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7 Important and Surprising Uses for Hand Sanitizer

Hand sanitizer has become a staple product in most households in the past year, and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere soon. We all know this gel is handy at germy situations, hospitals, medical clinics, and doctors' offices, and of course, in preventing the spread of Covid-19 as much as possible. But did you know that hand sanitizer could be very useful in various other tasks, other than keeping germs away from your hands? Here are seven surprising reasons to keep hand sanitizer around, pandemic or not. 
 

1. Use it as deodorantSurprising Uses for Hand Sanitizer, armpit

The human armpit provides the perfect conditions for bacteria - It's warm, usually dark, and damp. When certain kinds of bacteria encounter sweat, they start to produce smelly compounds, which is exactly what transforms the armpit from a neutral space to the biggest culprit of body odor. So if bacteria equals smell, it makes perfect sense that hand sanitizer could come in handy in cases where you find yourself stuck without deodorant, for example. Just rub a small amount under each arm, and you’ll be smelling fresh all day. 

2. Polish silverSurprising Uses for Hand Sanitizer, silverware

If your silver has some extra stubborn stains, hand sanitizer could be the solution you were looking for. Just grab a soft cloth, squirt a few drops of sanitizer on it and rub away. Finally, rinse with warm water. Many cleaning experts swear by hand sanitizer for the most persistent tarnishes and the oldest silverware.

Related: These 3 Mistakes Can Render Hand Sanitizer Ineffective

3. Remove ink stains from clothingSurprising Uses for Hand Sanitizer, laundry

Sometimes kids extend their drawing canvas to their clothes, but it can accidentally happen to adults too. If you’re dealing with an ink stain, hand sanitizer could really come in handy. To remove the stain, apply hand sanitizer liberally on it. Then grab an old toothbrush and scrub the stain for a minute or two to help work the solvent into the fibers of the fabric.

After scrubbing, toss the item in the washing machine and launder as usual. If the stain isn’t entirely gone, repeat the process and wash again; don’t dry the item until you’re satisfied that the ink stain is completely gone! This method works for cotton, carpets, denim jeans, and more.

Related: How to Make Hand Sanitizer at Home

4. Remove permanent marker from a whiteboardSurprising Uses for Hand Sanitizer, whiteboard

If you or your kids accidentally used a permanent sharpie on a whiteboard, hand sanitizer is an easy remedy for that too. First, write over the permanent marker with a dry erase pen, and then wipe it all off using hand sanitizer. You may need to repeat this a few times to remove all traces. 

5. Remove bandages painlesslySurprising Uses for Hand Sanitizer, bandage

Ripping off an adhesive bandage is never pleasant. To peel it off painlessly, rub some hand sanitizer over the sticky ends to release the adhesive. Wait for about a minute, and then gently remove the strip.

6. Clean your keyboard and mouseSurprising Uses for Hand Sanitizer, keyboard and mouse

Even if it doesn’t look like it, the keyboard and mouse are some of the dirtiest surfaces in your home. After all, we constantly touch them, often without minding what our hands were doing before, not to mention many people tend to eat at their computers. Cleaning the mouse and keyboard more often would definitely be advisable. 

Besides making sure your hands are clean before you sit down at your computer, you can apply a small amount of hand sanitizer on the mouse and keyboard, using a microfiber cloth or a tissue, and wait until it dries. If you use a touchpad, give it the same treatment—just always remember to shut everything down first.

7. Eliminate fingerprints on stainless steelSurprising Uses for Hand Sanitizer, stainless steel kettle

Stainless steel appliances can look very clean and classy, but this look is also very easy to ruin with fingertip marks. If this is a problem you face occasionally, you don’t have to buy a special stainless steel cleaner. A bit of hand sanitizer on a cloth will remove fingerprints, spattered oil, and other grease marks.

Share these tips with family and friends!

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