Avoid applying this household clean essential to specific surfaces or you ’ll hazard deflower them .
Brie Goldman
A bottle of rubbing alcohol is a cleaning powerhouse for everything from skin tostainless steel . The strong result is also one of your best defenses against stack that seem impossible to remove such asset - in gum , paster residue , and even sap .
Credit:Brie Goldman
There are so manythings you’re able to make clean with rubbing alcohol—70 % isopropyl alcohol can be unify with water to form a DIY cleansing agent — that it ’s well-fixed to take on thishomemade cleanercan be used everywhere . However , there are some surfaces and material that do n’t respond well to intoxicant , and it ’s important to keep these in mind as youclean around the house .
To keep your delicate or prized possessions in their good condition , point clear of cleaning them with scratch inebriant altogether . Beforeyour next clean fling , familiarize yourself with the intersection that should never be cleaned with inebriant .
1. Clear Acrylic Containers
Clearorganizing containersare more democratic than ever , specially in space like pantries and icebox . Often , theseorganizing productsare made of acrylic , which is a undestroyable and crystal - clear type of plastic . For this reason , you ’ll require to skip cleaning them with rub alcoholic drink as it can discolor or make them appear cloudy . It can also begin to separate down the plastic and , over sentence , cause it to collapse . If you ’re using an acrylic bin tosort create in the fridge , this leave it susceptible to harboring bacteria .
It ’s bright to avoid cleaning any plastic items with alcohol in general . Instead , dust acrylic and charge plate with a indulgent , microfiber cloth or hand wash using balmy soap , water system , and a non - abrasive sponger . ( And definitelydon’t persist them through the dishwasheras the high heat will distort them . ) Dry item with a like diffused cloth to prevent scraping .
2. Granite and Marble
Although rub alcohol can effectively sanitize most surface safely , you ’ll require to get another go - to cleaner for granite and marble . Both stone fabric are holey , which make them vulnerable to the harsh force of alcohol . Not only can rub inebriant alter the color of your granite and marble , it will eventually erode whatever sealant may have been apply to protect it . This could result in seeable stains , scratches , and unsightly marks on your gorgeousgranite or marble countertops .
While it wo n’t hurt to enforce diluted rub intoxicant to the occasional stain , the better solution is to use a product make specifically for cleaning granite or marble ( preferably one that is pH impersonal ) . For day-after-day upkeep , only combine dish soap with water and wipe surface down with a flabby cloth or sponge .
3. Wood Pieces or Furniture
Whether you ’re clean a handmade family heirloom or brand new wood coffee board , rubbing alcohol should never be used to clean woodwind instrument . The center will strip away the coloring material of the finish and eventually cause the Ellen Price Wood to separate . So , not only will your woods pieces be visibly stained , you ’ll also need to find out out for splinters .
There are multiple safe methods to cleanwood article of furniture , surface , and floor . Like granite and marble , you’re able to choose to expend a cleaner that ’s formulated specially for the material or , even easier , stick to the basics of soap and water . Note that youcanuse denatured intoxicant — which is dissimilar from isopropyl alcohol — toremove stains from hardwood floor .
4. Painted Surfaces
Furniture , walls , or anything else that is painted or finished with lacquer , shellac , or varnish , wo n’t respond well to rubbing alcohol . Left on the surface for too long , the alcohol will begin to eat away at the pigment or finish , leaving you with an mismatched coat of color .
The one exception is that rubbing alcohol can assist prep wall by removing dirt and oil , if you ’re develop for a fresh paint problem . Otherwise , you ’re practiced off cleaning painted surfaces with a mild soapy water root andtouching up with a fresh coatas demand . Stubborn stains can be addressed with a blusher - good cleaner , such as a degreaser .
5. Flammable Surfaces
rub alcohol is a extremely flammable substance , so you should never employ it to clean flammable surfaces , or areas that are exposed to open fire ( such as a fireplace ) . It ’s also a smart idea to steer light of surfaces that routinely get hot . Agas stave top , for example , is dangerous to pass over with alcohol even when the burner are turned off .
Instead , clear stove topswith an all - purpose product that ’s deemed dependable for the specific appliance , using a leech to lightly lift stuck - on food . Scrub outdoor grillsafter a backyard BBQ with fulsome water and a abrade launch pad . Even if you ’re not tempted to apply rubbing alcohol , still make certain to wait until all airfoil have completely cooled to the touch before start your cleaning session .
6. Rubber
Cleaning caoutchouc with alcohol from fourth dimension to prison term should n’t be an takings , particularly if you ’re attempting to work out a persistent stain . But if you make a wont of using it , it will finally cause condom to deteriorate . So for day - to - Clarence Day maintenance , it ’s best to stick with analcohol - complimentary cleaning solution .
For the most part , an all - intent commercial-grade cleanser or saponaceous pee will do the trick to get rubber clean . Items such as railcar tyre , which are expose to a pile of turd on a everyday basis , can be address with a cleaner or degreaser that ’s design for them .
7. Leather
utilize alcohol to leather items will shorten its lifetime by drying out and degrading the material . So whether you ’re cleaning leather wear , bags , shoes , accessory , or furniture , refuse cleaning any of them with scratch inebriant to protect your investments .
The honest thing you could do for your leather goods is to utilise aleather cleaner and conditionerthat ’s okay by the manufacturer of the specific point . Something that gets a mess of wearing and tear , likeshoes ( both real and false leather ) can be cleanedwith some soap and a toothbrush or melamine sponge . tumble onleather furnitureshould immediately be dabbed with a dry material and go over with a slenderly dampened one if needed .
8. Delicate Fabrics
Leather is n’t the only fabric that you be wary of when it comes to using scratch alcohol . It can be used to spy - treat stains on long-lasting wear item such as denim , as well asmost carpets and upholstery . But forbear from apply alcohol to synthetic or more sore materials like rayon , silk , and wool , because alcoholic drink can shrink , discolor , and fag out down the fibers of these fabrics .
Ideally , you should always accompany the laundry tag’sguide to take stainsand washing so you may conserve articles for as long as possible . If you ’re uncertain , it ’s never a regretful idea to test out an invisible spot on the material first before committing to a cleaner .
9. Delicate Jewelry
rub alcoholic beverage reach for an effective , yet gentle , sporting that can be used on most types of jewelry . However , frail art object consisting of pearls or opals should never be touched with alcohol since the solution can easily corrode their coatings . Be mindful that most costume jewelry also does n’t hold up well to contact with chafe alcohol .
fortuitously , these gems are still incredibly simple to clean . More than potential , all you need to do from meter to time is softly wipe away oils , dust , and rubble with a lint - free material . For a inscrutable clean , wash with a mild detergent and water before lay flat to air ironic . There are plentifulness of other ways toclean jewelry , such as with glass cleaner , bake washing soda , or even unmingled hot water .
10. Contact Lenses and Glasses
The danger of strip your touch lenses with rubbing alcohol likely seems self - explanatory . Since you ’re place them directly on your cornea , they ’ll get electrocution and perchance serious vision damage in the long run . ( Note : If you accidentally get rubbing alcohol in your eye , immediately sluice it out with H2O . ) However , since the lens of spectacles and shades do n’t touch your eyes , scratch alcohol should be good to use to cleanse them . proper ? Well , that ’s where it gets a little puddle . Some optometrists give the green light , while others say to pump the brake .
Depending on how delicate your frames are , intoxicant can strip their finish . And while the chief ingredient in most commercial lens cleaners is isopropyl alcohol , it ’s usually a low percentage than the received 70 % . So , if you ’d like to make your own chalk crystalline lens cleaner , dilute it down to at least 50 % rubbing intoxicant , mix it with 50 % piddle , and add a dash ofDawn beauty soapfor a run - gratis refulgence . As far as cleaning your link , the only way to know they ’re fully sterilized is to use a dedicated liaison genus Lens solution .
11. Some Electronics
Electronics are generally safe to cleanse with rubbing alcoholic drink , so long as you never directly spray your devices with it and are thrifty not to get it in any possibility . It ’s crucial to regularly wipe down your most handled electronics , such asyour phoneand keyboard , but overusing alcohol can cause protective layers to wear by . For that reason , alcohol should only be used to rich clean or sanitize electronics , not for daily maintenance .
Your best course of activity is to take turns cautiously cleaning electronics with itch alcohol , constrict zephyr , microfiber cloths , and , yes , even coffee filters .
