0

I have to remove some hot glue and apparently the trick is isopropyl alcohol.

Of course, I don't have isopropyl alcohol in my house but I do have lots of vodka (don't judge).

Can vodka generally be used in places where isopropyl alcohol is required as a solvent? (So this question is more than just the case of hot glue).

4
  • 1
    Do you live near a drug store or grocery store? Isopropyl alcohol is readily available for a very reasonable price.
    – Michael Karas
    Jan 26, 2019 at 22:15
  • 1
    Like a dollar. You could try but vodka and isopropyl are profoundly different. Even one carbon-atom difference changes food (propylene glycol, ethanol) into poison (ethylene glycol, methanol)... And isopropyl is different by two carbons and a very different shape of molecule. Jan 26, 2019 at 22:26
  • 1
    @MichaelKaras I only need a few teaspoons of isopropyl alcohol and have a serious amount of vodka (don’t judge). Seems silly to spend even a buck for something that i will hardly use.
    – RoboKaren
    Jan 26, 2019 at 23:18
  • Can't hurt to try. Jan 26, 2019 at 23:26

1 Answer 1

1

I am not sure this is a comprehensive answer to your question but this past holiday season I was doing some repair work in my daughter's house bathroom. I needed some isopropyl alcohol to clean soap scum off the bathroom wall painted surface. They did not have the isopropyl alcohol available so instead brought me some ethanol alcohol from a supply that they had distilled themselves.

This ethanol was a very high proof and it did indeed clean the painted area but it also almost immediately softened the paint to the point that it became a gooey coating on the wall. Letting it dry again the paint seemed to restore itself to a non gooey state.

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.