How to use alcohol safely

In case of virus, you must have stored alcohol at home. However, summer is coming and temperature rises. Will you worry about the safety of alcohol? Will it cause fire?

To remove these worries, what can we do when using and storing alcohol?

1. Do not spray alcohol for disinfection!

It seems to be a common sense that alcohol will not burn until it is fired. However, it is false. In some situations, for example alcohol concentration in airtight room is 3% or larger, alcohol will also cause explosion by even clothes statics, electric mosquito swatter or smoking.

Flash point of 75% alcohol disinfectant is at about 22°C and this figure make alcohol one of the most possible liquids to cause fire. Therefore, it’s better to not spray 75% alcohol indoors for disinfection. Cotton pad wetted by alcohol can be used. Towels should be washed in clean water, stored in airtight condition or air-dried if they are wetted by alcohol to clean and disinfect.

All in all, we should pay attention to controlling alcohol concentration in air within 3% and keeping the room airy to avoid fire.

2. Do not clean air conditioning with alcohol!

As it becomes hotter, many of you must turn on air conditioning for cooling. However, experts also remind us to not clean internal parts of air conditioning with alcohol!

Although it can disinfect and sterilize, alcohol also volatilizes quickly. After volatilization, alcohol can mixes with other gases and become flammable and explosive.

Especially when alcohol is used to wipe internal air conditioner, air doesn’t circulate and volatilized alcohol accumulate inside. After the conditioner is turned on, alcohol gas will be ignited by electric current.

3. Do not store large amount of alcohol at home!

500ml alcohol is enough for home use. Large amount of alcohol at home is no good. Besides, alcohol container should be stored in glass or special plastic packages and well sealed or covered. The package should be far away from children’s access. What’s more, it’s better to not store alcohol near to 84 disinfectant, heater, cooktop or some other heat source. Direct sunshine on alcohol should also be avoided. Storing temperature should be lower than 30°C.

4. Methods of extinguish fire caused by fire.

1) Do not extinguish with water, dry towel or clothes. They will lead to fire spreading;

2) Dry powder extinguisher and CO2 fire extinguisher can extinguish fire caused by alcohol;

3) Small-area fire can be extinguished by wet towel and clothes;

4) Outdoor fire can also be extinguished by covering sands and soil.

5. Notes for using alcohol at home

1) 75% alcohol or alcohol pad can kill parts of virus and are both cheap;

2) Alcohol can be used to wipe door handle, tabletop, elevator button... But do not spray too much to air or our bodies;

3) It is not suggested to disinfect clothes by spraying alcohol. Open flame and static electricity will lead to burning possibly;

4) Do not phone, smoke or use electric mosquito swatter in places where alcohol concentration is high;

5) Towels wetted by high-concentration alcohol should be cleaned by water and then air-dried;

6) Alcohol should be far away from fire source and electrical appliances. Storing containers should also be sealed and covered well.