I just stopped at the post office to pick up some address lables and those plastic sleeves.  (They didn't have any, gave me self stick lables and old style customs forms) 

Anyway, when I thanked the postal clerk she asked me if I had ever sent a package to the military before.  I said no but I was looking up instructions online.  She said list everything in detail on the customs form and be sure not to send anything alcohol based.  She really stressed "anything" and said that includes those hand sanitzers because they are alcohol based.

Note - I did not ask her any questions other than if they had some of the shipping labels.  She volunteered this information.

 I have not seen that mentioned on this site yet and I have seen many requests from the soldiers for hand sanitizer.  I actually already have some of it packed in two of my three boxes... all sealed in zip lock bags and the boxes are sealed.

Does anyone have more information about this?  I can open my boxes and read the containers of hand sanitizer but I think the Postal Clerk is right, I think they are (almost all?) have alcohol.

I would appreciate hearing from you veteran any soldier supporters.

Thank you.

Yes, please remove the hand sanitizers.  Postal regulations prohibit anything flammable or explosive, or corrosive, etc. from being sent by air especially.  Shipping those by air endangers everyone on the airplane, and especially the cargo handlers.  The ones that I have noticed usually contain something like 60% by weight I believe.  There is a very special type of hand sanitizer for special uses that has either no alcohol or minimal alcohol, but it doesn't work in the same way as the ones with alcohol.  I think I remember that it has to be on the skin for a while in order to kill bugs.

 In fact, the postal clerks sometimes request nothing liquid be sent at all because of the trouble they have seen with careless shippers not packing correctly.  I had one clerk tell me to send dry products only.

Ah, that's no good. I sent individual sized hand sanitizer in my last package, which now leaves me wondering if it got over there or not... I'm surprised my postal clerk didn't say anything. Oh well, I guess I know better for next time.

"In fact, the postal clerks sometimes request nothing liquid be sent at all because of the trouble they have seen with careless shippers not packing correctly. I had one clerk tell me to send dry products only. "

I suppose they can request anything they want, but I believe that's just a postal clerk going out on their own limb and making up the rules on their own.  You, as a customer, don't have to abide by requests that aren't valid. To the best of my knowledge, there is nothing in the rule book that prevents sending properly packaged liquids.  I'd avoid that clerk and/or branch.

cj/

I believe that the postal clerk that "suggested" that we send only dry products was thinking of the danger of planting liquid explosive materials just like the rule they have on carrying liquids on the airplanes.  That was not long after they implimented the rule about the limitation of liquids on airplanes, and that seemed to be fresh on his mind at the time, in addition to him personally having to handle all those packages with liquids of unknown ingredients.  He never said that was a regulation - was only thinking aloud.  They simply have to trust that the sender is not packing anything that would harm the handlers or anyone in the vicinity of the packages, and with the terrorism in the world, one is never 100% sure about anything or anyone.

Makes no sense to me. So if someone was going to send liquid explosives, they wouldn't do it because the postal clerk suggested that they don't?  That would be one mild-mannered terrorist.  LMAO!

'

Gran is correct, do not send hand sanitizer. I learned this a couple years ago. It is better to be safe then sorry. Postal clerks are pretty well informed of what should be shipped overseas so don't try and put yourselves in their shoes unless you are trained/experienced. There are other needed things we can send our soldiers besides questionable items.

Not sure if I post my question here? But how do you send body wash and shampoo...I have sent it in double bags, one opposite closed of the other bag? Do they consider these liquid also? I dont try to slip it in, I write it on the customs form.

A lot of posts ask for laundry detergent, I cant figure out how to ship that until I heard about these new washer sheets, they go into the wash and then into the dryer with the load, can get a pack for 24 loads at Walmart for about 5.00. Dont know how well they work?

actually if you look on the customs forms you have to sign that you have presented any liquid items to the clerk...so I do believe it is a regulation...or at the very least you have signed away any ability to collect insurance if the liquid leaks and makes a mess.  Not sure of the exact wording at the moment, but it is there.  I have sent numerous liquids, but they cannot be under pressure and if I am not mistaken if over a certain amount have to go surface, not air.  Due to flying in unpressurized planes, the pressure changes can cause container failure.  If they have not been packaged properly, they make a HUGE mess. 

Alcohol is flammable and if it vaporizes and hits an ignition source...think heat, spark...can ignite if is in the flammable range.  So I would say unseal the box and take it out.  I know I do not want to cause any potential injuries or problems during the flight. 

Sorry, wearing my firefighter hat here...

guess I better unpack that box with hand sanitzer, candles, matches, lighters and tequila in it

just joking, it's not a laughing matter, and I do abide by the rules !

Fireftnchick, as you mention, you need to present that the package contains liquids.  Typically, the clerk will then ask how they are packaged and sometimes they will mark the package as containing liquids (this is a YMMV item though).  However, that does not meant that you cannot send them.   That's the point that I was trying to make. 

As for the statement that postal employees are knowledgeable, that is definitely a YMMV item.  There are good and not-so-good employees in all fields.   I'm sure plenty here can attest to getting different rules ("stories") from different clerks, sometimes even at the same location. 

 cj/

I'm glad that I saw this too.  I haven't sent any hand sanitizers and won't now!

My postal clerk asked me if I packed my body wash, shampoos, lotion, etc. in separate plastic bags, which I did.  This way, if the containers explode, crack, etc., they're contained in the one bag and HOPEFULLY won't contaminate everything else in the box.   

Wow, I used to send hand sanitzers, little plastic bottles, quite a lot, several years ago..   hope nothing got damaged..   Now I don't send them at all.   I do send bars of soap, and body wash, but I put everything in zip lock bags, and often double, esp for the shampoo type items.  This is a very informative set of posts.. thanks, everyone !

recently I was lucky enough to find non alcohol hand sanitizer at dollar general.  Not many on the shelf, but I bought what they had.  Big lots had a box of 5 for $5.  I could only send 3, 2 were travel size and under pressure.  I kept those for us and flu season.

Just wanted to let you know I did come across a non alcohol version.

as a side note-the Ziploc and Glad people LOVE me.  I go through the bags by the dozens.  I wrap just about everything.  Liquids get bagged, sometimes double bagged, depending on size.  As do cans and well, frankly anything that has contents that could be messy if split open. 

I have found the non alcoholic hand sanitizer at Walmart before.  I don't remember reading that you had to leave it on for a while.  I think I found it over by the kitchen liquid soaps instead of over by the bathing soaps.  My local Walmart has the sanitizer in both places.  It was a little more expensive to me than the normal hand sanitizers. 

Crystel