Laboratories must use the right chemical for their cleaning or risk damaging expensive equipment. Although alcohol distilled with water is an excellent purpose lab cleaner, some labs may be unsure which alcohol solution is right for them.

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Electronics

The Difference Between IPA 99 and IPA 70

When a laboratory has electronics that need to be up-kept, it’ll be necessary to find the right chemical for cleaning. For most laboratories, a solution comprised of distilled water and high-purity alcohol is the right solution because of its low-cost and high-efficacy cleaning potential. But, especially for laboratories that may just be getting established for the first time, it may be unclear which alcohol is the appropriate choice for the cleaning solution. 

IPA 99 has 1% deionized water, whereas IPA 70 has 30% deionized water. Some labs buy IPA 99 and then dilute the solution with deionized water. However, for customers that want an out-of-the-box experience, IPA 70 may be more helpful.

It is critical for cleaning electronics and hardware that is easily damaged to minimize the presence of minerals. Even the tiniest minerals can evaporate and later cause damage to a circuit board. The reason is that minerals impede the flow of electronics, which power electronics. In the worst cases, a short circuit can be found during disruption.

Not all electronic components are equally likely to be damaged, but exposed semiconductor materials, PCB plastics, and sensors should be carefully watched. It is nearly impossible to remove trace minerals of these components once they are present.

Ethyl Alcohol

Ethyl alcohol is a simple compound characterized by its wine-like odor and pungent taste. It is widely used in medicine because it is a potent disinfectant. Medications can also be dissolved in ethyl alcohol much more accessible than water, which is why many OTC medicines have up to a 50% ethyl alcohol solution. Drinking ethyl alcohol is not advised and can lead to harm.

Labs must always use laboratory-grade ethyl alcohol diluted with deionized water. Ethyl alcohol is an effective solvent and cleaning solution. The CDC recommends isopropyl or ethyl alcohol solutions for hand sanitizer because they are safe and effective.

At Harmony Lab & Safety Supplies, we recommend high-purity isopropyl alcohol.