Isopropyl Alcohol for Sterilisation
Hi all :)
Is Isopropyl Alcohol the same thing as rubbing alcohol? I'd like to use it both for hand sterilisation, but also for wiping down & sterilising a tank.
Eddie, I think you recently used rubbing alcohol for that purpose and that's what's made me think of using it myself, but I'm unsure if they are the same thing. My internet search told me it was, but from the bottle I can't see any advertised germ killing info. Talks about using if for cleaning PC's, lenses - things like that?
What do you guys think?
Re: Isopropyl Alcohol for Sterilisation
Hi Robyn, I have two kinds of alcohol. The isopropyl alcohol is 91% and the isopropyl rubbing alcohol is only 70%. They both say first aid antiseptic. So, just use the 70% and it should be good!
Barb :)
Re: Isopropyl Alcohol for Sterilisation
Thats the one Robyn, 70%, it is well known for it sanitizing properties. I use it in a spray bottle for tanks and use it on my hands when moving between tanks and equipment.
Eddie
Re: Isopropyl Alcohol for Sterilisation
Dang, mine says 100% Isopropyl. Can I still use it?
Re: Isopropyl Alcohol for Sterilisation
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TankWatcher
Dang, mine says 100% Isopropyl. Can I still use it?
Wow, I don't know. Never seen or used 100%. :o
Eddie
Re: Isopropyl Alcohol for Sterilisation
It's okay to use, but I'd rinse very well after using. There are some organisms that are resistant to, and unaffected by, alcohol. The most effective sterilizing technique that can be used on hard surfaces is a 4:1 water:bleach solution.
Re: Isopropyl Alcohol for Sterilisation
Yes, bleach is really good to kill everything. In the lab we used a 10% solution and left it on awhile. 4% on your skin would burn and smell for a long time :D.
Barb
Re: Isopropyl Alcohol for Sterilisation
Quote:
Originally Posted by
KDodds
It's okay to use, but I'd rinse very well after using. There are some organisms that are resistant to, and unaffected by, alcohol. The most effective sterilizing technique that can be used on hard surfaces is a 4:1 water:bleach solution.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Disgirl
Yes, bleach is really good to kill everything. In the lab we used a 10% solution and left it on awhile. 4% on your skin would burn and smell for a long time :D.
Barb
Def bleach for the tank and equipment, alcohol for my hands and as a quick sterilization for equipment.
Re: Isopropyl Alcohol for Sterilisation
100% Isopropyl is fine for sterilization but hard on skin, it dries it out. I use bleach solutions, though they are also hard on skin. A decent hand lotion will fix it though.
Jeff
Re: Isopropyl Alcohol for Sterilisation
Thanks for clearing this up. You've all been a great help :)
The only Isopropyl I'd found so far was either:
- % of Isopropyl in product was not specified. Plus a distinct spell of perfume was present
- 100% Isopropyl
Wanting to avoid the perfume, I bought the 100% version.
A google search for rubbing alcohol said it could be Isopropyl or Ethanol, so in the end I was unsure of what I had.
thanks once again :)
Re: Isopropyl Alcohol for Sterilisation
Virkon, Bleach, Alcohol...those are my choices in that order for sterilizing things.
-Ryan
Re: Isopropyl Alcohol for Sterilisation
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dkarc@Aol.com
Virkon, Bleach, Alcohol...those are my choices in that order for sterilizing things.
-Ryan
Hi Ryan :) Virkon sounds interesting. Found this link http://www.vetnpetdirect.com.au/prod...roductid=16726
It is described as being a "Broad spectrum virucidal disinfectant" ..... "Friendly to man, animals & the environment". Seems this would mean that I don't need to be as nervous as I always am when using bleach.
Re: Isopropyl Alcohol for Sterilisation
Which is why we use it. We use bleach from time to time, but we limit our use of it because our floor drain runs into a pond out front of the greenhouse. We have not had any issues with that (bleach and pond), but they have had minor issues on the farm doing the same thing in larger volumes (gallons of bleach).
Virkon is nice, but it is damn expensive...$100USD for a tub of the stuff.
-Ryan
Re: Isopropyl Alcohol for Sterilisation
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dkarc@Aol.com
Virkon is nice, but it is damn expensive...$100USD for a tub of the stuff.
Thanks for extra info, Ryan. I've ordered it now, but your comment made me look at again at the volume I was buying for the cost. Hmm, only 50grams (1.7oz). I thought I'd orderd 500g. Hope that will be enough to do a few tanks.
Re: Isopropyl Alcohol for Sterilisation
Do I still need to be concerned about neutralising the virkon (as I would dechlor bleach)? If I do need to neutralise the virkon, how is this done?