It’s summertime and that means one thing: hot cars. Just think about it – you’re parked in the sun, the windows are open, and all of a sudden there’s this terrible smell! It’s probably hand sanitizer. And if you’re like most people, you’ll reach for your bottle of hand sanitizer when you get that unpleasant smell in your car.
But before you do anything, please read this article! Hand sanitizer is great for killing germs on your hands, but it also has a powerful chemical element called phenol. When phenol mixes with oxygen in the air, it can create a fire. So if you’ve ever been stranded in a hot car because of a hand sanitizer fire, know that it’s not your fault – but it is your responsibility to take precautions.
What is hand sanitizer?
Sanitizers are chemicals that kill bacteria and viruses on the skin. They come in many different formulations, including wipes, gels, foams, and aerosols. Sanitizers are most effective when they are applied immediately after exposure to the contamination.
Hand sanitizer is not a fire hazard. In fact, hand sanitizer has been shown to be less flamable than water. However, if the sanitizer is applied too close to a heat source (such as a car’s engine), it can create a vapor that can ignite.
How does hand sanitizer work?
Hand sanitizer is a foaming agent that is sprayed onto hands and then wiped off. The foaming agent makes it easier to clean the skin, and the alcohol kills most bacteria on the hands. Alcohol also evaporates quickly, so it’s not as effective at killing germs on the hands as some other types of sanitizers.
What are the dangers of using hand sanitizer in a hot car?
Hot cars can increase the risk of burns from hand sanitizer. Sanitizers are composed of a mixture of alcohol, water and other ingredients, which can easily spark a fire in a hot car. Even small amounts of these ingredients can create a dangerous fire.
In 2007, two young sisters died after their car caught on fire while they were using hand sanitizer to clean it. The sisters had been using the hand sanitizer in an effort to avoid getting sick from the flu.
If you must use hand sanitizer in a hot car, make sure to put the container in a safe place and use only enough to clean your hands. Also keep an eye on the car’s temperature, and if it rises above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, get out of the car immediately and cool off.
Can hand sanitizer ignite in a hot car?
When you go to put your hand in your car’s hot engine, you may not realize that the Sanitizer could ignite.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), hand sanitizers are classified as a Class C flammable liquid and are “capable of exploding when heated.”
This means that if your hand sanitizer is in a container that is heated by the engine, it could potentially explode.
If this happened, it could cause serious injury or even death.
So, make sure to never leave your hand sanitizer unattended in a car that’s been parked for a long time.
Conclusion
Hand sanitizer is a great way to keep your hands clean and free of germs, but it’s important to be aware that it might not work as well in a hot car. The high temperature can cause the hand sanitizer to evaporate more quickly, leaving you unprotected against bacteria. If you have to go somewhere where there is going to be high ambient temperatures, make sure to bring along some dried hand wipes or an air-purifying device like the PurePuraair Q10 Plus Portable Air Purifier for Hand Sanitizing.