Washington Esthetician State Board Practice Exam

To avoid softening, plastic bottles should not be washed in which substance?

1. Alcohol

2. Phenols

3. Water

4. Soap and water

The correct answer is: Phenols

Plastic bottles can be sensitive to certain chemicals, which may cause them to soften or degrade over time. Phenols, a type of organic compound often found in disinfectants and some cleaning products, are particularly harmful to plastic materials. When plastic comes into contact with phenolic compounds, it can lead to a breakdown of the plastic structure, resulting in softening, distortion, or failure of the container. On the other hand, alcohol, water, and soap are generally safe to use with plastic bottles as they do not contain components that are known to react negatively with most common types of plastic. Alcohol is often used for sanitizing without compromising the integrity of the plastic, while soap and water are effective for general cleaning purposes. Water alone, as a neutral solvent, will not cause any harm to the structure of the plastic.