70% isopropyl alcohol is by far better at killing bacteria and viruses than 99% isopropyl alcohol. As a disinfectant, 70% concentration of alcohol is the most effective at killing pathogens. Any higher or lower percentage will be less effective.
According to the CDC, you need a concentration of at least 60% alcohol to cause this denaturation to kill germs, with 60% to 90% being the optimal levels. This is why you'll see hand sanitizers such as Purell have a level of 70% ethyl alcohol.
You can buy rubbing alcohol with a concentration of 70% or 99% isopropyl alcohol. Even though you may think the higher concentration is more effective, experts say 70% is actually better for disinfecting. It has more water, which helps it to dissolve more slowly, penetrate cells, and kill bacteria.
As a disinfectant, 70% concentration of alcohol is the most effective at killing pathogens. Any higher or lower percentage will be less effective.
One of the key uses of Isopropyl Alcohol 91% USP grade is as a disinfectant and cleaning agent. It is commonly used to clean and disinfect surfaces, equipment, and medical instruments. It is also used as a solvent in the production of cosmetics, personal care products, and pharmaceuticals.
When 40% alcohol (the same concentration as vodka) was used the effect on inhibiting the growth of these microorganisms was much greater when applied over 15 minutes compared to six minutes. It was determined that 40% alcohol had some ability to kill oral bacteria with an exposure time of at least one minute.
Hydrogen peroxide is active against a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, yeasts, fungi, viruses, and spores 78, 654. A 0.5% accelerated hydrogen peroxide demonstrated bactericidal and virucidal activity in 1 minute and mycobactericidal and fungicidal activity in 5 minutes 656.
Myth 3: Drinking hard liquor is worse than drinking beer or wine. Contrary to popular belief, the type of alcohol you drink doesn't make a difference – what matters is how much you drink. "The safe limit is fixed at 14 units a week," explains Dr Lui. "Below this limit, alcoholic fatty liver is less likely to occur.
Experts consider one drink of alcohol to be 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounce of hard liquor. Consuming an occasional glass or 2 of an alcoholic beverage usually won't cause harmful effects to individuals with full kidney function.
The properties within isopropyl alcohol act are known as antimicrobial which means isopropyl alcohol kills microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, germs) or stops their growth – such as the spread of germs.
Vinegar's disinfectant qualities
The study also showed that household disinfectants made with bleach or alcohol solutions greatly outperform vinegar at killing germs.
The main difference between isopropyl alcohol and rubbing alcohol is the concentration. The concentration of isopropyl alcohol is 100%, while the concentration of rubbing alcohol is less because of the addition of water. Otherwise, the two liquids have similar properties. They are antibacterial and antiseptic.
IPA shows fast and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against vegetative bacteria (including mycobacteria), some viruses, and fungi.
Soak in 70% or 90% rubbing alcohol for 20 minutes. Use a Q-tip and throw away after each use. Soak toes in 1:1 vinegar and hydrogen peroxide daily for 10 minutes for 3 weeks.
Hydrogen peroxide is an antiseptic that isn't meant for killing toenail fungus. This medication is for treating cuts, burns and scrapes. But according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), hydrogen peroxide can kill some types of fungi, such as yeasts and moulds.
Mixtures that contain at least 70% alcohol are best if they can be sourced, and these mixtures can neutralize viruses and other bacteria on a surface if left wet for at least 30 seconds.
Rubbing alcohol is good for killing bacteria such as E. coli and staph. Rubbing alcohol can kill them within 10 seconds. Hydrogen peroxide is another antiseptic, or disinfectant, that kills viruses and various forms of bacteria.
70% isopropyl alcohol is most commonly used disinfectant in pharmaceutical industries. The important thing is that only 70% solution of isopropyl alcohol acts as a disinfectant killing all surface microorganisms. It is used to disinfect hands and equipment surface in pharmaceuticals.
A lower percent alcohol means there's more water diluting the mix in the bottle. But according to microbiology, 70 percent alcohol is probably more effective than 91 percent for disinfecting—depending on what kind of germs you're trying to kill.
The only difference is that the 99% contains less water, and hence, is stronger (which you want). Most people use the 91% because the 99% is usually not easy to find.
While 70% isopropyl alcohol makes a very effective disinfectant, the more concentrated version of 91% isopropyl alcohol also has some incredibly beneficial uses. This liquid can also be used to clean and disinfect surfaces, and it's safe to use on skin too.