Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is typically 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA) blended with purified water, and that is exactly what this product is — USP-grade 70% isopropyl alcohol, CAS 67-63-0. So yes, for practical purposes rubbing alcohol and 70% isopropyl alcohol are the same thing; "rubbing alcohol" is simply the common retail name for a diluted IPA-and-water solution.

The USP designation means the isopropyl alcohol meets United States Pharmacopeia quality specifications for identity and purity. The 70% concentration is prized in cleaning and technical work because the water content slows evaporation slightly, giving the solvent more contact time on a surface than a fast-flashing high-concentration alcohol.

We supply it from a single quart up to a 330-gallon tote, so print shops, facilities teams, and electronics benches can buy in whatever volume fits their throughput.

This product is USP-grade isopropyl alcohol at a 70% concentration, balanced with purified water. USP grade is verified against United States Pharmacopeia specifications, giving you a consistent, well-characterized solvent rather than an unspecified technical blend.

The form is a clear, colorless, free-flowing liquid with the familiar isopropanol odor. It mixes completely with water and blends readily with many other solvents.

If you need a faster-flashing, drier solvent — for example on electronics where residual water is undesirable — a higher concentration such as 99% IPA is the usual choice; this 70% grade is optimized for general cleaning, degreasing, and wipe-down work where a little water content is acceptable or even helpful. Container sizes run from 1 quart and 1 gallon up to pails, 55-gallon drums, and 330-gallon totes, with the identical solution in every size.

70% isopropyl alcohol is a workhorse cleaning and degreasing solvent for facilities, print shops, and electronics work. The water content gives it useful dwell time on surfaces while still drying without a heavy residue.

Common uses include:

• General cleaning and degreasing — wiping down tools, work surfaces, glass, stainless steel, and equipment.
• Electronics — cleaning contacts, boards, connectors, and optics where a controlled, residue-light solvent is needed.
• Print shops — fountain-solution and roller cleaning, and removing ink and toner residue.
• Facility and maintenance — spot cleaning, adhesive-residue removal, and general-purpose solvent wiping.

Buying by the gallon, drum, or tote lets high-use operations refill their own spray bottles and dispensers at a fraction of the per-ounce cost of small retail packages.

Store 70% isopropyl alcohol in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from heat, sparks, open flame, and direct sunlight. IPA is flammable, so keep it clear of ignition sources and in a flammable-liquids storage cabinet or area where local codes require one.

Keep containers tightly closed when not in use. This limits evaporation of the alcohol, which would otherwise shift the concentration over time, and keeps vapor from accumulating. Alcohol vapor is heavier than air and can travel along the ground to an ignition source.

Store away from strong oxidizers, which are incompatible. Use the original container or packaging rated for flammable solvents. Ground and bond containers during transfer from drums and totes to control static discharge, and maintain good ventilation in the storage space.

Sealed 70% isopropyl alcohol stored properly typically remains usable for two to three years. Isopropanol is chemically stable and does not readily break down, so the practical shelf life is governed by container integrity rather than decomposition.

The main change over time is concentration drift. Because alcohol evaporates faster than water, a container that is opened frequently or not sealed tightly will slowly lose alcohol and drop below 70%, weakening its cleaning performance.

To keep the solution at spec, store containers tightly closed, minimize open-air exposure, and avoid transferring the product into containers that do not seal well. Keep the original label and lot information so you can track age, and rotate stock so older material is used first.

70% isopropyl alcohol is a flammable liquid — the 70% solution has a flash point in the range of roughly 17 to 23 degrees Celsius (about 63 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit), near or below normal room temperature. Under DOT it ships as UN1219, Isopropanol, Class 3 flammable liquid, Packing Group II.

Use in a well-ventilated area away from ignition sources. Wear chemical-splash goggles and solvent-resistant gloves such as nitrile. Avoid breathing vapor or mist in enclosed spaces, since high concentrations can cause headache, dizziness, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat.

Vapor is heavier than air and can form flammable mixtures. Bond and ground containers when dispensing from drums or totes, keep a Class B fire extinguisher nearby, and review the Safety Data Sheet before use.

Dispose of waste isopropyl alcohol as a regulated flammable hazardous waste under federal, state, and local regulations — do not pour it down the drain or into storm sewers. Discarded alcohol solvent is a flammable waste and must be managed as such.

Collect spent solvent in a labeled, compatible container, store it away from ignition sources, and arrange pickup by a licensed hazardous-waste hauler. Do not combine it with incompatible wastes such as strong oxidizers.

For transport, 70% IPA is regulated as UN1219, Class 3 flammable liquid. Orders ship as fully compliant DOT hazmat ground freight from our facility in Taylor, TX. Consult the Safety Data Sheet for complete disposal guidance and confirm local requirements with your environmental authority before discarding.