Looking for cheap isopropyl alcohol. Most stores sell it for $8 and up (the one with the alligator).
Surely there's cheaper places to buy this stuff. I've tried all the cheap asian discount stores but to no avail.
Any ideas where I can buy this stuff real cheap?
I want to use it for cleaning mostly — specifically for my eyeglasses.
I use a microfibre cleaning cloth for my glasses - cheap by the packet in supermarkets. Now and again, I use plain old soap and warm water to give the glasses a good clean.
We use isopropyl alcohol at work, so I have free access to it, but I still prefer the microfibre cloths.
I use isopropyl alcohol to clear the CPU and Heat sink of thermal paste before reapplying again. Pick it up from Priceline pharmacy.
Rockby Electronics sell it in various qtys.
Bunnings do also in the paint section but you pay a premium for it.
2nd an electronics store - I use Prime Electronics.
@ hombre - they ship flammable liquid ?
I use window cleaner on my glasses lol. Is that bad? I just spray a small amount on a tissue and give the lenses a wipe. Haven't noticed any issues with my glasses as a result… no scratches or anything. Cleans them up wonderfully.
Only did that as the window cleaner was handy. Is there a reason why isopropyl alcohol is (or should be) used?
Apparently ammonia can be an issue with some coatings. However, you can get ammonia-free window cleaner.
Also, tissues are quite harsh and leave lint.
Try ChemTools brand from:
ACT Fyshwick Capital Bearing Supplies (02) 6280 6884 Unit 1/45 Townsville St 2609 Australia
ACT Fyshwick M & G Ind Supplies (02) 6280 7517 Unit 3/5 Wiluna St 2609 Australia
http://www.chemtools.com.au/index.php/bulk-chemicals/isoprop…
Asian stores sell it cheap.
I've tried all the cheap asian discount stores but to no avail.
he tried
http://www.mektronics.com.au/mg-chemicals-99-9-isopropyl-alc…
1L for $14.82 there is pick up from sydney if you want to i think
http://www.altronics.com.au/p/t3038-isopropyl-alcohol-2-litr…
2L for $27. Pick up in NSW
I use an ultrasonic cleaner. Can just use warm water but can add a drop of dishwasher liquid if you want. No rubbing, no fuss. Does rings etc as well, and gets into all those fiddly bits. Can be amazing/disgusting to watch as the dirt/grease/whatever leaves. Costs more than a bottle of isopropyl of course but then again I've had mine for years.
I just take my empty isopropyl alcohol bottle to my local pharmacy and ask for a refill. If asked, tell them what you want it for. I usually say jocularly, … to drink it of course!
All importantly, the cost?
Isopropyl alcohol won't make you drunk, it will make you sick. It isn't the same chemical as the alcohol you drink. See my post lower down for details.
Use methylated spirits instead, costs about 1/2 the price and will do the same cleaning job
I actually have some methyl — wasn't aware that its good to clean eyeglasses.
Methylated spirits isn't as good, the denaturant can leave a white powder behind. Also, if you eat with your hands afterwards, say a sandwich or some potato chips, you'll discover that the denaturant has soaked into your fingers, and it really tastes foul.
I use metho for removing the flux from electronic circuit boards, and it does a good job at that. However, gloves don't last very long when using it, they go sticky/gooey and develop holes.
if you are just using to clean your glasses how long a bottle of $7 will last you? is it worth all this hassle to look for something cheaper that is already not that expensive? just my 2c. Sometimes we look for savings on things that are not worth the hassle.. for example fuel dockets.. its a lot of hassle to save $2 bucks if that… I still do it if I have the chance but I don't go out of my way to save that much… (I just refuel when its cheaper)
I get those alcohol wipes the hospital uses at chemist warehouse. Can't remember how much
PS my optomologist recommends just cleaning my glasses with soap and warm water. Anything more is overkill unless I guess, you are handling dangerous microbial at work daily and frequently touching your glasses
used to use this til I was told by a optometist that it couldharm glasses….not sure if he was just wanting me to by cleaning stuff from him.
Pfft… It can't harm glass. It's just alcohol, and it's the main (moist) ingredient in those soft towellette wipes used to clean LCD/plasma screens. (If it doesn't harm plastic and LCD screens, then it can't harm glass.) That's what I use it for - LCD screens. It was also in many cassette cleaning fluids years ago.
An LCD cleaning fluid I purchased had it's ingredients listed: "Water & isopropyl alcohol."
Don't know if someone said this already, but the last time I purchased it was from BigW - right next to the metho & turps.
I did once read metho contains a little oil. For cleaning things made of glass we make our own glass cleaner. Half metho, half white vinegar in a spray bottle. Both clean, but the metho evaporates the vinegar away quicker than vinegar alone, so you're not wiping and wiping.
For eye glasses metho & vinegar would work, but I'd probably try the isopropyl. The BigW one came in a small spray bottle. It would probably last at least 6 months.
Thanks. I have 1L of metho and vinegar is cheap. I might mix the two and make a spray cleaner.
Thanks.
99 cents for 1L from Aldi. ;-)
Some glasses are coated, in which case it is possible for damage.
But if its straight up glass you could clean it with acetone if that's all you had, although you would probably melt your frame
Oh - and isopropyl is also used to clean VCR heads and laser optics in DVD players and such. So if it damaged glass… well, you get the idea. It just doesn't.
I use baby wipes, then dry them with a micro cloth.The huggies pure baby ones are currently $1.99 for 64. I haven't seen any damage or scratches to my glasses.
You in melb? oz cleaning supplies have stuff like this. 4L bottle for $25 when I was there 5 years ago
Most spectacles nowdays have plastic lenses, not glass. So, it really doesn't matter whether a cleaning agent works with glass. Someone even mentioned using acetone - oh dear.
If you go to the chemist and ask for "pre-injection swabs", they are good for cleaning glasses (and microscope lenses and spot-cleaning of monitor screens).
They come as a box of 100 sachets, each sachet contains a piece of lint-free wipe about 20x40mm, wet with isopropanol. I think the price was about $5 a box, last time I bought them. They are used by people who inject insulin and the like, so the chemist won't judge you when you buy them.
P.s. isopropanol = isopropyl alcohol. They are the same thing. It is NOT the same as the alcohol you drink. In order of molecular weight, the order is methanol - ethanol or ethyl alcohol - propanol (isopropanol) - butanol - pentanol and so on. All of these are alcohols, they all end in -ol. Only ethanol will get you drunk, the rest are poisonous. Arguably ethanol is also poisonous, as you can die from alcohol (ethanol) poisoning. It's just less poisonous than the others.
want to find some for craft, any suggestions my daughter is doing sharpie dying and to get the effect she needs the rubbing alcohol, but at our chemist it is quite expensive.
I buy mine from ebay:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/190971830177?ssPageName=STRK:MEWA…
But I use it for cleaning metals etc
Have you thought about buying a the pads instead?