rubbing alcohol (2oz spraybottle) dangerous to keep in car?

I find that rubbing alcohol (70%) in a small spray bottle comes in handy for cleaning various things (grease on hands, sunglasses, food stains on clothes and many more). I keep a small 2oz spray bottle in my car's center console. I was wondering if this is dangerous as rubbing alcohol is flammable, even though its a small amount. My concern is if the car is left in the hot sun on a hot day (temperatures in the southwest can broil a car interior), that even the small amount could ignite or explode. Thanks

Reply to
piclistguy
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Unlikely, but try spraying it through a flame for a fun effect!

Reply to
Homer J Simpson

Rubbing Alcohol is nasty stuff as a cleaner unless it is cleaning skin. Rubbing Alcohol is Isopropyl Alcohol with some water and lanolin. Lanolin is oil from sheeps' wool, messy stuff. Isopropyl Alcohol will suck oils out of human skin so it's not great for repeated contact with skin... which is why they put lanolin in isopropyl alcohol and call it Rubbing Alcohol. Trying to clean something with an alcohol mix that includes an oil (lanolin) means you remove one thing and leave an oily stain (the lanolin) behind. If you are cleaning your hands, it's OK, but for cleaning other things... yuk. A better cleaner (for non-skin things) is isopropyl alcohol (not Rubbing Alcohol) that you get in the drug store. It is used by diabetics and others who inject themselves for cleaning the skin before the injection. It is usually 90% to 92% isopropyl alcohol and no lanolin to leave an oily residue. There is no fire danger from leaving it in the glove box, but if there is ever a fire in the car, the alcohol will feed the fire nicely. Chances are the car would be too far gone to save by the time the alcohol burst into flames anyway. But the idea of carrying flamables in the car just seems wrong - yes, there's a big tank of gas, but at least it's not in the glove box LOL!

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Reply to
dougbbn

just stay below 82°C [boiling point]. autoignition is above 400°C.

#I find that rubbing alcohol (70%) in a small spray bottle comes in #handy for cleaning various things (grease on hands, sunglasses, food #stains on clothes and many more). #I keep a small 2oz spray bottle in my car's center console. #I was wondering if this is dangerous as rubbing alcohol is flammable, #even though its a small amount. #My concern is if the car is left in the hot sun on a hot day #(temperatures in the southwest can broil a car interior), that even the #small amount could ignite or explode. #Thanks

Reply to
nailer

Didn't mythbusters do this?, or was it just aerosol cans?

I keep those alcohol wipes in the car without problem. Real handy when you have just come back from the bush and want to dine out on the way home.

Dave :)

Reply to
David L. Jones

Impure rubbing isopropanol isn't such a good choice in a spray bottle. It can be nasty if even a trace droplet gets into your eyes. Otherwise there is only hazard if you smoke in the car.

Also the impurities in rubbing alcohol may leave a layer of murk on whatever you try to clean.

Unlikely. It may stink the car out as it evaporates though.

Regards, Martin Brown

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The heat would probably cause it to evaporate ! A spark could ignite the vapour I suppose. :-)

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Reply to
Baron

I also keep a small plastic spray bottle of 70% alcohol in my center console. I use it for cleaning my hands and more importantly for cleaning my glasses. In fact I also keep one in my night table and by my computer as well. The worst thing thats going ot happen in the car is that it will evaporate in the hot sun. But its cheap enough.

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Reply to
Mr Manuals

Flash point is 81 deg. F but BP is 190. I personally would not want to spray it in car interior. Imagine a situation where you spray it on a warm day, slip out of car and get a pleasant surprise from static electricity ;) Frank

Reply to
Frank

Since I am rather lazy I often leave a 2 litre container of methanol/nitromethane in my car for weeks at a time - and where i live it gets hot, 35 to 40+c day after day. So far no probs, and I have ben doing this for about 3 years now - my car is insured though

David

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Reply to
quietguy
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Can I buy a life insurance policy in your name?

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Joe Leikhim K4SAT
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**THE-RFI-EMI-GUY**

Many people in the North carry a bottle of alcohol in their cars. It's used to combine with water in the gas tank and prevent/cure fuel line freezes.

It's marketed under many names including Heet.

I've not heard of any spontaneously combusting....

jak

Reply to
jakdedert

"Many people in the North carry a bottle of alcohol in their cars." It's used to combine with water in the gas tank and prevent/cure fuel line freezes.

But here in Wi. we call it Brandy.......

Reply to
rb

Now THAT might blow up on you, some day.....

jak

Reply to
jakdedert

There are actually plenty of ignition sources in a car besides static charges...ignition switch, multiple electronic components with physical switches, relays (don't know if they're sealed, but it would be bad form to assume they are), etc.

Eric Lucas

Reply to
<lucasea

Of course. What precipitated my comment on static electricity was guy I know that set off his flintlock rifle (PA flintlock deer season) when he stepped out of his pickup. Shot his glove compartment ;) Frank

Reply to
Frank

There is good news . Windex is a better cleaner and safe storred in a vehicle . Alcohol is a poor choice to clean anything accept your skin at the doctor .

Reply to
Ken G.

I would keep it rather in the glove box instead of the center console exposing it to direct sunshine, although I agree that the chance is very low, I'd think.

But a little off-topic, my friend told sometime, that he once experienced a butane cigarette lighter exploding while driving during sunshine, when the black lighter was placed just below the windshield. (The gas didn't ignite, it just shattered). But probably a spray can is much tougher than a little plastic lighter :)

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Reply to
Simoc

Extremely surprising, since the lower alcohols are conducting! You can pour/spray one until the cows come home, you won't get a static build up - just try the same with toluene... ;-)

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Ron Jones
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Reply to
Ron Jones

I like to keep a small can of WD-40 in the glove dept.I do worry about flammables in the car. They used to make flammable tire inflators some time ago. I think they have all vanished. No so much trouble in the car, but the guy changing the tire could be in for a big surprise. I know what the dessert can do with heat.

greg

Reply to
GregS

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