Polyvinyl alcohol is an odorless white or cream-colored powder or grainy substance.
Polyvinyl alcohol is a finishing agent used in household cleaning products. In food, it can be a glazing agent or thickener. It is also used as a lubricant to relieve dry or irritated eyes.[2] The ingredient can be found in makeup, face masks, moisturizer, and other personal care products; it can also be a barrier against CO2 in certain kinds of plastic bottles.[3,4] In laundry detergent it helps prevent dirt from getting back into fabrics during washing.[5] We use the ingredient in our dishwasher detergent powder because it dissolves in water, which facilitates the production of individual packets. It is not an active cleaning ingredient.
Polyvinyl alcohol mixes well with water, and studies show the ingredient is not a skin or eye irritant.[7,8,9] The FDA has deemed the ingredient safe to use in food contact surfaces.[10,11]
Commercially, manufacturing polyvinyl alcohol occurs by dissolving polyvinyl acetate in some methanol or ethanol, along with a catalyst and heat. This separates the polyvinyl alcohol from the solution.[6]