Rubbing alcohol is the primary ingredient for several hand sanitizers and is also common household cleaning and disinfecting. While it may have a long shelf life, rubbing alcohol does expire.
Rubbing Alcohol Expiration
Rubbing alcohol expires by a certain date. This expiration date should be included on the packaging bottle or label and may vary depending the manufacturer. For some, it may be two to three years from the data of manufacturing.
This material expires because the isopropanol inside it ends up evaporating due to air exposure. Water, on the other hand, stays. Because of this, isopropanol effectiveness may decrease as time passes.
Preventing isopropanol expiration is difficult. Even if the rubbing alcohol bottle is sealed, air could still enter.
Overall, temperature, surface area, and sealing of the alcohol bottle all affect its expiration. Isopropanol will evaporate faster when the bottle cap of the rubbing alcohol is left open and if rubbing alcohol's greater surface is air-exposed. Not to mention, evaporation also increases with temperature rises.
Can You Use Expired Rubbing Alcohol?
Compared to rubbing alcohol that has not yet expired, rubbing alcohol that has expired will likely contain lower isopropanol levels. While expired rubbing alcohol may still have the ingredient, it may not be as effective in killing bacteria and germs. The longer the expiration of the rubbing alcohol, the lesser its effectiveness.
However, there are cases where using expired rubbing alcohol would be better than not doing anything at all. This can still be used in household surfaces or even for cleaning hands. It is important to keep in mind, however, that it may not be as effective.
Generally, it is recommended to avoid touching the face or other surfaces until one's hands are thoroughly washed with water and soap or hand sanitizer.
There are some risks that come if expired rubbing alcohol is used in medical applications. For one, it may not be safe to use it prior to an injection. It is also not recommended to use expired rubbing alcohol for tending a wound.
Overall, for safety's sake, it is best to make use of rubbing alcohol that has not yet expired. For hand disinfection, it is best to wash with water and soap or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 70% of more isopropanol or 60% ethanol.
RELATED ARTICLE: Does Water Expire? How Long Does Bottled Water Last?
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