Virus bomb in a can. Is this a COVID killer?

 We’re all familiar with the concept of a flea or cockroach bomb to exterminate a critter infestation, but did you know it’s possible to ‘bomb’ a space in a similar fashion with ‘sanitisation in a can’ thanks to a new Aussie innovation?

With the push of a button, the ViroCLEAR Sanitiser & Protectant Fogger dispenses a fine mist of anti-microbial sanitiser that gets into every crack and crevice to create a protective layer covering up to 40m2.

The fogger is a game-changer for travel, hospitality, aged care, medical, education, real estate, automotive, gyms – basically any indoor space.

Powered by botanical extracts of chamomile and native lemon bush and devoid of harsh chemicals that can lead to skin sensitisation, the formulation kills 99.99% of germs and bacteria, including rhinovirus – the main culprit behind the common cold.

Daniel Seldon from Aussie Pharma Direct who distribute the fogger, says it’s perfect for our times.

Inventor Ross Macdougald

“The pandemic has created a heightened awareness of the need for good sanitisation, so this is another tool in our protective armoury to keep everyone safe and healthy,” says Seldon. “Not every indoor space lends itself to good ventilation, so the ViroCLEAR fogger offers an effective solution to kill airborne ‘nasties.’ And it can also be dispersed via air conditioning systems to help spread the protection even further.”

ViroCLEAR is an Australian-owned and -made invention of Ross Macdougald, who initially created it for his wife Lucy, who suffers from eczema and is unable to use standard ethanol and alcohol-based sanitisers. His passion project resulted in a hospital-grade surface disinfectant that kills Covid within 90 seconds of surface contact.

“Once I ‘cracked the code’ I thought, ‘wouldn’t it be great if we could put this formulation into an easy-to-use fogger anyone could use to help reinvigorate businesses and livelihoods after this awful Covid period we’ve all been experiencing?’” says Macdougald. “There is nothing quite like this on the market that provides a super low chemical sanitiser that really works.”

Five other things you can do with hand sanitiser

 Hand sanitiser is, after all, mostly isopropyl alcohol (CH₃CHOHCH₃) which you can also buy in liquid form as Isocol. There are others types of non-alchohol sanitisers, but these tips do not apply.

The gel can make the sanitiser easier to handle as there isn't the spillage you get with Isocol liquid. And, let's face it, hand sanitiser is everywhere and usually free every time you walk into a store or office. It is also almost non-toxic, especially when compared to its nasty cousin, ethanol. And it drys to nothing, leaving no residue or harmful oxidants to damage your electronics.

So, all those jobs you kept expensive Isocol solvent around for can be just as easily completed with corner store sanitiser. Here are five quick and handy tasks you can complete. Add your ideas in the comments.

1. Clean your whiteboard. Dab a squirt of hand sanitiser on a tissue or soft cloth and go crazy. It works a treat, especially for those stubborn marks.

2. Soothe insect bites. When those pesky mosquitoes start biting, slap a liberal dose of sanitiser on the bite to instantly ease itching. If the skin is slightly broken, it will also help disinfect - even if it stings a bit at first.

3. Clean your spectacles. Hand sanitiser makes a great lens cleaner. Smear the lens with liquid sanitiser and rub gently with tissue paper to remove grubby finger marks and grease. You can also use on your camera lenses, binoculars etc too but use ONLY tissue paper or microfibre cloth to avoid damage to lens coatings. A bonus benefit is sanitiser (achohol) works as an anti-fogging compound. True.

4. Disinfect your devices. Cellphones, iPods, tablets, keyboards, mice and so many more peripherals all get a lot of handling during the course of a day and we know how germs spread. Again, a tissue paper or microfibre cloth is ideal. HINT: clean your keyboard when the computer is OFF. (duh!)

5. Works as a deodorant and aftershave substitute. Rushing to that first date and forgot the Brut 33? Never fear, sanitiser will quickly soothe razor rash (you too girls!) with the added benefit of disinfecting. Body odour is caused by the bacteria on our skin, so a quick lather of sanitiser under your arms will quell most odours quickly.

So there you have it. Do you have you your own tips for unusual uses of hand sanitiser? Let's hear them.