Avoid applying this household cleaning essential to specific surfaces or youll risk ruining them.
Brie Goldman
A bottle of rubbing alcohol is a cleaning powerhouse for everything from skin tostainless steel.
Beforeyour next cleaning spree, familiarize yourself with the products that should never be cleaned with alcohol.
Credit:Brie Goldman
Clear Acrylic Containers
Clearorganizing containersare more popular than ever, especially in spaces like pantries and refrigerators.
Often, theseorganizing productsare made of acrylic, which is a durable and crystal-clear bang out of plastic.
It can also begin to break down the plastic and, over time, cause it to crack.
If youre using an acrylic bin tosort produce in the fridge, this leaves it susceptible to harboring bacteria.
Its smart to avoid cleaning any plastic items with alcohol in general.
(And definitelydont run them through the dishwasheras the high heat will warp them.)
Dry items with a similar soft cloth to prevent scratching.
Both stone materials are porous, which makes them vulnerable to the harsh effects of alcohol.
This could result in visible stains, scratches, and unsightly marks on your gorgeousgranite or marble countertops.
The substance will strip away the color of the finish and eventually cause the wood to split.
There are multiple safe methods to cleanwood furniture, surfaces, and floors.
Note that youcanuse denatured alcoholwhich is different from isopropyl alcoholtoremove stains from hardwood floors.
Stubborn stains can be addressed with a paint-safe cleaner, such as a degreaser.
It’s also a smart idea to steer clear of surfaces that routinely get hot.
But if you make a habit of using it, it will eventually cause rubber to deteriorate.
So for day-to-day maintenance, it’s best to stick with analcohol-free cleaning solution.
Leather
Applying alcohol to leather items will shorten its lifespan by drying out and degrading the material.
Delicate Fabrics
Leather isnt the only fabric that you be wary of when it comes to using rubbing alcohol.
Be aware that most costume jewelry also doesnt hold up well to contact with rubbing alcohol.
Fortunately, these gems are still incredibly simple to clean.
For a deeper clean, wash with a mild detergent and water before laying flat to air dry.
Contact Lenses and Glasses
The danger of cleaning your contact lenses with rubbing alcohol likely seems self-explanatory.
Well, thats where it gets a little muddled.
Some optometrists give the green light, while others say to pump the brakes.
Depending on how delicate your frames are, alcohol can strip their finish.
