15 Unusual Uses for Cheap Vodka

Step 2: I Can See Clearly Now

A small spray bottle with vodka and water is the perfect solution for cleaning your glasses.
Don't get ripped off by those greedy optometrists - make your own at home!  One optical employee told me they make their own cleaning solution by combining water, alcohol, and a drop of dish soap.  Give it a try!
(May not be suitable for lenses with special coatings - try and your own risk.  And the tell us how it went!)

Comments

[Ugifer]

My optician recommended methylated spirits (essentially ethanol with about 10% methanol and purple dye) for cleaning even coated lenses. Meths is nearly pure (methyl and ethyl) alcohol, so 40% (or perhaps 35% - this is the cheap stuff) in vodka is unlikely to cause any damage.

[pher sov]

i use isopropyl or polyvinyl alcohol to clean vinyl records, but once I used it on a old (breakable, bakelite made) 78rpm,,, and the grooves disappeared... a chemical dilution of such material

[jellyfishattack]

I won't be trying that on any of my 78s then.

[pher sov]

and remember crystals of lenses are also made from plastics... policarbonates, or cheaper.. so always use dilutions...

[jellyfishattack]

I never thought of that. Thanks for the warning. I don't want to pay another fortune for my mega myopia corrective lenses.

[taiguy]

I'm pretty sure when they say they add "alcohol" to their lens cleaning solution they mean isopropyl alcohol. not ethyl alcohol (drinking variety).

[kilbia]

And I'm pretty sure the reason they do that is so they can sell their solutions in grocery stores in places like Richardson, TX which allows for the sale of beer and wine but not booze.

Years ago, as in "back when I still read printed newspapers", I read about someone's proposal of a 97% ethanol / 3% gasoline fuel mix. And one of the reasons cited for that 3% was to discourage people from drinking the fuel.

[lucek]

Actually isopropyl alcohol has a major advantage over ethanol. It doesn't dry tissue as much. This is why you find it in formulas that are intended to come in contact with you. In this case you're eyes.

Just another note, rubbing alcohol is usually in concentrations above 70% as below this there is a vast drop off in returns. The common 80 proof vodka is only 40% alcohol per volume. Unless you splurge on Everclear or similar you're not getting the same antibacterial properties as a $1 bottle of rubbing alcohol.

[pher sov]

could use small amount of ammonia solution (as a degreaser) too, and you could combine, f.i. drops of chlorine solution, any dish or liquid detergent, some isopropyl or methanol, even a scent or perfume if necessary... with the correct amount of water, just try the best option for you, after experience you'll be fine.. and their costs are certainly lower, just have to look for the ingredients around.. just check if necessary on the lense's plastics, because some alcohols in excess can damage them...