Question for lounge..Does Rubbing Alchohol expire?..Got some in a plastic bottle..

[Stuart G]

that container has been sitting around for a while..(actually a long while)

about one half full..dated: expires 4/96. should I throw it out, or use it for ..household cleaning?

..(yes that is what I use it for). got an answer?????


Now..how often have you read a question like that?????..................... ....

[Wounded Bear]

1. Don't think so...

you could tell by the smell I suppose. But if the bottle was sealed, it should still work for cleaning.

It's not like you could drink it.

[Stuart G]

2. Thank you...now the truth is it is quite old..but old ain't so bad..

It could really stink up the place..if I open it. anyway..I will see.??

[Wounded Bear]

3. I'm not sure what it breaks down into...

not a chemist. Just be careful and don't get it too close to your nose when you do sniff.

[csziggy]

4. I think worst that would happen is that the alcohol would evaporate

And only leave you with water and the other additives, some of which are poisonous and might be a problem if in higher concentration than usual:

To protect alcohol tax revenue in the United States, all preparations classified as Rubbing Alcohols (defined as those containing ethanol) must have poisonous additives to limit human consumption in accordance with the requirements of the US Treasury Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, using Formula 23-H (8 parts by volume of acetone, 1.5 parts by volume of methyl isobutyl ketone, and 100 parts by volume of ethyl alcohol). It contains 87.5-91% by volume of absolute ethyl alcohol. The rest consists of water and the denaturants, with or without color additives, and perfume oils. Rubbing alcohol contains in each 100 mL not less than 355 mg of sucrose octaacetate or not less than 1.40 mg of denatonium benzoate. The preparation may be colored with one or more color additives. A suitable stabilizer may also be added.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubbing_alcohol#US_Legislation

If the volume of liquid is greatly reduced or the seal damaged I would worry - otherwise it should be OK.

I mention this since I got a chemical burn when I was a child using some very old tincture of iodine that had gotten lost in the back of the medicine cabinet. The volume in the bottle was less than half of what it should have been so the percentage of iodine was much higher than normal. The syrup density liquid I put on a cut burned the skin right off my finger! Since then, I am very cautious about using old medications. If they have changed volume or appearance, they go in the trash.

[PennyK]

5. Chuck it and get some new

It's pretty cheap, so why take a chance?

[aidbo]

6. I would bet that much of the alcohol might have evaporated by now.

I don't see any reason you wouldn't be able use it for cleaning, it just might be diluted from its original concentration.

[blogslut]

7. I wouldn't use it for wound care or sanitization.

I has likely degraded and might possibly contain contaminants.

It should still do simple things like clean mirrors or remove the gum from stickers.

[MosheFeingold]

8. Alcohol absorbs water from the air over time

And becomes more dilute. This is why the 91% isopropol has a space in the bottle -- the liquid will actually significantly grow in volume.

And there are some bacteria that can live (and indeed eat) alcohol.

So, yes, it can become weaker or even contaminated.

That said, if you are careful to put the lit back on and not do what my kids used to do -- stick your cut finger into the bottle, instead of pouring as you should do --- it will be fine.

BTW, alcohol kills by drying out. When wet, you've merely spread the bacteria around a bit. So put it on and count to 20 slowly.

[LiberalElite]

9. Interesting- I didn't know how alcohol

kills germs. I assumed it killed on contact. (like Raid)

[MosheFeingold]

11. A common misunderstanding

And one shared by many a health care professional. It does kill some bacteria on contact, but the drying action kills 99.99999% of everything by popping the cell membranes.

I've noticed only phlebotomists are really attuned to this (or hospitals where they've had an outbreak of MRSA and they learned the hard way).

Don't be afraid of speaking up to a nurse or someone who is giving you a shot/test if they are too hasty.

[Generic Brad]

10. If you drink it, you might expire