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15 Alternative Uses for Rubbing Alcohol

The majority of us probably have rubbing alcohol in our bathroom medicine cabinets. But that same bottle has probably been sitting there for months, if not years, gathering dust and only being used on the odd occasion to disinfect a cut or cool the heat from a fever. However, rubbing alcohol has so many surprising uses, and since it's relatively inexpensive, you should start taking advantage of them. Below you can find 15 great uses for rubbing alcohol.
 
15 Alternative Uses for Rubbing Alcohol

1. A Homemade Icepack
An ice pack is great to have around. It can help relieve pain, swelling, and inflammation from injuries and conditions, such as arthritis. An ice pack can be made easily by combining one part of rubbing alcohol with two parts of water in a freezer bag. The rubbing alcohol prevents the bag from freezing into a complete block of ice.

2. Stain Remover
Rubbing alcohol makes an excellent stain remover, when combined with water. It's effective on everything from coffee and wine stains to ink. So, leave that pricey stain remover on the grocery store shelf, and turn to rubbing alcohol instead. To make, simply add one part rubbing alcohol and two parts water to a spray bottle. When needed, spray the mixture on a stain, allow it to sit for a couple of minutes, and then throw into the wash as normal.

3. Dissolve Frost on Your Windshield
One of the most annoying things about an icy cold morning is having to make the effort to scrape the frost off the windshield of your car. You can save yourself all this hassle in the morning by just filling up a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and spraying it onto the windshield.

4. Remove Ticks
15 Alternative Uses for Rubbing Alcohol

Ticks are not only annoying, but they can also spread dangerous diseases to both humans and animals. Fortunately for us, they hate alcohol which means that rubbing alcohol can help in the process of removing one from your body. To do so, douse a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and then gently rub it on the area the tick is on. Immediately afterward, remove the tick using a pair of tweezers and spray the wounded area with rubbing alcohol to disinfect it.

5. A Nail Polish Remover Substitute
If you run out of nail polish remover, you can use rubbing alcohol instead. It will take a little more rubbing, but it will work. Just douse a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and rub it on the nail polish until it's gone.

6. Polishing Your Shoes
While rubbing alcohol can help polish your shoes, it doesn't do the trick alone. Instead, you will need a regular shoe polisher, but before using it, rub your shoes with rubbing alcohol and the polish will go on much smoother, making your shoes look shiny and new.

 

7. Remove Stickers
We all know how difficult it can be to remove a sticker from something like a picture frame or glass. It sometimes takes an age to get off and, when you finally manage, it leaves a sticky residue behind. Thankfully, rubbing alcohol makes the process a whole lot easier. Simply pour some rubbing alcohol on the sticker and let it sit for 10 minutes. As rubbing alcohol is a dissolvent, the sticker will peel off with ease.

8. Clean the Surface of Your Electronics
Electronics such as computer, laptops, and cell phones, are a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. Therefore, disinfecting them regularly is a must. And rubbing alcohol is one of the best things you can use. Simply dab some on a cotton ball and use it to clean the surface of your phone, mouse, and keyboard.

9. Get Rid of That Garlic Smell
15 Alternative Uses for Rubbing Alcohol

When you're making a dish that uses garlic, you're inevitably going to get the smell of garlic on your hands, and washing it off with soap and water usually doesn't fully get rid of the odor. Instead, pour rubbing alcohol onto your hands and work it in really well. Afterwards, wash your hands as usual, with warm water and soap.

10. Use it as a De-Greaser
Rubbing alcohol is also a cheap and effective de-greaser. All you need to do is pour some onto a clean rag and wipe down the stove. Not only is it cheaper than products designed to do the same thing, it arguably works better. You don't even have to rinse, as the rubbing alcohol dries almost immediately after you're done.

11. Clean Bathroom Fixtures
Just like with your kitchen appliances, you can also use rubbing alcohol to clean chrome bathroom fixtures. Just simply pour some rubbing alcohol onto a soft, absorbent cloth and rub it across the fixtures. Your chrome will not only sparkle, but the alcohol kills germs as well.

12. Emergency Deodorant
If you find yourself without deodorant, turn to rubbing alcohol and essential oil instead. Add some rubbing alcohol to a fine-mist spray bottle and then add 15 drops of essential oil. Lavender is ideal. Spray your armpits as you would with any other deodorant, but make sure to avoid applying it after shaving, as it will sting.

13. Cleaning Garden Tools
15 Alternative Uses for Rubbing Alcohol

If you've been using garden tools to remove rotting, diseased, or dead plants, it's important to disinfect those tools or harmful bacteria will remain on them and get transferred to healthy plants. While there are sanitizers on the market which were made for this purpose, they cost more, and you're more likely to have rubbing alcohol on hand anyway.

To disinfect your tools, clean them using soap and water first, and then allow each tool to soak in rubbing alcohol for a minute or two. After they have soaked, wipe them down with a clean rag and leave to dry.

14. Fix Broken Eye Shadow
Cosmetics are expensive, and eyeshadows tend to crack and break easily. Usually, when this happens, you've got to throw it out and buy a new one. Don't do that next time. Instead, fill up a spray bottle with some rubbing alcohol and then spray a little onto the eyeshadow. Use a spoon or your fingers to smooth it out. Allow it to completely harden for several hours, and then it will be just like new.

15. Take Hairspray off Mirrors
When using hairspray, it is inevitable that some will end up on the mirror. While you might think you need glass cleaner to remove it, all you actually need to do is wipe it down with some rubbing alcohol to take away the sticky residue.

 

Source: naturallivingideas

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