Rubbing Alcohol Vs. Isopropyl Alcohol: What’s The Difference? | Sunrise Industrial Cleaners (2024)

FAQs

Rubbing Alcohol Vs. Isopropyl Alcohol: What’s The Difference? | Sunrise Industrial Cleaners? ›

Isopropyl alcohol is pure alcohol and is a colorless liquid with a musty, sharp odor. There are no other ingredients in a bottle of isopropyl alcohol. By contrast, rubbing alcohol contains isopropyl alcohol among other ingredients, such as water. Most rubbing alcohol brands contain 70% isopropyl alcohol.

Isopropyl is useful for a more thorough cleaning required for commercial and industrial cleaning. It is used in hand sanitizers with a concentration level between 60% – 90% as it kills bacteria without drying out the skin. Rubbing alcohol is useful for homes and first aid. It is a diluted solution.

IPA 99% is a common cleaner and degreaser of cables, connectors, electrical contacts, LCDs, keypads, glass, fiber optics, cables, keypads, and tape heads. Since water poses a shock hazard when working with electrical components, using water-free IPA to clean electronics is compulsory for safety.

You can buy rubbing alcohol with a concentration of 70% or 99% isopropyl alcohol. Even though you may think the higher concentration is more effective, experts say 70% is actually better for disinfecting. It has more water, which helps it to dissolve more slowly, penetrate cells, and kill bacteria.

USP / Medical / Pharmaceutical Grade IPA

This IPA covers a wide range of applications, including drug manufacturing, medical wipes, as well as cosmetic use and personal care products (toiletries). Its purity is expected to be slightly higher than the industrial grade.

If you'd like to use rubbing alcohol to sanitize different surfaces around the house, here's how to do it properly: First, make sure that it can be used on your surface. Don't use it on vinyl, rubber, some plastic materials as well as on painted or lacquered wood. Clean the surface you wish to sanitize.

Isopropyl Alcohol—also called rubbing alcohol, make sure you buy it in the 70% solution. It kills germs and bacteria as well as cutting through dirt and grime. It evaporates immediately leaving surfaces streak-free. White Vinegar—effective at killing most bacteria, germs and mold due to it's acidity level.

No – isopropyl alcohol and rubbing alcohol are not the same thing. Isopropyl alcohol is pure alcohol and is a colorless liquid with a musty, sharp odor. There are no other ingredients in a bottle of isopropyl alcohol. By contrast, rubbing alcohol contains isopropyl alcohol among other ingredients, such as water.

Keep Isopropyl Alcohol out of confined spaces, such as sewers, because of the possibility of an explosion. DO NOT wash into sewer. Isopropyl Alcohol is dangerous to aquatic life at high concentrations.

Isopropanol, or isopropyl alcohol is also used in industrial processes as well as in home cleaning products and skin lotions. It is also commonly known as "rubbing alcohol". Methanol, or methyl alcohol or wood alcohol has been used as an industrial solvent and is also commonly available as methylated spirit.

Can you mix vinegar and isopropyl alcohol for cleaning? ›

Glass Cleaner: Vinegar can be combined with water and rubbing alcohol to create a homemade glass cleaner. Mix a cup of water, a cup of rubbing alcohol, and one tablespoon vinegar in a spray bottle. “This concoction will work on glass, chrome, stainless steel and hard tiles,” says Mock.

In documents cited by the CDC, “rubbing alcohol” is defined as 70% isopropyl alcohol and 30% water.

Isopropyl Alcohol 100% is our most popular grade for isopropyl. The high purity in the isopropyl alcohol means that it is great for cleaning as you simply wipe onto the surface and within seconds it evaporates off leaving no residue behind.

First, it has been found to be more effective at killing microorganisms than higher concentrations of isopropyl alcohol. This is because the water content in the 70% IPA solution allows for better penetration into the microorganisms and denaturation of proteins.

A lower percent alcohol means there's more water diluting the mix in the bottle. But according to microbiology, 70 percent alcohol is probably more effective than 91 percent for disinfecting—depending on what kind of germs you're trying to kill.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) , ethyl is generally considered superior to isopropyl alcohol, but both types of alcohol are effective at killing flu and cold viruses.

Industrial Cleaner – 99% IPA is an aggressive cleaning solvent, perfect for a variety of industrial applications. It is suitable for removing inks, permanent marker, stickers/adhesives, stains, grease, and grime.

Members Mark 91% Isopropyl Alcohol is an antiseptic and sanitizer that helps prevent the risk of infection in minor cuts and abrasions. It can also be used to prepare the skin for an injection.