Hand Sanitizer for Ultrasonic Record Cleaning?


Xerox Hand Sanitizer

I was at my local Goodwill the other day, and I noticed Xerox branded hand sanitizer on sale for $4 a gallon. After I passed it, I wondered just how much alcohol is in it? Sure enough it is 80%, that should be good enough for record cleaning, shouldn't it? I actually paid like $36 or something for a gallon of isopropyl at Tractor Supply the other week and it really burned my britches.

Thoughts?

whammo

Showing 2 responses by antinn

This is the material safety data sheet (MSDS) - D-40035.en-us.pdf (xerox.com).  The alcohol is ethanol and this type of antiseptic was rushed into service for COVID and it follows FDA guidelines.  BUT this is good as an antiseptic - not as a cleaning solvent.  With the glycerin and what is not lab-grade ethanol it will likely leave a lot of residue when it dries.  The risk is that it may leave the record dirtier than when you started.  Otherwise, as long as the exposure is short, the risk of damaging the record (beyond the residue) should be low.  

Be careful with alcohol and ultrasonic tanks.  Ethanol (in water) > about 7% and IPA (in water) > about 10% are classified by the NFPA as flammable with a flashpoint of 100F.  With an ultrasonic unit three mechanisms are in play - the heat that speeds up evaporation; the record turning is drawing fluid out that is evaporating, and the ultrasonics are agitating the fluid surface and a mist/vapor is often produced. All of this has the potential to setup the necessary conditions to develop flammable AND explosive vapor and the ultrasonic tank is unlikely to be explosion proof rated (and very $$$$$).  Also, in a common domestic setting, it is very unlikely that the high ventilation turn-over rates that are required in medical and industrial settings that prevent the accumulation of flammable/explosive vapors will be used. So, the risk in a domestic setting is higher than an industrial setting.