What Are Alcohol Wipes?

What Are Alcohol Wipes
5 September 2022

What Are Alcohol Wipes?

Disposable wipes impregnated with alcohol are used for many different applications in healthcare and daily life to keep bacteria and virus levels to a minimum.

Before alcohol wipes were available, bottled alcohol could be used to soak cotton wool or a cloth to apply the disinfectant. But with readily available, pre-soaked alcohol wipes, you can cut down cleaning time and maintain higher hygiene levels.

Ethanol or isopropanol alcohol is used in antiseptic and disinfectant wipes. Ethanol is the same as the alcohol found in drinks. Isopropyl is also called rubbing alcohol. It’s dangerous to consume either type of alcohol when found in wipes and hand sanitisers because of its concentration, which is usually around 70%. Rubbing alcohol is even made to smell and taste off putting on purpose to deter people from drinking it because of how dangerous it is.

wiping computer and surface with alcohol wipe

Why is alcohol used in antiseptic wipes?

Alcohol is known to be one of the most effective disinfectants available. It has a broad kill spectrum which means it kills many potentially infectious agents, including different strains of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Alcohol can kill the strain of coronavirus that causes Covid-19, which is why we were advised by the WHO to use hand sanitiser to reduce infection transmission.

Alcohol kills germs by causing denaturation. This means it attacks the cell membranes and breaks them down, and attacks the structure of the proteins in the cells. This denatures the cells and kills the bacteria. Washing your hands with soap has the same effect on germs but is more effective than alcohol wipes or hand gel. Washing your hands with soap not only breaks down the cell structure of germs but washes them away, whereas a hand sanitiser or a hand wipe just attacks the cells and moves them around.

Alcohol is a good antiseptic because it not only has a broad kill spectrum, but it works very quickly. The fast contact time of alcohol infection control wipes is often why it’s preferred over alcohol-free alternatives like quaternary ammonium and bleach.

In 2020, a study conducted by the CQC found that alcohol effectively killed the Covid-19 virus on surfaces. Alcohol is also effective against bacteria such as E.coli and viruses like hepatitis B. 

But there are some downsides to using alcohol wipes for sanitisation. Alcohol can

  • Damage some materials like wood.
  • Be painful if it gets into a cut or your eye.
  • Be potentially dangerous to children if they consume them.
  • Cause the skin to dry out and crack or flake after repeated exposure.
  • Cause respiratory problems in certain people if the fumes are breathed in.

It’s best always to read the label on the product, keep it out of reach of children and animals, and use caution and common sense to look after yourself.

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Do alcohol wipes expire?

Alcohol wipes have a shelf life, which will be displayed on the packaging. When alcohol wipes go out of date, they don’t become dangerous to use, but it means they won’t be as effective or effective enough anymore.

Alcohol evaporates more quickly and easily than water. This contributes to how they lose their effectiveness over time. Additionally, if you leave a packet of wipes open or don’t fully close it, this could cause the whole lot to dry out. 

Good alcohol wipes will come in a container designed to ensure there’s an airtight seal when you’re not using them like the PDI wipes we stock, which come with a snap-to-close lid with a deep well to store the next available wipe in.

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What are alcohol wipes used for?

Because of their sanitising capabilities, alcohol wipes can be used in environments where high levels of hygiene are vital. The most common uses for alcohol wipes are:

  1. To prepare skin for injection or incision. Alcohol prep pads can be used to sanitise unbroken skin in a small area to ensure it is completely clean for a sterile instrument to be used on it. Alcohol prep pads ensure no harmful germs can be pushed through the skin into the body. 
  2. To sanitise hands. Just like hand gel, alcohol sanitiser wipes can be used to clean the hands when you don’t have access to a sink with soap and water. Sanitising your hands can help prevent the spread of infection of viruses like Covid-19.
  3. To disinfect hard, non-porous surfaces. Alcohol wipes may damage some materials, but most hard, non-porous surfaces, such as glass, plastic, rubber, stainless steel, and vinyl, can be cleaned without issues. This means worktops, door handles, window and bed frames, and other touchpoints can be sanitised.
  4. To disinfect non-invasive medical devices. Disinfection describes the process of removing potentially infectious agents to a safe level. Medical devices used inside the body must be sterilised, usually with an autoclave, as this ensures that 100% of all germs are killed. But for non-invasive devices, this level of cleaning is not necessary. So, alcohol wipes can be used to clean equipment like blood pressure monitors and AEDs.  

Materials alcohol wipes should be used on:

  • Wood
  • Acrylic
  • Painted surfaces
  • Dry-erase boards

Alcohol wipes should not be used on broken skin or to clean wounds. Because of the way alcohol works to kill germ cells, it can actually damage delicate tissues in wounds and burn healthy cells. Additionally, the dehydrating properties of alcohol can cause a wound to worsen. It’s best to use alcohol-free wipes or plain water to clean a wound.

Can you use alcohol wipes on tv screens and to clean computer screens?

Alcohol wipes can be used to clean the screens of digital devices like computers, phones, tablets, TVs, and digital medical devices. Touchscreens are often overlooked in medical settings, but these can actually harbour some of the highest levels of bacteria. 

Wiping screens down throughout the day or between appointments with an alcohol screen wipe is a good way to manage this.

Can you bring alcohol wipes on a plane?

Alcohol wipes are not classed as a liquid, and there’s no reason you can’t take them on your flight with you. As they’re not classed as a liquid, you don’t need to put your wipes in the transparent bag with your other liquids.

Where to Buy Alcohol Wipes

Wondering where can you buy alcohol wipes? Browse our range here. We supply UK hospitals and healthcare facilities with disinfection products under the Steroplast brand, and from other high-quality brands we trust. 

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