This article was co-authored by Kathryn Kellogg and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Kathryn Kellogg is the founder of goingzerowaste.com, a lifestyle website dedicated to breaking eco-friendly living down into a simple step-by-step process with lots of positivity and love. Kathryn is the author of two books focusing on sustainability, 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste and 101 Tips for a Zero Waste Kitchen. She is the spokesperson for plastic-free living for National Geographic, has been featured by the Guardian, CNN, Refinery29, and Bustle, and has a following on instagram of over 700k.
There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 118,143 times.
Rubbing alcohol, also known as isopropyl alcohol, is super useful for cleaning and sanitizing different surfaces. Unfortunately, opened bottles are only good for 2 to 3 years. While it’s a pretty common staple in many households, this substance is considered hazardous household waste. With a few extra precautions, you can safely toss out or store any rubbing alcohol in your home without hurting the environment.
Can you pour rubbing alcohol down the drain?
No, you can’t pour rubbing alcohol down the drain. Most rubbing alcohol is 60% isopropyl alcohol, making it a flammable, hazardous waste. Pouring a substance that’s above 5% alcohol down the drain can be extremely dangerous.
Steps
How to Get Rid of Rubbing Alcohol Safely
-
Check that the alcohol is in a sealed container. Make sure that the bottle has no leaks or cracks as you get it ready for transport. If the container isn’t labeled, use a separate label or permanent marker to write “rubbing alcohol” or “isopropyl alcohol” on the front.[4]
- You can purchase labels online or in an office supply store.
-
Take the sealed container to a household hazardous waste site. Check online to see if there’s a drop-off center or collection facility for household waste, like rubbing alcohol. Make a plan to stop by during their hours of operation, where you can give them the sealed, labeled containers of rubbing alcohol.[5]
- These plants will incinerate the rubbing alcohol safely so it doesn’t hurt the environment.
-
Flush rubbing alcohol into a sanitary sewer system if it’s less than 5% alcohol. If your container contains less than 5% rubbing alcohol, pour it into a utility sink, toilet, or other sanitary drain. After dumping the alcohol, pour a lot of water down the drain to dilute the alcohol.[6]
- You may want to wear eyeglasses and gloves when you flush the rubbing alcohol.
- If you pour 1 cup (240 mL) of rubbing alcohol down the drain, be sure to flush it out with 10 to 20 cups (2,400 to 4,700 mL) of water afterward.
- Never pour rubbing alcohol into a storm sewer.
- Many standard rubbing alcohol containers are over 50% concentrated, so this option might not work for everyone.[7]
-
Check local regulations on rubbing alcohol disposal. Throw out your rubbing alcohol if your local government recommends it. Visit the waste management or recycling portion of your city’s website to see if they have a list of items considered “trash” or “recyclable.”[8] Some websites have an encyclopedia or other type of guide that lets you search for different items, including rubbing alcohol
- If your local government doesn’t specify how to dispose of rubbing alcohol, be on the safe side and bring the sealed container to a household hazardous waste site.
Expert Q&A
Tips
References
- ↑ https://ehs.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/drain-disposal-chemicals.pdf
- ↑ https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/docs/she/acceptable-drain-disposal-procedures/
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/hw/how-dispose-and-recycle-alcohol-based-hand-sanitizer
- ↑ https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/1076.pdf
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/hw/how-dispose-and-recycle-alcohol-based-hand-sanitizer
- ↑ https://ehs.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/sanitary-sewar-disposal.pdf
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/hcp/disinfection-sterilization/chemical-disinfectants.html
- ↑ https://www.portlandmaine.gov/553/Curbside-Recycling#!rc-cpage=207864
- ↑ https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/1076.pdf
- ↑ https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/1076.pdf
- ↑ https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/alcohol-based-handrub-risks-hazards
- ↑ https://www.ehs.com/2015/02/isopropyl-alcohol-safety-tips/
- ↑ https://www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/1076.pdf
- ↑ https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/46232/20230928/rubbing-alcohol-expire-still-use-expiration-date.htm