Could i using alcohol swab which contain ethyl alcohol for cleaning?

[lastwood79]

Please help, does using alcohol swab which contain ethyl alcohol 70% for cleaning is good for my phone and my earphone?? What negative effects if im using ethyl alcohol??Im also consider to buy alcohol swab which contain isopropyl alcohol 70% is ethyl so bad for my gadget instead of isopropyl,any help i would appreciate it. Thanks in advance

 

[CountMike]

No, I use ethyl alcohol all the time. Isopropyl alcohol has a bit more de-greasing capability and evaporates faster but that's all.

 

[lastwood79]

I used once to my earphone yesterday does it damaged my earphone?

 

[CountMike]

Not if used on outside only.

 

[lastwood79]

Im wipe on the plastic housing,cable,and plug I just worried it takes damage

 

[lastwood79]

So u useing ethyl alcohol instead of isopropyl all the time??

 

[Paperdoc]

For cleaning, and for potential damage to items, ethyl and isopropyl alcohols are VERY similar. Normally both can be used as you are doing with no risk of damage.

 

[lastwood79]

Thanks. I just want to make sure im not using false alcohol which in my case im using alcohol swab that i easily to buy at pharmacy store it contains 70% of an ethyl alcohol, because it's not a popular for cleaning gadged like earphone and smartphone and a popular one is isopropyl alcohol that i have to give some effort to get it in my country,some people said" ethanol?"(i dont know its same with mine or not) are bad and harmful for rubber, plastic, cleaning purpose especially electronic and suggested to using isopropyl and some ppl says that safe to go.

 

[Paperdoc]

In almost all cases, the potential to damage a material (a particular type of plastic, or a paint, etc.) with any particular liquid solvent depends on the chemical interactions of the two materials. Ethanol and iso-propanol are two VERY closely realated solvents that have VERY similar interactions with other materials. So if the plastic insulation of an electrical cord can stand up to iso-propanol, it certainly can stand up to ethanol as well.

In fact, the reason that iso-propanol is so widely used for this purpose is somewhat the opposite of what you have found in trying to buy stuff. In many countries distribution of ethanol is restricted because of possible abuse by drinking it - it is the only alcohol that humans can drink without being severely poisoned. But also for that reason, it IS used in products that are designed to be used on your face, like cleaning wipes. So for that type of product, the solvent in the wipes often is ethanol with some water, plus a trace of a third chemical which has a terrible taste, to discourage people from trying to drink it. But for other cleaning uses, and even for simple disinfection of a small skin abrasion, the common solvent is iso-propanol which does the job at a cheap cost, but is NOT likely to be consumed by anyone since it is poisonous to drink. Because it is more widely used, iso-propanol very often is easy to get a low prices. It is more commonly called "Rubbing Alcohol".

 

[fabianpioro1984]

Best is to buy Isopropyl alcohol and use that. If you fkny have access to high quality electronic cleaning purpose isopropyl. Then get highest % possible. Most places carry 70% isopropyl some have 91% isopropyl. But DO NOT GET the GREEN OR PINK ones or ones that are scented. And stay away from when it says isopropyl Rubbing alcohol. Because the "rubbing," version can contain some oils in it. You can also get 70% isopropyl and add salt to it and heat it slowly and the liquid will form 2 layers. One layer higher percentage alcohol and the other salt water. And u will have a purer isopropyl alcohol. I have been using isopropyl for 25 years on all my computers and it works great. Haven't tried the new purpose made electronic alcohol cleaners but hear that they are really good because they have a lower conductivity of electricity. And isopropyl alcohol DOES conduct electricity! The higher the % alcohol the less conductive it is. It's not like tap water conductive but its conductive. Higher quality isopropyl electronic cleaners are usually purer and have ingredients that further make them less conductive. And BTW isopropyl alcohol CAN be injested and you wont die or even end up in hospital. I'm NOT SAYING ITS A GOOD IDEA but for a fact I have seen an alcoholic ex-freind in college drink 14oz of 70% isopropyl alcohol and he was very very intoxicated and next day he said he felt worse then ever before but he didnt go to hospital and didnt die. He got lucky that nothing happened and if it was some isopropyl with other additives it could of been a diffrent outcome. But for the most part isopropyl isnt as poisnious to humans as let's say acetone.