Surprising Uses For Rubbing Alcohol You Definitely Want To Know About
1 Replace The Bleach In The Laundry
Do you have a stain on your shirt but you don’t want to risk ruining your clothing with bleach? Take heart because we have a cleaning tip that will help you remove that stain easily without the risks that come with using bleach. Try using rubbing alcohol to blot it out.
While we wouldn’t suggest putting rubbing alcohol directly in your washing machine for fear of damaging your clothes, you can sponge rubbing alcohol on any pen marks or ink stains. Simply repeat the process until you get the desired effect. How’s that for a handy laundry hack?
2 Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer
If you want to avoid germs (who doesn’t, these days?), then we have a money-saving way to make your own hand sanitizer at home. This hack is almost effortless and won’t break the bank because you just need a few items, some of which you may already have on hand.
Just mix 2 parts rubbing alcohol, a part aloe vera gel, and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. We like to use eucalyptus, but you could also use peppermint or clove essential oil. Stir the solution with a whisk or a spoon and make sure that they’re blended really well.
3 Build A Coke Can Stove
Campers will love this next camping hack. You can build a coke can stove using rubbing alcohol. What you’ll need: 2 aluminum Coke cans, a drill with a 3/32 inch drill bit, scissors, a utility knife, Sharpie, and a ruler.
First, drill holes in the bottom of one can. Cut a hole in the can bottom, cut off the bottom of the can, and cut the can to be the bottom of the stove. Next, cut the inner wall and put it together. Then cut fuel slots on the inner wall. Fit the stove together and fill with rubbing alcohol for fuel.
4 Get Rid Of Bed Bugs
There is nothing more bothersome than discovering you have bed bugs. These little critters can infest your mattress and they’re hard to detect. They will bite you, so it’s best to get rid of them quickly once you find an infestation in your home.
We have a helpful hack that will clear them out in no time. Mix 50% rubbing alcohol and 50% water in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on your sheets and you’ll see the dead bugs on your mattress after it sits on the sheets for a bit. Be sure to ventilate the room because the fumes can be dangerous to inhale.
5 Dislodge The Burned Areas On Your Pans
If you’ve ever accidentally burnt your dinner while cooking, then you know how frustrating it can be to remove leftover grime. You can try using elbow grease, but we have a better way to get rid of the burned areas on your pan. You just need to gather rubbing alcohol and baking soda.
Mix the two together to make a paste and pour it into your dirty pots and pans. The alcohol will cut the grease and the baking soda will remove the stuck-on spots. Scrub the pan with a sponge and watch all that grime disappear.
6 Eliminate The Bad Odor From Your Shoes
Having smelly shoes can be a humiliating experience. You don’t want everyone holding their noses when you kick off your shoes. Rubbing alcohol is one of those ingredients that can work miracles, especially when it comes to stinky shoes. We have a deodorizing tip that will have them smelling cleaner than ever. We like this hack because it’s simple and cheap.
Pour some rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle and squeeze a fine mist onto the inside of your shoes. It has some sort of bacteria and odor-cleaning magic that eliminates nasty smells. Once it dies, your shoes will be fresh as a daisy.
7 Clean Your Headphones
Rubbing alcohol is such a versatile indecent that can be used to clean many items. One thing you may not think of it cleaning is your headphones. If you’re looking for a way to clear off all that gunk, try this hack. You won’t regret it.
Grab a washcloth, a Q-Tip, and some rubbing alcohol. Saturate the washcloth with the rubbing alcohol and carefully wipe down the outside of the earPods. Next, soak the Q-tip in the alcohol and use it to clean out all the little nooks and crannies. You’ll feel like you bought a new pair of headphones.
8 Make Your Own Eyeglasses Cleaner
Do you own eyeglasses that always seem to have smudges? Don’t waste your money on expensive lens cleaners because you can make your own at home for a fraction of the cost. Who doesn’t love saving money?
Simply mix 1 part water with 3 parts rubbing alcohol in a cup. Add 1 to 2 drops of dish soap and stir the ingredients with a spoon. Using a funnel, pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Spritz a few pumps onto the lenses of your glasses, then wipe them with a dry microfiber cloth. Your lenses will look so shiny!
9 Sanitize The Toilet
Next time you’re in the bathroom, reach into your medicine cabinet and grab that bottle of rubbing alcohol. You can use it to clean many surfaces in your restroom, from countertops to sinks, but did you know that you can also use it to sanitize your toilet?
This homespun remedy works great for getting rid of potentially dangerous germs like E. Coli or the Flu. Just pour some into your toilet bowl, and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Next, scrub your bow with a toilet cleaning brush and flush. Your toilet bowl will be sanitized and totally clean.
10 Fix Your Broken Makeup
If you accidentally drop eyeshadow, don’t run to the store to replace it. This next beauty hack will have your makeup looking good as new. You just need three items: rubbing alcohol, a spoon, and a sheet of plastic wrap.
First, gather all of the broken makeup pieces into their original container. Next, crush up any powder not broken into pieces. Add a few drops of rubbing alcohol, allowing it to soak in. Smooth the makeup with the back of a spoon, then rub the plastic wrap to smooth it out even more. Allow it to dry.
11 De-Ice Your Driveway
Don’t let an icy driveway slow you down. It’s such a pain to deal with stubborn ice on a chilly morning, but it doesn’t have to be that difficult. This amazing tip will save you time and energy. Alcohol works amazingly well for de-icing your driveway.
All you have to do is to spray the ice back and forth along your driveway with rubbing alcohol. In about 15 or 30 minutes, the ice will loosen up, which makes it so much easier to shovel. This trick works much as salt does in that the freezing point is much lower than water.
12 Clean Microfiber Furniture
Microfiber couches can be a challenge to clean because soap and water leave behind marks. So, what’s the best way to get a stain out of microfiber furniture? We’re so glad you asked because we have a one ingredient couch cleaner you need to know about.
Of course, we’re talking about rubbing alcohol. Grab your spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol, spray the stain, rub the area with a sponge, and allow it to dry. The material will feel rough until you use a bristle brush in a circular motion. Watch that spot disappear. You won’t believe your eyes.
13 Avoid Windshield Frost
People who live in a cold climate will tell you how tricky it can be to get ice off your windshield. The last thing you want to do when it’s freezing outside is to spend precious time scraping ice off your car windows. Have no fear because we have an easy solution.
Grab a trust spray bottle and fill it with a mixture consisting of 1/2 water and 1/2 rubbing alcohol. Spray the solution on your windshield and watch the ice melt away. It’s amazing to see how fast it disappears. We told you it would be easy!
14 Add It To Your Dishwasher
Dishwashers are handy machines that save so much time and energy when it comes to cleaning your dishes. Even though they are constantly running soap through them, dishwashers do need to be freshened up now and again to ensure that the inside stays sanitary.
Try cleaning it with rubbing alcohol. You can even use it to clean the exterior door and handle. Just add a bit of rubbing alcohol onto a microfiber cloth and wipe away any unwanted fingerprints. You’ll be thrilled with the results if you gave this tip a try. There’s nothing more satisfying than a clean kitchen appliance.
15 Clean Your Makeup Brushes
Do your makeup brushes ever feel like they could use a good cleaning? If so, listen up to this next tip because it’s about as simple as they come. Would you believe that you can get them nice and clean by using rubbing alcohol?
You’ll just need to grab your dirty brushes, a paper towel, and a spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol. Spritz the brushes with alcohol until they’re totally saturated. Rub the brushes on the paper towel back and forth to rub off the makeup. Repeat the process until the brush is clean.
16 Make Your Produce Last Longer
While we’re talking about rubbing alcohol, another ingredient that has many uses is hydrogen peroxide. You can keep your fruits and veggies fresh with one unexpected trick. Just give your produce a little bath in a hydrogen peroxide solution. This will kill any bacteria and help them stay fresh longer.
Put your fruits and veggies in a bowl of water and toss in a dash of hydrogen peroxide. Let the produce soak in the mixture for around 20 minutes. Then rinse them off with water, put them back in their container, and place them in the refrigerator. They will last a bit longer.
17 Clean And Sanitize Your Sink
You can use rubbing alcohol to clean many places in your home, including the kitchen. Has your sink ever gotten dingy and dirty, but you prefer to use non-chemical methods of cleaning? If so, then this next tip was tailor made just for you.
Rubbing alcohol is a great resource for giving your kitchen sink that extra sparkle. Just spray some rubbing alcohol on your sink, wait a few minutes, then wipe it down with a clean cloth. This method works on stainless steel, chrome, brass, or porcelain sinks. Not only will it put a shine on your sink, but the alcohol will disinfect it too.
18 Decrease Soil Bacteria And Microbes In Your Garden
Much like you can use rubbing alcohol for your houseplants, it’s also a useful ingredient to use in the garden. It’s so functional that it can be used to get rid of soil bacteria or other microbes that might cause trouble in your garden. You can also use rubbing alcohol to kill unwanted weeds.
Mix a quart of water and two tablespoons of rubbing alcohol together. Pour the mixture onto the weeds. This will pull the moisture away from the weeds, causing them to shrivel up and die. No more sore muscles from pulling weeds with this amazing trick!
19 Remove Carpet Stains
If you’ve ever spilled juice or wine on your carpet, then you know just how stubborn those stains can be. Don’t bother calling the carpet cleaners, though, because we have a hack that is a fraction of the cost of getting your carpets professionally cleaned. You know we’re talking about rubbing alcohol.
Using rubbing alcohol on a stain will lift it right up. All you need is an old toothbrush and a small cup of rubbing alcohol. Just dip the toothbrush into the alcohol and scrub the carpet in a circular motion. It works like magic and doesn’t take long to clean up. That’s a win/win in our book.
20 Clean Your Houseplants
Are your houseplants bothered by pesky bugs or a fungus? We have an awesome solution that involves (you guessed it) rubbing alcohol. All you have to do is make a solution of 1/2 a cup of alcohol and 1 quart of water in a spray bottle.
Be sure to run a patch test on a small leaf, and once it passes the test, you’re ready to spray the rest of the plant. Let the mixture sit on the plant for 15-20 minutes and rinse the leaves with water. All unwanted bugs or fungi will disappear. You can repeat this process once a week as needed.
