Isopropyl Alcohol for Sterilisation

[TankWatcher]

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?

[Disgirl]

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

[Eddie]

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

[TankWatcher]

Dang, mine says 100% Isopropyl. Can I still use it?

[Eddie]

Dang, mine says 100% Isopropyl. Can I still use it?

Wow, I don't know. Never seen or used 100%.

Eddie

[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.

[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 .
Barb

[Ed13]

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.

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 .
Barb

Def bleach for the tank and equipment, alcohol for my hands and as a quick sterilization for equipment.

[jeff@zina.com]

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

[TankWatcher]

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

[Dkarc@Aol.com]

Virkon, Bleach, Alcohol...those are my choices in that order for sterilizing things.

-Ryan

[TankWatcher]

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.

[Dkarc@Aol.com]

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

[TankWatcher]

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.

[TankWatcher]

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?