Ethyl alcohol is used to clean which item?

• A. Used to disinfect stethoscopes
• B. Used to clean glass thermometers.
• C. Used to sterilize instruments
• D. Used for skin antisepsis

Answer: (B)

Ethyl alcohol is especially well-suited for disinfecting nonporous surfaces like glass. Glass thermometers are delicate and smooth, so wiping them with ethyl alcohol quickly reduces surface germs between patients without soaking or damaging the instrument. Alcohol evaporates rapidly, leaving no residue that could affect a thermometer reading, which makes it a convenient choice for cleaning these devices. While alcohol can be used for skin antisepsis as well, cleaning a thermometer specifically is best accomplished with ethyl alcohol due to its efficiency on glass surfaces and its minimal residue. Other cleaning or sterilization methods are more appropriate for stethoscopes or instruments, or for achieving true sterilization, which goes beyond surface disinfection.