used a non-alcohol based sanitizer even before the pandemic. It’s not effective, as you said you already know. What exactly did it claim to do?
I used it when soap and running water weren't available. It does what soap and water do.