What surfaces should you not use rubbing alcohol on?

Author: Alisa Metz  |  Last update: Monday, March 17, 2025

11 Things You Should Never Clean with Rubbing Alcohol
  • Clear Acrylic Containers. Clear organizing containers are more popular than ever, especially in spaces like pantries and refrigerators. ...
  • Granite and Marble. ...
  • Wood Pieces or Furniture. ...
  • Painted Surfaces. ...
  • Flammable Surfaces. ...
  • Rubber. ...
  • Leather. ...
  • Delicate Fabrics.

Is rubbing alcohol safe on all surfaces?

You can use rubbing alcohol on some surfaces like marble, limestone, or terrazzo, but not on wood. The chemical will damage a wood finish. And while it's safe to use in a pinch on coated leather, like in your car, over time, it will damage and discolor the leather.

Does rubbing alcohol react with anything?

Isopropyl Alcohol is not compatible with OXIDIZING AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE); STRONG ACIDS (such as HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and NITRIC); ACID ANHYDRIDES; ALKALI METALS (such as LITHIUM, SODIUM and POTASSIUM); ALKALINE EARTH METALS (such ...

Is rubbing alcohol safe for fabric?

Well, this can be a good option to disinfect fabrics. But the thing is isopropyl alcohol can also damage the colors of your fabric, and you may see patches on your dresses or cotton-made face masks. Even though an alcohol-based cleaning solution is good to kill the virus, you may lose fabric colors.

Is it safe to spray rubbing alcohol on furniture?

Can a little homemade cleaning spray and disinfectant really do that much damage? Yes. And this is because of how alcohol interacts with wood and wood finishes. While you might expect it to do nothing or just leave a small stain, rubbing alcohol acts as a solvent when it comes into contact with wood and wood finishes.

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Can you clean a toilet with rubbing alcohol?

In fact, good old dish soap works great for giving your toilet a scrub. You can also use plain, white vinegar or rubbing alcohol (about a cup or two of EITHER but NOT both) if you need a bit more sanitizing power.

Is rubbing alcohol OK on wood?

Wood Pieces or Furniture

Whether you're cleaning a handmade family heirloom or brand new wood coffee table, rubbing alcohol should never be used to clean wood. The substance will strip away the color of the finish and eventually cause the wood to split.

What does spraying alcohol on bed sheets do?

Not only does alcohol make an excellent bedding and mattress disinfectant spray, but spraying alcohol on sheets also helps to eliminate unpleasant odors caused by sweat, spills, and other sources to leave your bed smelling nice and fresh.

Will isopropyl alcohol damage carpet?

The recommended stain remover for ink is isopropyl alcohol (most nail polish removers are made of this). You should apply this to a cloth first then use the cloth to gently blot the stain. Since the alcohol might damage the carpet or remove dye in it, it's best to test on an inconspicuous area first.

Is rubbing alcohol safe on plastic?

Additionally, rubbing alcohol can cause plastic and rubber parts to dry out and become brittle, which can lead to cracking or breaking. Moreover, rubbing alcohol is often mixed with water, which is never good for getting on electronics.

What Cannot be mixed with rubbing alcohol?

Bleach + Rubbing alcohol = Chloroform. Another highly toxic combination!! Hydrogen peroxide + Vinegar = peracetic/ peroxyacetic acid. This combination can be highly corrosive.

What's the difference between rubbing alcohol and isopropyl alcohol?

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.

What is 90% rubbing alcohol used for?

Isopropyl alcohol, particularly in solutions between 60% and 90% alcohol with 10 – 40% purified water, is rapidly antimicrobial against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Once alcohol concentrations drop below 50%, usefulness for disinfection drops sharply.

What to use instead of rubbing alcohol?

Hydrogen peroxide proves to be a fierce opponent due to its potent disinfecting components and that it holds an attractive position among the alternatives to isopropyl alcohol in various wound cleaning applications but also makes room for surface disinfection.

Is it better to clean a wound with peroxide or alcohol?

Clean With Hydrogen Peroxide or Alcohol? FALSE. Using hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol to clean an injury can actually harm the tissue and delay healing. The best way to clean a minor wound is with cool running water and mild soap.

What can you use rubbing alcohol for cleaning?

Rubbing alcohol has several potential uses for personal care and household cleaning. These uses include cleaning bites and piercings, eliminating odors, and cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and items within the home.

Is isopropyl alcohol bad for floors?

Most wood floor installers or manufacturers recommend cleaners that contain isopropyl alcohol, which dries quickly, and are available at home supply stores.

Does rubbing alcohol get dog pee out of carpet?

Pet Stains and Odors:

Blot the area with a clean cloth or paper towel to absorb as much liquid as possible. Apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol to a cloth and gently blot the stain. Rubbing alcohol can help break down the stain and neutralize odors associated with pet accidents.

What are the black dots on my mattress?

Small dark spots, which are bed bug excrement and may bleed on the fabric like a marker would. Bed bug eggs and eggshells, which are tiny (about 1mm) and pale-yellow skins that nymphs shed as they grow larger.

What not to do with rubbing alcohol?

11 Things You Should Never Clean with Rubbing Alcohol
  1. Clear Acrylic Containers. Clear organizing containers are more popular than ever, especially in spaces like pantries and refrigerators. ...
  2. Granite and Marble. ...
  3. Wood Pieces or Furniture. ...
  4. Painted Surfaces. ...
  5. Flammable Surfaces. ...
  6. Rubber. ...
  7. Leather. ...
  8. Delicate Fabrics.

Will rubbing alcohol ruin laminate flooring?

The great thing about alcohol is that like water, is has a nearly neutral pH -- neither acidic nor alkaline. This makes alcohol the perfect ingredient in your homemade cleaner to both to protect and preserve beautifully finished wood and laminate floors.

Is rubbing alcohol safe on walls?

Not every type of wall covering is susceptible to damage from rubbing alcohol. For example, if you have latex-based paint on your walls, the rubbing alcohol will often pull the material away, causing discoloration. However, if you have oil-based paint, you probably won't have any damage from cleaning the mold with it.

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