Clean bike shorts with ethanol?

[BikeFreak]

Hi,

Has anyone experimented with this:

If cleaning the synthetic bike shorts (including their chamois) is impossible due to logistics, has anyone tried spraying the chamois with ethanol in the evening to kill the germs? The main idea is to have germ free bike shorts each morning to avoid red pimples on ones behind.

A small spray bottle is lightweight and ethanol can be obtained everywhere.

Lucas

[Pat Lamb]

70% isopropanol (rubbing alcohol) seems to be the more common alcohol for sterilization.  IIRC, from many years ago, that's pretty much the sweet spot -- either higher or lower concentrations aren't as effective.

So if you're thinking about a small bottle of cheap booze, remember the common 80 proof is only 40% ethanol, and probably not as effective as rubbing alcohol.

IME bike shorts don't weigh too much.  How about taking a second pair?  You'll only need to wash every other day, and there's a fair chance you won't go two days without passing a water source to wash clothes.  (Sahara desert crossings excepted.)

[hondo77]

Some things cannot be sterilized. Poop, for instance. Sometimes only a good scrubbing with soap will do. Just something to be aware of.

I do agree with the post above. Multiple shorts and access to water will be available in a day or two.

[UncaBuddha]

"Some things cannot be sterilized. Poop, for instance. Sometimes only a good scrubbing with soap will do. Just something to be aware of."

I'll take Things My Mama Told Me for $1000 Alex!!!