Can you use rubbing alcohol to clean PVC pipe? (2023)

What do you clean PVC pipe with?

You don't need to take pipes apart to clean them. In fact, the best way to clean PVC pipe is simple. To eliminate grease buildup in the pipes, heat a few gallons of water and then let it cool for about two minutes. Add a couple of drops of dishwashing soap, mix that in and pour it down the drain.

Is PVC (Pipe or tubing) chemically compatible with 200 proof ethanol(ethyl alcohol)? PVC is mostly compatible, but may take some damage after prolonged exposure to 200 proof ethanol.

Alternately, you can also try using acetone, such as a nail polish remover that is acetone-based. You can also try using methyl ethyl ketone, which is also readily available. You may remember from earlier in this article that these two solvents are the key ingredients in PVC primer, so use them just as carefully.

Gently tap debris out from the pipe. Place the pipe in a Ziploc bag with isopropyl alcohol and one teaspoon of Kosher salt. Soak the pipe for 12 hours before shaking the bag for a couple of minutes to loosen the residue. Wash the pipe in hot soapy water.

For the gunked-up drainpipes, if the drains both work and drain water freely, you can simply put about a half-cup of baking soda down each drain with about a half cup of water to get the baking soda down into the pipes. Then add a cup of white vinegar.

The answer is that vinegar will not harm your pipes if used in small doses as recommended in many of the recipes that you find online. No matter what your pipes are made of, pex, pvc, copper, etc. Vinegar will not harm your water pipes.

Even though it may seem like a good idea to clean and remove scuff marks on plastic with rubbing alcohol, it can crack and discolor acrylic and plastic. The result: A damaged item with a crack or hole that can serve as a breeding ground for bacteria.

These alcohols do not dissolve the plastics in large extent, like acetone often does, but they may corrupt surfaces, especially if they are shiny or polished. The typical case is compact polystyren or polymethylmethacrylate, that are often clear and shiny, where the white milky haze is very well visible.

Plastic pipe such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride, used for cold water only), and CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, used for both hot and cold water) have been around for years, and both are approved for use with drinking water.

Don't use white spirits, methylated spirits or WD40 to clean uPVC frames or doors. It will permanently damage the surface of the uPVC.

Does WD 40 work on PVC?

Here's some good news. You can polish them with a product you're probably already using. WD-40 Specialist High Performance Silicone Lubricant is fantastic for restoring worn plastic surfaces back to their original condition. PVC and plastic harden and degrade over time, resulting in cracks and breakage.

The following items should never be poured down the sink with bleach: Vinegar. Ammonia. Rubbing alcohol.

Poly(vinyl chloride), PVC - PVC is not very soluble in ethanol or isopropanol, but prolonged exposure may cause crazing or stiffening.

Pour in enough isopropyl alcohol to cover the pipe.

Open up a container of isopropyl alcohol. Pour it slowly into the bag or container until it just covers your pipe. You can use rubbing alcohol as long as it contains at least 70% isopropyl alcohol by volume.

The combination of baking soda and vinegar proves effective on just about any slime. The chemical reaction of the baking soda and vinegar, which has antibacterial properties, can break up the slime. If you pour in boiling water after you dump in the vinegar and baking soda combo, it will wash away any leftover slime.

Boil two cups of water. Pour a half cup of baking soda down the drain. Pour the remaining boiled water down the drain. Wait 10 minutes while the baking soda and the hot water work together to unclog the gunk blocking up the drain.

In fact, baking soda and vinegar are two of the safest and most effective ways to clean pipes. They will not cause any damage to PVC pipes and can actually help to keep them clean and clear of blockages. So, if you have PVC pipes in your home, feel free to use baking soda and vinegar to clean your drains.

Bleach can react with other substances in your pipes, potentially release fumes, and further plug up the system. There are environmentally friendly bleaches and home solutions you can use to clean your pipes. Pouring bleach down them will do much more harm than good.

However, if they are not and they are especially dirty, pour pure distilled vinegar into the spray bottle. Spray this onto the uPVC and leave to soak for 5-10 minutes before scrubbing the spot and wiping away with a clean, soft cloth. Your uPVC window frames should now be a bright, crisp white again!

What should you not use rubbing alcohol on?

Avoid using any rubbing alcohol on painted, shellacked, lacquered, or varnished surfaces, including treated wood. Certain fabrics: The isopropyl in alcohol can be a great stain treatment on certain fabrics, removing all evidence of difficult stains like ink, grass, grease, or sap.

It's best to avoid using any isopropyl mixture below 90% on circuit boards and other electrical bits. If you're simply cleaning the adhesive off something metal or plastic, 70% might do in a pinch, but you'll want to be sure not to spill it onto circuits or wires.

This product contains 70% isopropyl alcohol, packaged in a convenient spray bottle for cleaning electronics. It effectively cleans ionic, polar and non-polar residues. It is safe on most painted surfaces, plastics, and elastomers. It leaves no residue and evaporates quickly relative to water.

No – isopropyl alcohol and rubbing alcohol are not the same thing. Isopropyl alcohol is pure alcohol and is a colorless liquid with a musty, sharp odor. There are no other ingredients in a bottle of isopropyl alcohol. By contrast, rubbing alcohol contains isopropyl alcohol among other ingredients, such as water.

In short, PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP, PPS and PTFE are all suitable for storage of ethanol or isopropanol, the two most common hand sanitizing agents. Most travel cosmetics bottles or reused cosmetic/household bottles will be one of these.

Using Peroxide to Clean Yellowed Plastic

Pour straight peroxide in a container. Put the plastic in the container. Allow the plastic to soak in the sunlight until the stain lifts. Rinse and dry.

Limitations of PVC pipes

It's made of vinyl chloride and organotin compounds which can cause negative health reactions and are carcinogenic. Chemicals usually stay locked inside the pipe material but can leach into your water supply. In fact, drinking water from a PVC pipe may have a plastic taste to it.

When produced or burned, PVC plastic releases dioxins, a group of the most potent synthetic chemicals ever tested, which can cause cancer and harm the immune and reproductive systems.

PVC pipes present no inhalation, ingestion or contact hazards. Cutting and grinding PVC pipe will release nuisance dust particles which are non-toxic.

One of the best ways to clean cloudy plastic is to use that old standby: vinegar. Fill up your kitchen sink with a few cups of white vinegar and hot water, separate your plastic pieces and let them soak for at least 10 minutes. Then, drain the sink and rinse everything with more hot water.

How do you clean PVC pipe with vinegar?

Hydrogen peroxide works well on plastics that have turned entirely yellow instead of in just one spot. Fill a plastic bag with enough hydrogen peroxide to cover the plastic. Stick the plastic in the bag of hydrogen peroxide and lay it out in direct sunlight. Wait 3-4 hours before rinsing it off with clean water.

Hydrogen peroxide will not harm your pipes since it becomes water after it has completed its reaction. Hydrogen peroxide may, however, cause a mild irritation if left too long on skin, remember to wash the affected area thoroughly and the irritation will go away on its own.

Acetone swells PVC very rapidly but reaches a limit in swelling. This limit suggests a crosslinked network. Acetone apparently enters only the amorphous PVC and does not destroy the crystallites which act as crosslinks. For this reason acetone-swelled then sheared specimens were used to assess the structure of PVC.

Although the glue dries quickly and forms a strong bond, it can be hazardous to your health if it comes in contact with skin or is inhaled.

The conventional plastics (like, PE, PVC, and PS) are water-insoluble thermoplastic polymers, as a result vinegar do not dissolve them at ambient conditions.

Joining plastic or PVC drain pipes under the sink can use a little petroleum jelly as well, on the threads and on the actual gasket itself. It will tighten up nicely and the seal will be watertight.

Flex Seal Liquid works great for: PVC pipes. Downspouts. Foundation cracks.

“Isopropyl alcohol…is by far the most commonly used cleaning substance for bong and pipe cleaning,” says Berry.

If it is safe in your area, in a well ventilated area dilute the isopropyl alcohol to less than 5% and poor it down the drain with running water.

What happens if you pour isopropyl alcohol down the drain?

For the most part, it is OK.

If the substance is at a concentration of less than 24%, then no harm should come to your septic system or the environment. Only when the concentration is higher should you discard the alcohol in a different manner. Check the concentration of the substance and be sure to follow the rules.

In most cases a simple wipe down with a damp cloth is all you need to do to remove the build-up of dirt including pollens. Where dirt or stains are more stubborn you can use a specialist PVC cleaner. Don't be tempted to use an abrasive cleaner.

Cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone, and THF dissolved PVC completely and thus can be considered excellent solvents, while DMF and MEK were found to exhibit satisfactory performances. Both THF and MEK are used frequently when PVC needs to be dissolved [17–19].

To be clear, 70% WILL WORK but it is less efficient and may take longer depending on how soiled your piece is.

You may know that isopropyl alcohol is a great cleaning agent for your bongs and pipes but, did you know you can clean a pipe with hydrogen peroxide? Hydrogen peroxide is a pretty potent chemical agent, since it will erode the build-up of resin within your smoking tool.

The Bottom Line

Every instrument you use, for any purpose, needs a wash now and again. Use this simple home remedy of clearing resin and tar from your bong with a 3% hydrogen peroxide wash to save time and effort.

White Vinegar And Baking Soda Solution

The vinegar helps remove resin and wax easily (while killing any odor), while the baking soda acts as a water softener. Mixing the two ingredients sparks a safe chemical reaction that produces gas CO2 and yields a semi-abrasive solution, making for a perfect glass-cleaning agent.

Pour a couple of spoonfuls of baking soda into a small bowl. Add enough water to make a thick paste. Use a cotton ball, cloth, or even a clean toothbrush to apply the paste to the plastic. Rub the area with small, circular motions to remove the scratches.

Dawn will degrease dishes,plates, pots and pans which have light to moderate SURFACE grease. It may even work well on dishware that has an exceptional buildup of surface grease. It won't, however, do much against a buildup of grease inside of a drain pipe, regardless of the pipes composition.

Step 1: Soak the pipe in rubbing alcohol. Step 2: Turn on the hot water. Swirl/agitate the pipe while you wait. Step 3: Once the water is hot begin to rinse the pipe out.

Can you use peroxide to clean a pipe?

You can either add a teaspoon of Epsom salt or coarse salt to the hydrogen peroxide. Salt acts as a scrubber, making it easier to take off the resin. If you are using a container, let the pipe soak in it for at least 12 hours. This way, the hydrogen peroxide will dissolve all the dirt.

In fact, baking soda and vinegar are two of the safest and most effective ways to clean pipes. They will not cause any damage to PVC pipes and can actually help to keep them clean and clear of blockages. So, if you have PVC pipes in your home, feel free to use baking soda and vinegar to clean your drains.

While wearing gloves, soak a piece of steel wool with acetone and apply it to the pipe. Moving quickly, scrub the printed lettering with the steel wool, then wipe clean with a colorfast rag or shop towel. Work in sections along the pipe, as the acetone evaporates quickly.

Don't use white spirits, methylated spirits or WD40 to clean uPVC frames or doors. It will permanently damage the surface of the uPVC.

Drain Line Material

During the colder months, bleach should not be used for drain lines that are made of PVC or ABS plastic. Chlorine bleach can quickly eat away at not only the line but the glue and cement joining the line to the fittings and the condensation pan.

While the baking soda and vinegar solution is effective in breaking down a clog, it will also cause your drain to become more damaged. The baking soda's abrasive nature will wear down your drain over time. This is why you should avoid using baking soda and vinegar solution for cleaning out your drain.

Pour a mixture of 1 cup vinegar (apple cider vinegar works best) and 1 cup boiling water down the drain. (Substitute lemon juice for vinegar for a great-smelling drain ? Plug the drain to keep the vinegar baking soda reaction below the drain surface.

The Science: How Baking Soda & Vinegar Help Unclog Drains

Vinegar is made up of water and acetic acid, which is (you guessed it) an acid. When you combine these, a reaction happens where molecules get exchanged, creating carbon dioxide and water that bubbles through the clog, breaking it up to create loose material.