Is it safe to wash a little Sterno down a sink drain?
I've recently been cooking and using Sterno to keep things warm - or cook. However, from time to time I need to stir, scoop, or manipulate the Sterno in some way. Is it safe to rinse off my utensils, which have come in contact with Jelled Cooking fuel, in a kitchen sink?
Best Answer
Sterno is gelled denatured alcohol. It is denatured alcohol (a combination of methanol and ethanol) so that you can't, safely, drink it, but it is still mostly alcohol, which will dissolve in water and clean up just fine.
While I wouldn't dump a lot of it down the sink, you should have no problem with cleanup. And while Sterno isn't safe to drink, it won't be a problem if you touch it in cleaning up.
I just double checked the Sterno site and they confirm water cleanup and say, additionally, that it is biodegradable.
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Answer 2
Sterno should never be put down a sink as it will eventually get into the water/sewage system. It should be considered hazardous waste and be disposed of properly. Contact your local sanitation department for the location of a hazardous waste drop off near you.
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