11 Surprising Uses for Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is an essential to any medicine cabinet—it’s much more than a disinfectant. Despite its low price, there are many uses for rubbing alcohol around the house.

What Is Rubbing Alcohol Used For?

Here are eleven reasons to put rubbing alcohol at the top of your next shopping list.

1.) Muscle Relief

Here’s a surprising use for rubbing alcohol: relieve muscle pain (i.e. from exercise). Fluster Buster says to gently rub the affected area with rubbing alcohol. The effects are somewhat similar to Icy-Hot.

2.) Stain Remover

If you combine rubbing alcohol with water it can become an inexpensive stain remover. You can easily spot treat ink and coffee stains like a pro! Huffington Post recommends combining one part rubbing alcohol with two parts water. Add the mixture to a large spray bottle to spray on spots and spills. After you spraying the stain, wait a few minutes, before washing.

3.) Hand Sanitizer

Store-bought hand sanitizer is expensive; it also often contains strong fragrances you might not like. Rubbing alcohol can help. Fluster Buster recommends making your own hand sanitizer by combining 1 part aloe vera with 3 parts rubbing alcohol. Store in a cool place. This hand sanitizer will also remove the garlic smell from your hands!

4.) Killing Bedbugs

Bed bugs are a nightmare for homeowners. If you have an infestation, Pest Central recommends that you fill a regular spray bottle with rubbing alcohol. Spraying rubbing alcohol vigorously and frequently is a way to kill the eggs bed bugs lay. Target your headboard, mattress, and box spring.

5.) Removing Ticks

Ticks can spread many diseases. According to the Huffington Post To lower your risk of getting an infection from a tick, simply saturate a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and rub it on the tick before you remove it with tweezers.

6.) Cold Sore Relief

Cold sores are painful and spread easily. Rubbing alcohol can help people affected by cold sores, too. Fluster Buster recommends applying a little rubbing alcohol directly to the cold sore with a cotton ball or q-tip.

7.) Mosquito Bite Relief

Rubbing alcohol can relieve a mosquito bite’s irritation. Dab the affected area once or twice a day will help your skin recover faster, points out Fluster Buster.

8.) Astringent Properties

Like witch hazel, rubbing alcohol’s astringent properties can tighten your skin and shrink the appearance of your pores. This property also slows and stops the bleeding process.

9.) De-Garlic Your Hands

If you cook or work with your hands, chances are you could use some help removing odor and sticky residue. Rinsing your hands with rubbing alcohol is one of the most effective ways to remove the garlic smell from your hands. Huffington Post says it’ll also help remove the garlic residue from your hands.

10.) Deodorize Your Sneakers

If you have a smelly pair of shoes, rubbing alcohol can help. Huffington Post suggest spraying liberal amounts of rubbing alcohol in your smelly sneakers, then allow them to dry. It can make even the oldest shoes smell like new!

11.) Cleaner Glasses, Better Vision

Rubbing alcohol is one of the best ways to clean a pair of eyeglasses. Because they’re handled so frequently, eyeglasses also pick up a lot of harmful germs. A microfiber cloth and some rubbing alcohol is one of the best ways to disinfect and clear lenses.

Cleaning with Rubbing Alcohol: More Helpful Tips!

If you liked the surprising uses of rubbing alcohol above, then you’ll love these tips in the video below from ‘Clean My Space’ girl!

Please SHARE these uses for rubbing alcohol with your friends!