# Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 14, 2002, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isopropyl-rubbing-alcohol/128417 "2002-09-14T11:35:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PurplePerson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@PurplePerson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurplePerson)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2002, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isopropyl-rubbing-alcohol/128417/1 "2002-09-14T11:35:11Z")
Does Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol have any bleaching or stain removing properties? ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2002, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isopropyl-rubbing-alcohol/128417/2 "2002-09-14T13:19:20Z")
Anyone see the humor? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2002, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isopropyl-rubbing-alcohol/128417/3 "2002-09-14T13:40:22Z")
Yeah. 😃 Um, no, PP, rubbing alcohol won’t remove stains or bleach anything. What kind of stains are you trying to remove? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2002, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isopropyl-rubbing-alcohol/128417/4 "2002-09-14T14:09:17Z")
Isopropanol doesn’t bleach (oxidize) things, but it is a solvent, and will remove a variety of different stains. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2002, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isopropyl-rubbing-alcohol/128417/5 "2002-09-14T14:54:31Z")
Isopropanol is wonderful for getting out ink smears, but it’s pretty damn messy. Some types of stuff it will dissolve enough to wash the stain out, but for food stains it’s almost totallyl worthless. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2002, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isopropyl-rubbing-alcohol/128417/6 "2002-09-14T14:55:55Z")
Oh, BTW, Purple, rubbing alcohol is just the common name for isopropyl alcohol. That’s what Mr.V and DDG are snickering about. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2002, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isopropyl-rubbing-alcohol/128417/7 "2002-09-14T15:00:05Z")
No, I think they were referring to the OP’s user name and the question about getting stains off. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2002, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isopropyl-rubbing-alcohol/128417/8 "2002-09-14T15:14:25Z")
Okay, maybe I was the only one who found that particular part amusing. I just don’t pay that much attention to names, so I never even thought about that. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2002, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isopropyl-rubbing-alcohol/128417/9 "2002-09-14T19:23:55Z")
Ball Point ink. Dunno about rollerball ink, but that’s water soluble. If you’ve ever had a ball point pen stay in the pocket when the shirt goes through the washer, you KNOW what a mess it will make. bleah. Hold the stain tightly over a glass or a bowl, and pour the rubbing alcohol over the stain; it should rinse right out. Those little wipes that medical folks use to cleanse the skin before a shot will also work. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2002, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isopropyl-rubbing-alcohol/128417/10 "2002-09-14T19:26:24Z")
It will also remove magic marker. To mothers of toddlers: this advice is indispensable! If your kid has ever colored in his or her face or belly with a magic marker, you don’t need to use Brillo or Comet on the poor kid. Just some cotton balls and a bottle of rubbing alcohol. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![PurplePerson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@PurplePerson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurplePerson)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2002, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isopropyl-rubbing-alcohol/128417/11 "2002-09-15T01:44:42Z")
Hey, Thanks guys. I got my answer and a dose of humor. I love the humor. Thank you. PP PS Does it remove that, too? ---
**Author:** ![Helm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Helm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helm)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isopropyl-rubbing-alcohol/128417/12 "2002-09-16T03:37:43Z")
Alcohol will dissolve the stains from medical ointments, such as Neosporin. However, wet the area with soapy water first to prevent a new ring from settling in when the stuff dissolves.