There are three commonly-used types of alcohol: 1. methanol, or wood alcohol. This is poisonous, and is used widely in the chemical industry. 2. ethanol, or grain alcohol, is made from distillation of vegetable matter. This is the alcohol in drinkable liquor, and is often used as a rubbing alcohol. 3. propanol, is often used as rubbing alcohol. It is safe on the skin, but poisonous to drink (the liver breaks it down into poisonous methanol). Methanol has one carbon atom, ethanol has two, and propanol has three. Rubbing alcohol is used as a germicide and as a cooling liquid on the skin. In alcoholic drinks, the alcohol content is measured in "proof", where 200 proof is pure ethanol, and 100 proof is 50% ethanol, and so on.

* Rubbing Alcohol, used properly, can be used as a disinfectant. Hospitals and medical professionals use it often to wipe off their equipment, such as a stethoscope, that is used regularly and cannot easily be sterilized between uses. At home it is useful when someone is sick (or not), for example, take all areas where people use items constantly, such as doorknobs, telephones, kitchen cabinet handles, refrigerator, tv remote control and TOYS. Using a disposable towel or paper towels, cleanse the touchable items with rubbing alcohol, it usually kills GERMS and BACTERIA and keeps common areas A LOT cleaner, and generally will keep GERMS from spreading. It is particularly useful in bathroom areas. Naturally keep areas well ventilated. It is a quick and easy solution to disinfecting home or OFFICE. And it dries very quickly without leaving a smelly after odor (like bleach). * Use rubbing alcohol to help dry up a cold sore. Apply when the cold sore appears until it becomes dry and it will shorten the life and begin to fall off. Takes about a week instead of two.

A liquid, usually consisting of 70 percent denatured ethyl alcohol or isopropanol, used for massaging, cleaning and as an antiseptic.