Rubbing alcohol to disinfect?

Seven Hens Farm

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Im getting two dairy goats in a week or so and I am trying to get everything together that I am going to need. They are in milk now. Everything I read says to bleach equipment. I was wondering if you could put some rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle to disinfect after washing and again before milking? Does anyone do this? I used to work in a vitamin factory and that is how we disinfected things.

Thanks for any input!
 

DrakeMaiden

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I have thought of this too. My concerns with rubbing alcohol are 1. it can be absorbed by skin and 2. it is somewhat drying to skin. I think bleach is fairly harsh though too and there are other concerns with using bleach. Vinegar should be able to disinfect for e-coli, from what I have read, however not listeria. I have read that alcohol can be used to disinfect for listeria. Perhaps if you applied lanolin after milking then you might not have problems with alcohol drying the skin. JMO. Also, I would personally prefer using a high purity alcohol, preferably ethanol. Some rubbing alcohols contain acetone.
 

~gd

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Seven Hens Farm said:
Im getting two dairy goats in a week or so and I am trying to get everything together that I am going to need. They are in milk now. Everything I read says to bleach equipment. I was wondering if you could put some rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle to disinfect after washing and again before milking? Does anyone do this? I used to work in a vitamin factory and that is how we disinfected things.

Thanks for any input!
Works on hand sufaces, kills bacteria but i don't know about viruses. Bleach can pit stainless steel [ I worked in bleach factory]. be aware that most rubbing alcohol is isopryol (sp) and can be toxic, so be sure stuff is dry with no pools standing] ~gd
 

Seven Hens Farm

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Drakemaiden!

I was referring to the milk bucket and glass bottles and strainer and such. Not her teets!:lol:

I think I will just wipe her down with baby wipes before milking?
 

DrakeMaiden

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Oh, sorry. It was my understanding that one wipes the udder as well with bleach, or other disinfectant. I think if it is milk for your personal use and you use it promptly then wipe her with whatever you are comfortable using . . . I would think hot soapy water would be as good as anything.

Alcohol would be fine on the milking equipment . . . just obviously let it dry, as ~gd mentioned. I would think it would be easier to run those items through the dishwasher, if you have an older model that can properly sterilize.
 

hqueen13

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I use vinegar and hydrogen peroxide sprayed together on the counter (2 bottles, spray one then the other) in the kitchen to clean up. I would think you could do something similar.
 

~gd

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hqueen13 said:
I use vinegar and hydrogen peroxide sprayed together on the counter (2 bottles, spray one then the other) in the kitchen to clean up. I would think you could do something similar.
What is the vinegar for? doesn't kill the bacteria that made it in the first place [see mother of vinegar]
 
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