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I think isopropyl alcohol is one of the most underrated tools in the home, so today I want to share with you why rubbing alcohol is better for cleaning than many other items.
Isopropyl alcohol, or rubbing alcohol, is even better than vinegar for most things!
While vinegar is a great acid that can clean build up like coffee makers, steam clean the microwave, or loosen up carpet stains, it is not a registered disinfectant.
Household vinegar is not effective at killing bacteria that can linger in the home (it can be mixed with other things like dishwashing liquid to create a good cleaner, but again, not as good on it’s own). I highly recommend checking out our complete guide on vinegar to learn how to use it properly!
So, I use vinegar strictly for removing build up, but rubbing alcohol for disinfecting and cleaning most places especially the kitchen.
Why Rubbing Alcohol is Better for Cleaning
A Little Background on Rubbing Alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol was invented in the 1920s and has been available for home use since the 1930s or so. When Standard Oil made this product, chemists realized that it had unique household properties that could make it a wonder chemical for health and home.
Oddly enough, rubbing alcohol was first used in World War I to prepare smokeless repellent!
Little did they know it would be such an effective disinfectant for both body and home.
Since rubbing alcohol is capable of sterilizing and disinfecting surfaces in your home, it is one of the cheapest options for safe cleaners.
In fact, it is the key ingredient in one of my favorite all-purpose cleaners from the eBook. This cleaner has the capacity to clean the entire kitchen, remove stains, freshen fabrics, and can even be used to kill insects inside. All thanks to the isopropyl alcohol found inside. This cleaner is on page 13 in the book. It is called the “granite/natural stone cleaner”
Use code “alcoholpost” for 10% off the book today!
Another chemical property that makes rubbing alcohol so effective is how volatile it is. This means it will evaporate quickly without leaving a residue.
Most store-bought cleaners are comprised of many different alcohols for this reason. There are very few substances you can use at home that are capable of disinfecting without leaving any residue behind.
Here are ways to use rubbing alcohol in your house today!
Before we start, remember to TEST OUT an area before use. While rubbing alcohol is safe for all surfaces, be sure to test out wood, painted surfaces, etc. It is always important to test things before using.
Clean Stainless Steel
You can clean stainless steel with rubbing alcohol to leave a nice shine. It not only disinfects, but cleans up any residue.
Remove Stains on Clothes
If you have a set in sweat stain or dirt stain, saturate the area in rubbing alcohol and dab off. Then wash it with normal soap and water. This does great at getting stains up from the fabric. Rubbing alcohol is one of the best tools for ink stains!
Make a Powerful Homemade Disinfectant
Rubbing alcohol makes this fantastic lemon-infused homemade disinfectant. It has such a nice smell without being overpowering, and it will work to disinfectant most surfaces in your home. This also makes a great base for DIY cleaners.
Clean Crayon or Marker off Walls
Rubbing alcohol does a great job of getting up the waxy residue left from crayons or markers. Especially on walls with a painted texture. Always check a small spot first to make sure it won’t impact the paint.
Clean Window Blinds
This is my favorite tip for rubbing alcohol. Many cleaners leave a residue on blinds, especially wooden ones (like I have). The alcohol will dissolve dust well and does not leave a residue or water marks behind.
Make a Homemade Cleaner
If you own the ebook (use code “alcoholpost” to get 10% off the book now!), you can make many fantastic DIY cleaners. All of them cost less than $0.50 to make too.
Remove Hairspray from Surfaces
Alcohol is the best for removing sticky residue, especially hairspray. Recently, I had a can of hairspray leak out on my bathroom counter. I didn’t realize it at the time, but when I noticed, the hairspray was completely glued on. I poured rubbing alcohol on it, and let it sit a few minutes. Then, rubbed it off!
Kill House Gnats
I use this all-purpose cleaner to even kill fruit flies or little gnats that will fly around. You can also spray rubbing alcohol on areas they are, and it will kill them too!
Chemist tips and Cautions for Using Rubbing Alcohol
While rubbing alcohol is an amazing disinfectant, it is potentially flammable, so you need to be cautious when using it. It is best not to use in the oven or in areas of high heat. It does evaporate really fast, so if you use an alcohol based cleaner for the stove top, just allow it to dry before using it.
Why does 70% rubbing alcohol disinfect better than higher concentrations?
You might have noticed there are many different percentages of rubbing alcohol available. When it comes to disinfecting, 70% rubbing alcohol is going to be the most impactful. The reason for this is 70% concentrations will permeate cell walls killing microorganisms completely. 70% will work faster than other concentrations. This is important forssporicidal activity.
I actually like to get the 91% for making DIY cleaners because it will incorporate well, but 70% is the typical mixture you will find and the one you want to disinfect. If you are mixing together a glass cleaner or natural stone cleaner, it is helpful to have the solution evaporate quickly, so you can use 91% for things like that! If you want the highest level of disinfecting, 70% will be the best choice.
Another great post about 91% vs 70% on Apartment Therapy goes into detail about how 70% can be more effective at crossing cell wall.
Always be careful when using rubbing alcohol when it comes to breathing. Again, this alcohol is VERY mild compared to most store-bought cleaners, but it is always important to be safe around any type of fumes.
Use caution on painted surfaces! Make sure to test a small area. It is best to use rubbing alcohol in a diluted way if you will be using it for any coating. PLEASE TEST!!!
Some readers have asked, do I still use vinegar?
YES! I love vinegar for so many things, but it isn’t used properly! Vinegar is a strong acid with amazing uses, BUT rubbing alcohol is better for all-purpose cleaning. Remember rubbing alcohol can be used on any surface to clean it. Vinegar is acidic, so it can’t be used on everything!
What about drinking alcohol like vodka?
Many readers have asked if they can swap out vodka?? Click over to this in-depth post on using rubbing alcohol vs vodka to learn the truth!!
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So is it as safe as vinegar? I always use vinegar to clean everything or hydrogen peroxide in the kitchen. Maybe I need to buy rubbing alcohol?
When it comes to most surfaces in the home, it is more safe! You can read my post about vinegar…it is actually pretty damaging on things like natural stones/granite. Peroxide is a great cleaner which we use for many things, but it doesn’t have the potential to clean like rubbing alcohol. 🙂
Alexis, I just bought your book and your Everything Cleaner only contains vinegar, dawn and water. I bought your book because you said your cleaner used alcohol instead of vinegar because it is better than vinegar. I am confused! Am I not reading this article correctly?
Hi Gail! That’s correct! The everything vinegar cleaner on page 13 contains vinegar. The recipe below that contains the natural stone cleaner with rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol is better all-purpose as far as cleaning any surface. Vinegar has its own uses for the acidity. You can read this article for more details:
Also the granite cleaner with rubbing alcohol on page 13 has so many uses. Here is a list of what you can use it for:
Thank you for your quick response to my other question. Just one more question: In your granite cleaner, is the 1 T of alcohol to 2 C of water enough to use as a disinfectant spray. I would like to use that as my disinfectant spray for my countertops, bathroom, etc. Is this what you would recommend? Thank you for all your information,
Yes, it is a good disinfectant 🙂 Not just the alcohol, but also the surfactant work together to help with that. I definitely recommend this for all stone countertops, it is what I use for everything. It has just the right balance to clean, but also avoid any streaks.
Can I use the alcohol cleaner on my bronze faucets? If not was is the safest thing to clean the bronze faucets with damaging the finish?
The best thing is microfiber cloth and water. For hard water deposits on bronze, you can use some diluted vinegar. Anything else can damage the finish. I have oil rubbed bronze faucets, so I try to use just microfiber and water for basic cleaning on them 🙂
I worked in a hospital for 30 years. In the last 5 years they have been cleaning rooms with vinegar, before that it was bleach. If vinegar doesn’t kill germs why are they cleaning with it? They then put patients in those rooms. I asked housekeeping about this and they said vinegar cleans and disinfects and doesn’t cause patients irritation.
Vinegar is not a registered disinfectant which means it doesn’t kill 99.9% of germs (virus and bacteria). Some industrial vinegars have a higher % of acetic acid, so they make a good cleaner and even have anti-bacterial properties. But they are still not a disinfectant. Many hospitals use a type of vinegar, salt, water and hydrolyze it to hypochlorous acid. My friend is an RN at a hospital, and this is what they use. It doesn’t irritate skin and even gentle enough to use around kids.
OOO I am going to try alcohol for dusting my plantation shutters… can alcohol be used on quartz and cultured marble surfaces?
It will be great for those shutters! Yes, it is great to use on quartz and marble too 🙂
How about on granite countertops. It seems some sAy to add a mild dish detergent and some say the dish detergent will leave a film. (Also, Not sure what the best mild dish detergent would be if that is what you do)
Thank you
Yes, you can use it on granite or any natural stone. We have a granite cleaner in the eBook made specific for this surface, and it contains rubbing alcohol.
Dish soap is okay in small quantities which our granite cleaner also contains, you just need to make sure it isn’t too much 🙂
I’m assuming that this product is NOT for use inside a coffee machine? It sounds great and I happen to have a bottle to use for cuts, abrasions, etc. Will try it for the things you’ve mentioned. Thanks! MMR
Hi Margaret! I have the link inside the post for cleaning coffee machines, this explains more. Rubbing alcohol is not good for anything that is heated like ovens, coffee pots, stoves, etc. Other than that, it is safer for most kitchen/bathroom counters or surfaces. Vinegar doesn’t disinfect, but will remove residue from microwaves or things like that. Alcohol will disinfect and clean surfaces 🙂
Thanks for the very fast reply and great info. I was pretty sure I knew at least some of this, but it helps getting it from an expert.
No problem Margaret, so happy to help! Have a great day!
I always use vinegar for cleaning the mirrors in my home. Would you advise using alcohol for mirrors?
Our glass cleaner from the Ebook contains rubbing alcohol, and after testing out other methods, I found it works better for mirrors. I have done a few different glass cleaners with vinegar, but didn’t like them as much. You can use alcohol for mirrors, but it might be better to be diluted a little. You can test it out and see how it works 🙂 Let me know if you have any other questions!
You had me at killing bacteria! So good to know <3
Green Fashionista
So great at that! And better than vinegar 🙂
Ah, Ms Alexis… the fountain of knowledge! You caught my eye with “rubbing alcohol”. And I was surprised you recommended the 91% strength over 70%. Going to try it on the stainless steel appliances (fingerprints galore), and blinds (esp in the kitchen). Thanks for explaining used of vinegar vs alcohol. Love!
I have found 91% does a little better job of cleaning things…so I try to use it when I can. It is so good for fingerprints on stainless steel!! 🙂 Thanks Laurie!
When I first read that you think alcohol is a better cleaner than vinegar I gasped a little bit. 😉 However, after reading, I have to agree. Rubbing alcohol is pretty amazing.
It is crazy to think about, but it really does so much better!
Damn I had no idea about this
So good to know!
Good to know all the different household things that rubbing alcohol can be used on and it’s definitely more disinfecting that vinegar. I’ve never gave a try for anything around the house, just mainly for cuts and such on the skin.
It makes such a great addition for cleaning!
I always use rubbing alcohol to clean my earrings or small cuts but I never tried using it to clean household items. This is really good info!
Thanks Sarena! It makes such a great household cleaner!
The statics may be according to the health department but they never asked me. I do not us bleach or alcohol to clean my house. I use vinegar, borax, baking soda, dawn, lemon juice or lemon fruit, and probably a couple of other non toxic things and they are great. I just don’t like bleach. I have 5 grandchildren living with me ages 3 to 10. Three of them are in school and none have missed any school this year due to illness. They have only gone to the doctor for wellness check ups. So I am one family of 6 is proof that vinegar works. I use regular apple cider vinegar or distilled vinegar not vinegar made for cleaning. I have found that alcohol does clean smoke damage from cabinets and showers but it takes quite a bit of it. I will try some of the cleaning hacks I seen using alcohol but it costs more than my vinegar does but I do not cut corners where I feel it puts my family at risk. Sincerely, Christine
Hi Christine! Actually, the information about vinegar isn’t just from the health department. It is science based. We’ve done many chemical experiments, and the chemistry of vinegar doesn’t support use as a disinfectant. It does do a great job of removing build up, which I use often in our cleaners. Vinegar is very damaging to many surfaces (strong acid), so it doesn’t make as good of an all-purpose household cleaner. I buy alcohol for about 1.00 a jar at my grocery store and then use it for our homemade cleaners, so it will last awhile. I typically use a small portion for each cleaner 🙂 I agree about bleach, it isn’t good for home use at all! That is great you use all natural thing to clean, we love that! Have a great day!
Alexis, I agree it will damage some surfaces and like any product you use you need to use it properly. I read somewhere you can mix a certain amount with diluted bleach water and have a heck of a germ killer. Even with that I would rather not use bleach. I can get the 70% alcohol for a dollar but the 91% is 2 something. Thanks for pointing out some of the stuff to us the alcohol on. I had never actually thought of it as I usually do not have any in the house. I will have to get me some for the blinds. I really enjoyed reading this. You have a great rest of the week. Sincerely, Christine
Thanks Christine! You definitely need to use things properly for the best benefit 🙂 Have a great week!
Can you please cite the studies you’ve conducted, or participated in, which show that acetic acid is not effective at eliminating commonly occuring pathogens?
The following study, first published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology, contradicts what you’ve stated:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15698693
As does this study from the Journal of Food Protection, which clearly documents bactericidal effects of vinegar:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9713753
The misinformation you’re spreading under the guise of “science” is irresponsible, if not outright negligent.
You can literally visit anything from the CDC or the WHO, and vinegar is not listed. Why? Because it does not kill viral or bacterial strands. You can also contact major manufacturers who have done studies in labs with actual viral strands. Double check the articles you have listed and read the findings of what they tested. And again, hop on over to any government website to see what they have listed for disinfectants, vinegar isn’t listed. You can also contact any of your local state health departments with the same info. And take your rude comments elsewhere K.N, with everything going on in the world, this type of comment is the last thing people need to deal with
Just reading the info on your informative website. Lots of great suggestions…. While I do agree that acetic acid (vinegar) is NOT a good ALL purpose cleaner as it alters the PH of some surfaces which can be detrimental in some instances (granite for one). That being said, I disagree that it does not kill micororganisms. As a certified MSN wound nurse, I can tell you that it does kill some microorganisms (pseudomonas for one )and is used frequently in wound care as a packing inside wounds in some instances. If anyone is interested, there is plenty of information validating this on a google search.
I myself use alcohol as my go to cleaner for most of my household situations especiallly granite counters as most cleaners do not disinfect. The takeway for me is that we have to do our own research in to what actually works safely and the science behind it.
Hi! Yes, vinegar does kill some microorganisms, as does most acidic solutions. However, it is not a certified disinfectant, so this is the important thing most people do not know. I have worked with some government based projects, and this is the number one misconception about vinegar. Searching the CDC and the NCBI are the best ways to get this information 🙂
Also, you cannot use Acetic Acid on many home surfaces which means it’s not a good all-purpose cleaner. Which is the point of this article. Vinegar is used for many other things when it comes to cleaning. Thought I would share that too
I know I’m a little late on commenting which btw I NEVER do but your rude comment really struck a nerve with me. Alexis is a chemist but I AM NOT and I’m guessing you’re not either or you probably would have mentioned itnbut I’m just gonna go out on a limb here and say that SHE KNOWS MORE ABOUT THESE THINGS THAN WE DO. But nowhere on this website have I seen anywhere stating that you have to read her posts or books or make any of her recipes she is simply giving suggestions/advice and spreading knowledge since she does have a degree in chemistry. I for one come here to read on how to keep my family and home safe and healthy from someone that knows what they are talking about and has way more knowledge on these things than I will ever have and I’m sure I’m not the only one who comes here for that reason. But obviously you don’t like what she has posted which is fine everyone is entitled to their own opinions but instead of trying to be ugly then why not just avoid her website and ignore her posts and then they can’t bother you anymore. But I read articles/posts and watch videos daily and sometimes I may not always agree with what they are saying but I do not feel the need to post unnecessary and hateful comments (and I’m not trying to now) so if I don’t like what they say or do I simply do not go back on the website or watch anymore of their videos. In a world that has become so cruel and judgemental I find it heartwarming that you have people such as Alexis that are out here trying to help others and teach people things they may not have known before. So maybe next time before you go insulting someone take a deep breath and think if there is anything positive that will come from your comment and if not maybe you should keep it to yourself and not hurt others just because you can. And Alexis I have been on your website a few times and have learned quite a few things and I thank you so much for that and thank you for all the hard work you put into your posts and books and such. Please don’t let one person’s opinion or thoughts get to you when you have thousands of people that you have helped and are thankful that you do what you do. Sorry I’ve written you a short novel here but hopefully what I’ve said makes sense and maybe makes another person think before they do speak rude to someone (who was only trying to help) when this world already has more than enough negativity. I also hope that I didn’t come off as being a jerk because that was definitely not my intentions. But anyways I hope you and yours are staying happy and healthy.
I appreciate your comment so much! It seems as though the current pandemic we are facing has brought forth some very unkind people…I don’t typically respond as I did, but it has gotten a little overwhelming. Even experts disagree about things they are experts on, but like you said, we never comment on things. It is not worth the time and energy. I disagree on many things my fellow scientists say, but we always respect our opinions. I try to follow government research and tips more than anything else because they are the ones who have access to current and accurate research we don’t have access to at home. I appreciate your comment so much again, and thank you for taking the time to post it! I hope you and your family are also staying healthy and safe right now 🙂
Do you ever use it full strength for things like toilets, kitchen, etc? Or do you always use it in your cleaners? Would you suggest spraying on full strength first, then cleaning with the all-purpose grant cleaner? Using so much dawn in the mix makes mine so soapy for general cleaning. I like to mix it up in a bucket and use a rag, to make sure everything gets soaked-I’m sure it would be better using in a spray bottle, as you instruct. Will try that. Thank you so much for your great tips!
I definitely use it full strength for things like blinds, sticky residue, or anything like that. For toilets, I like to mix it with a soapy substance for a bigger cleaning aspect. I also follow up with the all-purpose cleaner with almost anything to get an extra boost. Using the spray bottle has made a difference using dawn in solutions, it gives just the right amount without too much soap 🙂 thanks Lori!!
Thank you so much-could you please clarify a bit? When you say you “follow up” with the all-purpose cleaner, are you saying you clean with the granite everything cleaner first, and you clean again with the everything cleaner? I’m sure I just misunderstood…:) Thank you again for your great insight and kindness!
I use straight rubbing alcohol to clean certain things like a glass surface, blinds, counters, etc. Then I follow up with the granite/everything cleaner to give it an extra boost of clean (and a nice shine). Hope this helps! Have a great day! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this. I use alcohol to make my household cleaners. It’s good to know I’m using the right thing.
Thanks Jenny! It’s such a great tool and cleans so well!
very nice post, i certainly love this website, keep on it.
Thanks!
How well does cleaning your home with this after someone has the flu and/or common cold
Alcohol is one of the number one disinfectants, so it works really well. It is found in almost all store-bought cleaners/disinfectants for this reason 🙂
Hi I have OCD and it makes me really scared of germs so I am constantly cleaning my electronics with rubbing alcohol like every night. Is it safe to do it that often I read it can cause you to go blind but I can’t help but use it to clean. Am I endangering my eyes?
The only way rubbing alcohol can hinder your eyes is if you get it inside your eyes. Using it to clean anything is fine. Alcohol evaporates very quickly, so it doesn’t leave residue on anything.
Is the practice of using vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, not combining them, but spraying first one and then the other on a surface, more disinfecting than alcohol?
I know the former combination can be used on food, whereas rubbing alcohol cannot, but is it a more effective germ killer on hard and porous surfaces?
No, it isn’t more disinfecting. It will be better at removing and lifting stains (like with our homemade carpet cleaner), but it isn’t more efficient for disinfecting. 91% rubbing alcohol is one the best homemade options for removing germs. It can be used on any surfaces, and also food. Many of our homemade cleaners from the eBook use rubbing alcohol to create an all-purpose cleaner 🙂
Do you use full strength on stainless steel?
Hi Kim, I am not sure what you mean by stainless steel. I use 91% rubbing alcohol for cleaning
Just throwing this out there, but I’m a microbiology student and was taught that 70% isopropyl is a better disinfectant, from a microbiological standpoint, than 90 or 91%. The reason for this is that alcohol functions as a disinfectant by softening and disrupting the bacterial cell membrane, but it needs water in order to disrupt the membrane bonds properly. 91% doesn’t have enough water in it to disrupt the membranes as effectively as 70% does. So, if you are interested in killing bacteria, go for 70%. If you want purer alcohol for general cleaning and shining and such, then you are right, 90% would be more bang for your buck (and yes, it’s way better than vinegar! ^_^) I was surprised when I initially learned this because it’s not intuitive, but once I understood the underlying mechanism it made much more sense.
Hi Sarah, yes you are 100% correct. 70% is more potent to disinfect most bacteria and does a better job at penetrating the cell wall. I have found that 91% mixes better with homemade cleaning solutions, but either one is good. For first aide use, I definitely prefer 70% 🙂 Thanks for writing!
Is ethynol wORKING THE SAME?
wHEN i TRIED TO CLEAN MY BATHROOM WITH ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL i GOT NOSE AND THROAT IRRITATION, RUNNY NOSE, COUGHING , i OPENED THE WINDOW WHEN i CLEANED. DO YOU THINK FUMES ARE TOXIC TO INHALE FOR ADULTS AND KIDS? cAN IT CAUSE ANY HEALTH DAMAGE ?
Rubbing alcohol shouldn’t create that many fumes, are you using 70% or 91%? Most of our cleaners use a small portion of alcohol combined with other ingredients, so it is very mild. Ethanol is not the same and doesn’t clean the same, but it will have some disinfectant properties.
I USED ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL WIPES FROM A CAN 70%.
It is best to clean with rubbing alcohol in the bottles so you can control how much you use. Hope this helps!
Ok, thanks. But do you think fumes from wipes can cause any health damage?
No, but any fumes can hinder people with breathing issues. It’s normally not permanent
This is interesting idea for me because i haven’t never before try it. But after read this article i am interested to check it out. But i have a question for you that is what amount of %( percentage ) is ideal for better cleaning.? Thanks in advance for giving my clarification.
We use 91% and 70% I like the 91% in solutions, but 70% is better when used straight. Either way, both are good
I’ve been using isopropyl alcohol to clean my bathroom for about a year. It works so well! Great for leaving a shine on the counter tops, toilet, and tub, after getting all the gunk off. And, best of all, I know everything is truly CLEAN after using it. I mentioned using alcohol to a man in a store once. He was perusing bottled cleaners in an aisle alongside me, and I said alcohol works better than half of them. He just looked at me strangely lol… So I’ve never mentioned doing this to anyone else, but I’m glad I’m not alone!
Yep it’s an amazing chemical! If anyone wonders about it, just let them know all store bought cleaners contain alcohol, usually as the number on ingredient!
So IS IT CORRECT TO STATE isopropylalcohol or rubbing alcohol is a pretty toxic substance but due to it evaporating so quickly the health hazards from wiping with it are minimized?
i LIKE TO USE IT FOR DISINFECTING THE TOILET SEAT. What if it gets on your skin though? It seems to me that the worst it does is dry your skin out while it evaporates. probably best to avoid skin contact though as it weakens the skin protective barrier and increases cell permeability. Even so, frankly pure vinegar on intact skin is a lot more irritating. rUBBING ALCOHOL SEEMS MILDER THAN SOME PEOPLE MIGHT EXPECT AGAIN PROBABLY DUE TO IT EVAPORATING SO QUICKLY.
One other thing, when the rubbing alcohol evaporates does it not pollute the air with alcohol molecules?
“In general ethanol will get oxidized, first to aldehyde, then to acetic acid, finally to just carbon dioxide and water.”
Is this correct according to you? this means the end product of alcohol evaporating is not particularly harmful. EXCEPT FOR whatever chemical CRAP THEY ADD TO DENATURE IT THAT Is..
Rubbing alcohol is a safe substance. Toxic if ingested, but safe for external uses which is why it makes a great option for disinfecting skin. If someone has breathing issues, they should always be cautious not to breath in straight rubbing alcohol, just like with any substance. Rubbing alcohol does not pollute the air.
I read an article where the writer says she uses cheap vodka instead of rubbing alcohol because the vodka cleans in a similar manner but has less of a smell. Chemically, would vodka actually behave like rubbing alcohol for cleaning?
Vodka contains ethanol where rubbing alcohol contains isopropyl alcohol. Vodka doesn’t have as much cleaning power as rubbing alcohol, so I don’t use it. I like to use it in homemade air freshener since it does have a less of a scent. For heavy duty cleaning, rubbing alcohol is best
Does alcohol remove peanut residue for those with peanut allergies or does soap and water remove it better?
I would combine alcohol and soap with some water to get rid of it. The alcohol will disinfect and remove it, but the soap will ensure there’s no trace left 🙂
Thank you for your prompt reply and advice!
I always like reading your “science” behind these matters! I have tried and tried many cleaners, both store bought and homemade for my builder grade tub/shower combo…I dont take baths, I always shower, but no matter what I use, and I have used a lot, I cant seem to get the combo clean of residue?? Unless I deep clean everyday…HA…who does that?? I guess one day I will find one that will get it really clean!! Thanks for all your wonderful knowledge!! Hugs to Amelia!!
I know! So hard to deep clean everyday….which is really the best option! But who has time for that? lol not me!! Thank you!
Good Afternoon,
I’m looking to make a spray for my couch (I have a dog) so it would like like an air freshener disinfectant. Would you recommend mixing 91% with vinegar and essential oils for this purpose?
You can just use alcohol with essential oils for an air freshener. I like to use this combo which isn’t quit as strong in scent as rubbing alcohol.
Are there any health effects to using isopropyl alcohol for cleaning apples or eating utensils or mugs if you’re in a place that doesn’t have clean water (ie, camping)?
It’s okay to use on utensils after it dries. I wouldn’t use it on food because it can seep into the skin. You don’t want to ingest it. Utensils are okay because it will evaporate
LOVING IT!!!!!!?? this is REALLY helpful! THNX!!!???✌
🙂
I am an avid DIYer & a strong believer in using evidence-based best practices whenever possible. Love this site & especially love this post. After I started DIYing, my family complained about vinegar smell & I started questioning the claims about it (mad at myself for not doing so from the very start). I still use gallons of vinegar for home cleaning, but I rave about rubbing alcohol for real disinfecting! My miracle cleaner is just Dawn & rubbing alcohol…it is amazing & I like knowing my “safe” homemade disinfectant is actually that. I worked at a science-oriented kids’ museum that decided vinegar & essential oil is a good way to clean bathrooms…absolutely appalling!
I am so glad you enjoy our site!! Yes, it is funny to me how vinegar has become such a popular “all-purpose” DIY product. Mainly, people just don’t understand the science, so they assume it works for everything. Vinegar has some fantastic cleaning benefits, but I don’t like it for all-purpose cleaning. My home is entirely natural stone, so I can’t use vinegar on most things in the bathroom or kitchen. So many people use it on everything which isn’t good!
I’m a more anxious person so bare with me. I misted my work coat (I work in healthcare) with 91% rubbing alcohol, then threw it in the dryer with some other clothes. Right after, I’m kicking myself realizing I was right next to the gas furnace and water heater. I’m nervous I sent flammable vapors into the area. This was about 20 minutes ago. The coat ran in the dryer for about 15 minutes. What now??
Rubbing alcohol evaporates within seconds. Just use caution around open flames, stove burners, and things like that
91% alcohol is not good to use on painted objects or plastics….50% to 70% alcohol is better as an “in a pinch cleaner/sanitizer”….Hopefully, you agree….
Hi Gary! 70% is best for disinfecting…91% is one of my favorites to use in homemade solutions for things like glass cleaner because it evaporates quickly. I have the details listed in this post 🙂 Thanks!
Hi – my husband wiped my brand new cutting board with rubbing alcohol. Is it safe to use ? I read conflicting things regarding food contact surfaces .
It’s a wood fibre composite board -epicurean brand
It’s fine. Just wash it with a paste of dish soap and baking soda 🙂
Hi Alexis, thank you for the great article! Everyone around me raves about Thieves general
purpose cleaner. Are you familiar with it? Does it disinfect? Thanks again!
Yes, I am familiar with it. I have some friends who have used it. It is known to disinfect with the different essential oils it has. Here are the ingredients: Water
Alkyl Polyglucoside
Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate
Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate
Clove (Eugenia Caryophyllus) Bud Oil
Lemon (Citrus Limon) Peel Oil
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum Zeylanicum) Bark Oil
Eucalyptus Radiata Leaf Oil
Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis) Leaf Oil
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
A few chemicals mixed in with essential oils…It isn’t something I have shared with my readers because of the price and the Young Living membership. But it does work to disinfect!
I wanted to add a little tip. I loved using alcohol as a disinfectant cleaner. Used it on everything (like groceries coming into the house, light switches, doorknobs, toys, bathrooms, surfaces etc.) when my son was having chemotherapy. But it did take the shine off of our front doorknobs and maybe made our granite top a little less shiny.
Thanks for sharing! It is best to use diluted rubbing alcohol on anything that might have a sealant on it
I want to be infection free. Will this be safe to use on the lining of my fleshlight crystal?
I don’t have experience with that
Just read everything on rubbing alcohol. I discovered it about seven years ago while visiting my grandchildren in Montana.
The only place to shop in this very small town is Kmart so we were in there quite often.
One evening at closing time I asked the cashier what she was using to wipe down the cashregister. She shared that rubbing alcohol I’d the best thing out there for killing germs,
I have been using it since.
I have a new kitchen with high end stainless appliances and polished nickel handles. From what I have just read I feel confident that 70 percent will be just fine.
My question is: can I use it on the outside of the ovens when they are not in use?
How about the inside?
I use it on the outside of ovens in our DIY all-purpose spray, but it is diluted. I don’t recommend using it inside the oven though in case fumes may linger.
When using 70%, do you use it straight or dilute it with equal amount water? I wanting really disinfect. Very informative! Thank you for the article!
I usually mix it up with our DIY all-purpose cleaner. You can use it straight for many surfaces, but if something has seal or paint on it, it is best to dilute it!
As a general purpose dissinfectant spray is there any reason I couldn’t mix some up 91% alcohol with vinegar and get the best of both worlds?
Yes you can combine them. It doesn’t make either one more effective or stronger, but you can mix it if you would like. The reason I don’t is all the surfaces in my home are natural stone, so I can’t use vinegar on them.
Hi buddy,
Rubbing alcohol now a very important cleaning chemical. This is now very important how can we use it. Great work, thanks for sharing your amazing blog.
Thanks. Homeplix
Thanks!
I have a granite countertop that the sealant has worn off of and has some pits due to heavy use. I don’t mind the no sealant (not a fan of sealants as I don’t know if they are really food safe) or pits, but I would like to know, if I use alcohol on it for a disinfectant, do I have to rinse it off with water before I prepare food on it? Thanks for your time!
If food with touch the surfaces the rubbing alcohol has been used on recently, it would be best to wipe it off. Another option for wiping off surfaces the food will touch is food grade hydrogen peroxide which is safe for food and no rinsing needed.
thanks for this article! i have a silly question and can’t seem to find the answer anywhere. does all of the toxicity worry of isopropyl alcohol disappear once it has evaporated?
i used a spray of 60% ipa on my groceries (cans, etc) thinking this was a better optikn than lysol wipes. i’m worried some may have inadvertently gotten on my produce. will it be safe since it has evaporated, especially since i will be washing produce before ingesting, or is it safer to toss it?
thank you so much for your time! so many cleaning concerns in this time but i also don’t want to make myself sick another way! 🙂
Pure rubbing alcohol will evaporate, anything left will be the residues in the alcohol. You can rinse anything it might have touched, and this usually removes anything left over. You definitely don’t want to use rubbing alcohol for anything you will consume. However, it is not super potent, so if things got an after spray, a simple rinse would be good. I hope this helps!! 🙂
thank you! really big help and relieving to know i can keep my food, i hate to waste anything 🙂
I use 91% iso alcohol to clean my stencils, I use for making wood flags. But I have to use my sink when cleaning the stencils. Will the alcohol ruin aluminum if I use a shallow aluminum baking pan for my stencils?
Currently, I use a tooth brush in my kitchen sink to clean my stencils, but the sink is small.
Thank you
Larry
It is usually very safe for aluminum surfaces if you rinse it after use. Aluminum can oxide overtime and alcohol can intensify that (overtime). With Normal use it doesn’t impact aluminum
Greetings,
I found your wonderful article while searching for answers for my concern in using alcohol wipes from a tub of 75% isopropyl alcohol and distilled water inside my dryer. I dried a new pair of jeans which made stain marks inside my white dryer. I used the wipes to clean the stains. I then remembered that these wipes are flammable. I nervously wiped down the inside of the dryer with a wet cloth. Then used another antibiotic wipe. Then I used a sponge with a little dawn liquid and then used a wet cloth two more times. I’m very nervous to use my dryer now because of using the alcohol wipes. I hope that by cleaning it afterwards will prevent shy any combustion or fire from the heat of the dryer. Might you be able to advise anything further I can do to remedy the use of the alcohol wipe inside my dryer. Thank you so much! I appreciate your insight and wonderful article!
Hi Karen! The great thing about rubbing alcohol is it will evaporate within a few minutes. Just wiping it out with a wet cloth will remedy the situation. I would only be cautious using the dryer a few minutes after using the alcohol. After that, the molecules evaporate 🙂 I use rubbing alcohol for things like that too because it works so well
Hi Alexis!
Bless you! Thank you so much for replying so quickly. I’ve been so nervous about my dryer, so thank you for your advice! I didn’t realize that once the alcohol dried and evaporated that it was no longer flammable. Thank you for this peace of mind. ? Also, I purchased your book download and also shared your site with my friends. I am looking forward to reading more! What a wonderful blog!
Thank you again!
Regards,
Karen
Thanks so much for sharing with everyone Karen! We appreciate it! And I am always here to answer any questions too 🙂
Hi! I just made up your recipe for the “best homemade bathroom cleaner” using the borax, vinegar, dawn, and water and have now come across this one, too. Seeing how great alcohol is, do you think it would be effective/helpful/safe to throw in a few glugs of alcohol to the best bathroom cleaner that I just whipped up? Thanks!
You can swap the vinegar for rubbing alcohol, but don’t use them together. In fact, one of our popular all-purpose cleaners in the eBook uses rubbing alcohol and dawn to create a really great cleaner for all surfaces. Vinegar is going to be the best option for hard water stains, but you don’t want to use vinegar on natural stone surfaces. So, you can easily swap out the vinegar for rubbing alcohol in this recipe and it works great too! 🙂
What will get rid of black areas on hand rail inside shower. I put alcohol on a paper towel and wrapped it in plastic and it eventually took some of it off but not all and I did repeat the process. Should I just keep trying?
Also I have a Corian like counter top and it never looks shiny. I can get it clean but the moisture goes away and so the shine. Any suggestions? I have even tried boat wax and no luck.
You can try vinegar which is acidic and good for hard water stains. I also recommend our DIY mold remover which works great on black spots. When it comes to counter tops like that, you might need to have it refinished. My parents had dull, quartz like countertops and they had someone come in an recoat it. It looks shiny and great now!
5-4-2021/I AM STILL WAITING FOR A “””REAL BOOK”””, I CANNOT DEPEND ON MY PREHESTORIC COMPUTER TO COME TO WHEN I NEED A PRODUCT…….AND I DO NO HAVE THAT CONTRAPTION THAT YOU SHOW, A TABLET…..
DO YOU EVEN EXPECT ONE IN THE FUTURE….I HOPE SO…..
THANKS, STAY SAFE, WEAR YOUR MASK…..
5-4-2021/11:58am CST
Hi Sandy! The eBook will not be a hard cover book because it is an interactive type of book with links to help reference blog details, instructions, etc. I do hope sometime we can have a book deal and I can write something specifically for that 🙂
Is it safe to use 91% isopropyl alcohol to clean cookware and in particular nonstick pans and baking sheets? It seems to work to remove burnt sugar but I wanted to check on any chemical interactions with cookware coatings.
I don’t recommend using rubbing alcohol for any surface you cook with. I use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda combined into a paste to clean pans and baking sheets. We have a recipe in the eBook or check out our post coming up on Tuesday for cleaning grout. It is also fantastic for cookware 🙂 You can check back on Tuesday, or I can reply to this comment when it posts
Hi,
I have all stainless appliances in my kitchen. Is it safe to use 70% straight alcohol to clean and shine stainless appliances? Stainless sink? or do you recommend 91%? if so how do you dilute the 91%?
Thx
For stainless steel, you can do a half and half mix of rubbing alcohol and water. 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol (any percentage is fine). This cleans it and is safe to use. I use this on my mom’s stainless steel appliances.
Hi,
Thank you!…alcohol and h2o worked really well!! love the clean and LOVE the shine.
I tried it on the cook top and it cleaned it well but no shine 🙁
Could you suggest a solution to clean and shine at the same time?
Thank you!
Is this a glass stove top? If so, you need a product to buff it out. This is how it will shine. I use this one found in our glass stove top post.
How long does 91% rubbing alcohol take to dry around and before using an oven?
Usually 10-15 minutes depending on climate. Sometimes longer if a lot was used
I’ve been searching and searching and have found conflicting information. My stainless steel mixer bowl has a nylon, or polypropylene, or some plastic center post (Bosch). Without noticing the center column, I got the stainless because I wanted to be sure I can degrease it completely for beating egg whites. What? What? PLEASE, what will degrease plastic?
Hi! I’m not quite sure what you are referring to on degreasing. But a good way to degrease plastic is with a baking soda paste. Baking soda and a little water until it’s a paste texture. It will clean off plastic surfaces. I hope this is what you are asking about. If not, please let me know any other details
A big thank you to the author for highlighting the advantages of using rubbing alcohol for cleaning. The detailed explanations and examples of its effectiveness provide valuable insights for readers seeking alternative cleaning solutions. Well done!