Cleaning with Alcohol - any tips please?

ozankoys


Joined: 20/06/2008
Posts: 905

Message Posted:
07/07/2009 11:25

Hi

I understand it is common practice here to use Alcohol for cleaning it is apparently anti-bacterial & anti-viral probably anti-fungal as well. With a houseful of pets & the grandchildren coming next week I thought it may be a good idea to be extra vigilant against germs.

However is it safe to use it on marble/granite/travertine/plastic baths/hobs I do not want to strip all my surfaces with it!

the butler


Joined: 22/06/2007
Posts: 1958

Message Posted:
07/07/2009 11:33

Hi ozankoys,



I lived in Italy for six years and they sell alcohol in all the supermarkets there. It is diluted in water for cleaning floors work surfaces etc. It is perfectly safe on marble and travertin floors. In Italy it was a pink coloured liquid but I have only found it in the TRNC in small clear bottles with no perfume added. Hope this helps.





The butlers wife

daisy dukes


Joined: 06/09/2008
Posts: 3815

Message Posted:
07/07/2009 11:35

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT????????????????????? You don't clean with it, you DRINK it!!!! What a waste!!!





DD

RickF64


Joined: 07/01/2009
Posts: 173

Message Posted:
07/07/2009 11:40

Don't smoke when you use it or pour it as it's volatile and highly flammable!

ozankoys


Joined: 20/06/2008
Posts: 905

Message Posted:
07/07/2009 13:03

Thanks Butler, what degree of dilution please - is it just a splash in a bucket or do you need to be more accurate?

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
07/07/2009 13:05

Does'nt the alcohol evaporate ?

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
07/07/2009 14:19

If it fails then drink it and use white vinegar instead. Alchol is common practice to use for cleaning purposes in most european countries also for medicinal ones in other parts of the world.

the butler


Joined: 22/06/2007
Posts: 1958

Message Posted:
07/07/2009 14:24

Hi Ozonkoys,



Just a capful or two in half a bucket of water is ok.





The butlers wife

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
07/07/2009 14:30

I think It's wood alcohol and makes you go blind, like some other unsavory practices!



Richard

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
07/07/2009 14:54

I use it neat, for maximum bactericidal effect, and wear rubber/plastic gloves, or else your finger ends crack.

Not bad for getting sticky label residues of either.

Buy standard 70cl bottles from any supermarket - sometimes it's with cleaning stuff, sometimes it's with the booze!

joanie1


Joined: 25/07/2008
Posts: 164

Message Posted:
07/07/2009 20:34

What is the brand name on the bottle please



Joan

scoobydoo


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 2434

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 08:33

Does anyone know if you can you use alcohol on granite worktops as a cleaner?

flowerfairy


Joined: 17/09/2008
Posts: 1277

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 09:16

My Nan always said you have to eat a ton of dirt before you die.

Being too clean is not healthy. Me being a member of 'the lazy tarts club'. lol

As lilli mentioned, vinegar is brilliant for all types of things, especially cleaning. It also gets rid of unwanted odours. If you pour a capfull in your sink and rinse your hair in it, it gives it a lovely shine.

Try typing in 'uses for vinegar' in a search engine, I bet you'll be surprised of it's uses.

ozankoys


Joined: 20/06/2008
Posts: 905

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 09:19

Hi Scoobydo

I have found the best thing for granite worktops is spray window cleaner, it gives a wonderful shine! I dont think I will try alcohol on them just in case it damages the surface.

the butler


Joined: 22/06/2007
Posts: 1958

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 10:29

HI scoobydoo,



Yes you can use alcohol on granite work tops. just put it in a spray bottle and use it that way. Then buff it up with a dry cloth. For all you people who are worried about using it, it is used like this all over Italy, Spain and other parts of europe daily.



joanie1 I am in the UK at the moment but I am over in TRNC next week and will find out brand name.



The butlers wife

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 14:27

The one I'm using at the moment is 'SAF ALKOL' - but I just use whatever they've got in stock... easy to spot as it's 96 degrees proof !

If you're not sure, just ask an assistant, 'cos everyone uses it.

You can buy the same stuff from the chemist as well, and they all speak English.

Never found anything that has been harmed by it - marble, travertine, granite, plastics, melamine, paint etc.

Diluted 50/50 with water (perferably distilled/de-ionised water) it's wonderful for cleaning spectacles - just the same as the stuff Boots sell in little spray bottles (I'm SO cheap, - I just re-fill mine...) - this was how I found out about cleaning alcohol, I asked in the chemist for spectacle cleaning solution, and they produced this stuff!

And NO - it doesn't affect the coatings on the lenses.

scoobydoo


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 2434

Message Posted:
08/07/2009 20:43

Hi everyone,



Thanks so much for the info for cleaning the granite tops you have been very helpful, I am now off to buy the alcohol, my husband won't let me use his!!

Stewart


Joined: 19/07/2008
Posts: 1107

Message Posted:
09/07/2009 09:12

Hi...Pure alcohol is 151 degrees proof....some Polish spirit can be 121 degrees...suggest you water it down with EFES!

niftyduo


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 230

Message Posted:
09/07/2009 17:55

The UK system of measuring alcoholic strength recognises proof spirits as containing 57.15% alcohol. This is termed 100% proof. Pure alcohol, which is bonded and you cannot buy, is 175% proof.



The US system is different.

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
09/07/2009 18:08

niftyduo,

I think that you may have got your degrees and percentages a little mixed up, but apart from that, you are quite right - 100% pure alcohol is 175 degrees proof... (in the UK!)

Keith.