Alcohol v. grain alcohol?

Question

I have some recipes for making my own cleaning products and one of them calls for grain alcohol. What is it, where do I get it, and could I use regular alcohol instead?

Answer 1

Grain alcohol is ethanol, one of the various alcohols.  It is expensive as it is taxed as a "beverage."

Denatured alcohol is largely ethanol with a small amount of "denaturant" (normally methanol, wood alcohol) added to make it undrinkable.  (Well, you _can_ drink it, but it will make you blind).  You can buy this at any paint store.  This is what I would recommend for your formula.

The other common alcohol is isopropol alcohol, that found in the drug store as "rubbing alcohol."

So I don't really know what you mean by "regular alcohol" -- all the above are "regular" to me.

Answer 2

Grain alcohol is also known as PGA. It has a much higher alcohol content than say, 90 proof. It's more like 190. That would make it more potent.  You can buy PGA (brandnames Everclear, ClearSprings 190) at most liquor stores.

After you're done cleaning, take the remainder of the PGA, some other fine ingredients, and make this sophisticated cocktail popular at frat parties and bonfires everywhere

http://www.idrink.com/drinks/Hunch_Punch...

Warning:  Thought I should mention...PGA is highly flamable.  I learned this after suffering 2nd degree burns on my hand whilst executing one of thos "hey everybody, watch this" stunts involving PGA and a cigarette lighter.