Methanol Evaporation/Degradation From Surfaces [closed]








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I've seen resources indicate how quickly methanol in small amounts evaporates from a dry surface in open air. Does this apply to methanol mixed with other substances, such as that in wiper fluid? I'm curious if some residual methanol would just remain on a surface with a small amount of fluid residue (such as a countertop, car interior, etc.) indefinitely until washed off.




Good point! Since methanol and water are miscible:


* The remaining liquid water would tend to "hold onto" methanol.
* As the water molecules evaporate, that removes heat energy and slows evaporation of methanol.


It *would* take the methanol longer to evaporate *in toto*. However, even so, water evaporates readily, too, so there's no need to wash off the remaining mixture, at least under normal use outdoors. If you were to spill a 4 liter bottle of windshield (*AKA windscreen in the UK*) wiper fluid in a garage, that *would* be a more serious problem. An ordinary wet/dry shop vac could cause fire or explosion, so repeated wet mopping and wringing of the mop would take a while.


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