Can Alcohol Be Sprayed Inside the Car?
2 Answers
Alcohol can be sprayed inside the car, but the vehicle must be turned off and kept in a non-operational state. It is also important to ensure proper ventilation. Since 75% alcohol has a flash point around 22°C and evaporates quickly, car owners must ensure there are no open flames nearby and control the amount of alcohol used to avoid excessive air concentration, which could lead to an explosion. Ethanol, commonly known as alcohol, is a flammable, volatile, colorless, and transparent liquid at room temperature and pressure. It has low toxicity, and pure liquid should not be consumed directly. It has a distinctive aroma with a slight pungency, a mildly sweet yet spicy taste, and is flammable—its vapor can form explosive mixtures with air. It is miscible with water in any proportion.
I don't recommend spraying alcohol directly inside the car, especially high-concentration types, because it's highly flammable. Imagine this: the car interior is small, summer temperatures are high, and with sunlight exposure or engine heat, alcohol vapor could instantly ignite if it encounters cigarettes, ignition devices, or static sparks—how dangerous! Additionally, alcohol is quite damaging to some interior materials. Long-term contact with plastic dashboards and leather seats can cause them to dry out, crack, or fade, while electronic screens may corrode or short-circuit. I've seen a friend's car suffer button malfunctions after spraying alcohol, costing hundreds to repair. If you really need to disinfect, I recommend using alcohol wipes for gentle wiping or opting for alcohol-free professional cleaning sprays—apply them to a cloth first before wiping surfaces to avoid direct spraying. Ventilating the car for a while after cleaning is also crucial. Safety first!
