The single doomsday item that’s seen the biggest increase in sales — and it’s not water

Brits aren’t panic buying, but they are preparing (Picture: Getty Images) It seems us Brits have got the memo when it comes to stocking up on essential items… You know, just in case. The government’s comprehensive ‘Be Ready’ campaign urges everyone to be prepared to manage for three days on their own, without any essential or emergency services, so they can divert support to those who need it most. Bottled water, non-perishable food and a wind-up radio all feature on the checklist. But, there’s one essential item which Brits have been stocking up on more than all the rest. Sales of hand sanitiser rocketed by 83% year-on-year in the 10 days after the emergency checklist went live on October 22. This was more than bottled water, which went up by 67%, jarred goods, which went up by 37%, and tinned meat, which rose by 43%, according to Worldpanel. For many of us, hand sanitiser is a purchase we make in flu season, or if we regularly travel on the tube. But, it does so much more than just sanitise our hands, and we’ve got the lowdown on all its hidden uses in case you find yourself in a bind. Look beyond the headlines Get a curated list of the most important stories of the weekend every Sunday from our weekend editor Jess Austin. Look beyond the headlines with exclusive articles, emotive interviews and must-read explainers from our expert team of reporters across news, lifestyle and entertainment. Sign up here. Why is hand sanitiser a prepping essential? Darren Rhodes, founder of UK Prepper Hub, tells Metro that most of us will need sanitiser for the ‘boring basics’. ‘The things that knock out a household’s water, like burst mains, floods and power cuts that stop pumping stations, are exactly when keeping your hands clean matters most,’ Darren explains. Hand sanitiser is a must-have in your doomsday prep kit (Picture: Getty Images) ‘If you can’t wash your hands, the next stomach bug goes round the whole house quickly. You’ll need it after using the toilet, before preparing food, before eating, and before touching anything going near your mouth or eyes. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. ‘A bottle of sanitiser means you can clean hands, without using your drinking water.’ What are its other uses? If you find yourself in a pinch, hand sanitiser can be a stand-in for deodorant. If you’ve had to leave the house quickly and neglected to pack your roll-on, this will stop you smelling. ‘Body odour comes from bacteria on your skin, and the alcohol kills them for a while,’ Darren says. ‘It will sting on freshly shaved or broken skin and dries skin out, so it’s a short-term fix rather than a swap. ‘If you’re without water for a few days, rinse-free body wipes are kinder, and we suggest the extra-large ones such as Drench, which are big enough for a proper all-over wash.’ It can also be used to sanitise the tweezers in your doomsday medical kit or a tick remover before use. ‘You can use it to clean a thermometer between family members,’ Darren adds. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to start a fire, hand sanitiser can come in handy there, too. ‘Alcohol-based gel is flammable, so a small dab on cotton wool or dry tinder will help it catch, especially if everything’s damp,’ the expert prepper says. However, he says this needs to be done with extreme care. This means doing it outdoors only, and using a small amount with the cap back on and the bottle well away before you strike a match. ‘Never add more to a fire that’s already lit, and definitely don’t do it if you’ve just cleaned your hands with hand sanitiser,’ he adds. ‘Wait until it’s completely dried, or wash your hands first, because the alcohol on your skin will catch too. ‘The flame can be almost invisible in daylight, which is how people get burnt. It’s a handy backup, but a cheap lighter and some proper firelighters are better.’ What about wounds? What Darren says you shouldn’t do with hand sanitiser is use it to disinfect wounds. ‘It stings, and the alcohol damages the tissue that needs to heal,’ he says. ‘The NHS advice is to clean a cut with running tap water or bottled drinking water, pat it dry and cover it with a dressing. ‘You can clean around a wound using a cotton pad or similar to sterilise the area, and remove grease and dirt to help a plaster stick once it has dried, but never put it directly into a wound.’ Do not use hand sanitiser to disinfect a wound (Picture: Getty Images) You should use sanitiser on your own hands before touching the wound, rather than on the wound itself. ‘Sterile saline pods in your first aid kit are ideal for rinsing cuts when the taps aren’t working,’ Darren explains. When to replace it Most bottles have an expiry date, usually two to three years from manufacture. It’s important to replace bottles after this point because it won’t have the same effect. ‘The alcohol slowly evaporates, and it becomes less effective, particularly once the bottle’s been opened,’ Darren points out. ‘Look for one with at least 60% alcohol, keep the caps tight, store them somewhere cool, and use the oldest first. ‘If a bottle is runny or has gone sticky and smells weaker, replace it.’ You still need soap Hand sanitiser is not a substitute for soap, if you can help it. Soap and water is still the best way to clean your hands: it shifts dirt and grease, and some bugs that sanitiser doesn’t touch, like norovirus. ‘The problem is that soap needs water, and in a water outage, the water you’ve stored is for drinking,’ Darren adds. Deals of the Day The Orlando holiday deal Disney fans shouldn't miss We're adding this discounted NEOM gift set straight to basket Want an LED face mask for less? This Black Friday deal could save you hundreds This teeth whitening sale could save you up to 64% before Black Friday The best Black Friday sleep deals to upgrade your bedroom with Simba’s 33% off sale ‘Keep both: soap for when the taps work, sanitiser for when they don’t.’ Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: The ‘risky’ sex mistake 30% of people have made in the heat of the moment Arrow MORE: Should you go to the office or work from home with a cold? Snotty Brits are divided Arrow MORE: Andy Burnham says Brand victims will ‘change the system’ with their bravery The Sunday Edit Look beyond the headlines with exclusive articles, emotive interviews and must-read explainers from our expert team of reporters across news, lifestyle and entertainment.