24 Surprising Ways To Use Rubbing Alcohol
July 17, 2019
You probably already know that rubbing alcohol is one of the most widely-used disinfectants out there. However, you may not be aware that rubbing alcohol is actually useful in a ton of different situations — and most of which have nothing to do with anything medical-related.
These rubbing alcohol hacks will save you money and come in handy in a pinch, so read ahead to learn about them!
1. Jewelry Cleaner
To bring some shine and shimmer back to your jewelry, soak it in a bowl of rubbing alcohol for a few minutes. Then, dry it off and give it a quick buff with a jewelry polishing cloth.
2. Removes Unpleasant Odors
If you have some stinky shoes, simply spray them with a bit of rubbing alcohol. Let them air-dry in someplace sunny, and the foul smells will be gone.
3. Kills Bed Insects
Spray rubbing alcohol in the seams of your mattress, between your mattress and box spring, or anywhere else where mites and bed bugs might be hiding. Wait for the alcohol to dry, then vacuum the areas you sprayed.
4. Keyboard Cleaner
It can be so hard to get crumbs and dust from in between the keys on your keyboard. Just wet a Q-tip with a bit of rubbing alcohol for a clean, disinfected work surface.
5. Repairs Broken Makeup
If you accidentally drop a makeup palette and it shatters into a million pieces, don’t panic. Simply break up the pieces until they are super fine, then pour a bit of rubbing alcohol into the palette and mix together. When the rubbing alcohol dries, your palette will be whole again.
6. Cleans Dry Erase Boards
Marker never seems to come off dry erase boards easily. Until now, that is. Just apply some rubbing alcohol to a cloth and the marker stains will come right off!
7. Cleans Microfiber Fabrics
Microfiber furniture can be so difficult to clean. That’s where rubbing alcohol comes in. Use a sponge or cloth to dab some rubbing alcohol onto any stains. You can even gently scrub the stain with a cleaning toothbrush. When the rubbing alcohol dries and evaporates, the stain should be gone.
8. Stretches Out Shoes
If your new leather shoes are too tight, simply spray the soles and insides of your shoes with rubbing alcohol. Then, put on some thick socks and wear the shoes around the house. They should stretch out a little after a bit of wear.
9. Air Freshener
For a cheap and easy air freshener, mix a bit of rubbing alcohol with 10 or more drops of your favorite essential oil. Put the solution in a spray bottle, and voila!
10. Eyeglass Cleaner
To clean and disinfect your eyeglasses, spray a bit of rubbing alcohol onto a glasses-friendly cleaning cloth. Your glasses will be shiny and free of germs in no time.
11. Removes Stickers
If you have a sticker or label that just won’t come off, soak the area in some rubbing alcohol. After a few minutes, the sticker should scrape away easily.
12. Disinfects Makeup Brushes
Dirty makeup brushes can lead to breakouts and skin irritation. Soak the bristles of your brushes in rubbing alcohol, then let them air-dry for clean, ready-to-use makeup brushes.
13. Removes Hairspray
If your mirror has gotten caked in hairspray, your average cleaner likely won’t help. However, a quick wipe with some rubbing alcohol will remove the sticky hairspray residue.
14. Melts Frosted Windshields
There’s nothing worse than freezing your fingers off trying to scrape last night’s frost off of your car’s windshield. Simply fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol, wait a few minutes, and the frost should be gone pretty quickly.
15. Cleans Cellphones
Cellphones carry a ton of germs, so it’s important to keep them clean. If you rub down your phone with a small amount of rubbing alcohol, you’ll be able to disinfect it and remove any dirt or grime.
16. Removes Ticks
If you spot a tick on your dog, remember NOT to just pull it straight out. You need to drown the tick in rubbing alcohol beforehand so that it loosens its grip on your dog’s skin. After soaking the tick in rubbing alcohol, you can then use tweezers to remove the tick by getting as close to your dog’s skin as possible.
17. Cleans Chrome Hardware
If your bathroom is full of chrome faucets and fixtures, rubbing alcohol will shine it right up. Once the rubbing alcohol dissolves, you will be left with a clean and spot-free surface.
18. Removes Ink Stains
If you accidentally get pen all over your favorite shirt, don’t fret. Just soak the stain in rubbing alcohol before tossing it in the wash and the stain should come right out.
19. Cleans Plastic/Silk Plants
If your plastic plants are looking a little dusty, just fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and give them a spritz. When the rubbing alcohol dissolves, the dust will disappear along with it.
20. Cleans Stainless Steel
Stainless steel wipes can be pricey, but rubbing alcohol is cheap! Dab some rubbing alcohol onto a soft cloth for sparkling, spot-free stainless steel appliances and fixtures.
21. Removes Grease Stains From Carpet
If you have a grease stain on your carpet, try dabbing it with some rubbing alcohol to remove the stain. Just to be on the safe side, try the rubbing alcohol on an inconspicuous part of the carpet first.
22. Removes Strong Odors From Skin
Most of the time, even soap won’t rid your hands of the smell that lingers after chopping onions. Just apply a little rubbing alcohol onto your hands to sanitize them and remove any strong odors.
23. Nail Polish Remover
Most drugstore nail polish removers are filled with harsh chemicals. Rubbing alcohol will remove stuck-on polish and is far less damaging to nails than typical removers.
24. Stops The Itch
If you have a spider or mosquito bite that you can’t stop scratching, dab a little rubbing alcohol onto the bite with a cotton ball. It’ll stop the itch in no time!