Is windscreen wash corrosive?

[steppensheep]

Used some to soak my skate bearings and it seems to have loosened up the rust. Also seems to have a slight metallic smell, and the bearings maybe look a bit matt. And leaves the hands feeling very non greasy. Seems odd if it can dissolve metal (or metal oxides) as not ideal to have sloshing over your car.

 

Contains ethanol, propanol and <5% non ionic surfactants.

[The XYY Man]

31 minutes ago, steppensheep said:

Contains ethanol, propanol and <5% non ionic surfactants.

Sounds like my breath...

 

XYY

[Chewing Grass]

35 minutes ago, steppensheep said:

Used some to soak my skate bearings and it seems to have loosened up the rust. Also seems to have a slight metallic smell, and the bearings maybe look a bit matt. And leaves the hands feeling very non greasy. Seems odd if it can dissolve metal (or metal oxides) as not ideal to have sloshing over your car.

 

Contains ethanol, propanol and <5% non ionic surfactants.

How long did you soak the 'skate' bearings for (and what kind of skate)?

[steppensheep]

1 minute ago, Chewing Grass said:

How long did you soak the 'skate' bearings for (and what kind of skate)?

A couple of hours. These are the bearings.  Inner diameter 8mm, outer 22mm, skate wheels are 80mm.

[Chewing Grass]

A lot of bearings unless specifically fancy ones are plain hardened steel and are not corrosion resistant.

If they are sealed and well greased this is not a problem.

However cheaper products like entry level bicycles and kids stuff are not well sealed so as soon as dirt and/or water get in they corrode.

This can show up as a dull or stained appearance to the balls or red rust.

The dull appearance is the disappearance of the shiny polished finish caused by oxidation, first stages of rust.

Pack them with grease or if they are quite bad replace.

[steppensheep]

I've still got a litre of screenwash to use up. Can I do my laundry with it, or will it dissolve essential parts of the wash machine?

Edited March 22 by steppensheep

[Loki]

3 hours ago, steppensheep said:

I've still got a litre of screenwash to use up. Can I do my laundry with it, or will it dissolve essential parts of the wash machine?

You could always put it in your car windscreen washer bottle, at a push