Can I Clean my Clippers with Alcohol?
Wahl, a clipper maker, tells users to disinfect blades with its own Clini-Clip spray and says other cleaning agents are not recommended and may void the warranty. Its page does not mention alcohol. CDC says 60% to 90% alcohol kills many germs but cannot kill spores and can damage some plastics and rubber.
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Rubbing Alcohol Dilution Chart (PDF)
How much 99%, 91% or 70% rubbing alcohol and water to mix for a 70% or 60% cleaning solution, for 100, 250 and 500 ml. Every line shows its source and the date we read it. Print it or keep it on your phone.
- Ready-made amounts for 99%, 91% and 70% bottles
- The 60-90% range the CDC gives for alcohol disinfectants, and safety notes
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We use your email only for this download.What the manufacturer says
Wahl’s professional care guide lists four steps. Brush out loose hair after each use. Disinfect daily by spraying the blades of an unplugged clipper with Wahl Clini-Clip, letting it sit no more than 2 minutes, then wiping off the excess. Oil the blades frequently. It states: “Using any other cleaning agent is not recommended and may void your clipper’s warranty.” Alcohol is not mentioned. Check your own manual and warranty.
What CDC says about alcohol
CDC’s healthcare disinfection guideline says the best germ-killing strength is 60% to 90% alcohol in water, and activity drops sharply below 50%. Ethyl alcohol at 60% to 95% killed some bacteria in 10 seconds in tests.
CDC also lists limits. Alcohols do not destroy bacterial spores, evaporate fast, can swell and harden rubber and some plastics, and are flammable, so store them in a cool, well-ventilated place.
What this means for clippers
- Brush hair away first. Alcohol does not clean debris.
- Never spray or soak a plugged-in clipper.
- If you use alcohol on the blades only, keep it off rubber and plastic parts, and let it dry.
The CDC guideline is for healthcare tools, so applying it to clippers is our reading.
People also ask
Does Wahl recommend alcohol for clipper blades?
Wahl's care guide recommends its Clini-Clip spray, and says other cleaning agents are not recommended and may void the warranty. Alcohol is not mentioned.
What strength of alcohol disinfects?
CDC says the optimum range is 60% to 90% in water, with activity dropping sharply below 50%.
Does alcohol kill all germs on clippers?
No. CDC says alcohols lack sporicidal action and do not destroy bacterial spores.
Sources
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