14 Surprising Ways To Use Rubbing Alcohol

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You probably already know that rubbing alcohol is one of the most widely used disinfectants.
However, you may not know that rubbing alcohol is useful in many different situations, most of which have nothing to do with the medical field.
These rubbing alcohol tricks will save you money and come in handy in a pinch, so read on to discover them.

1. Removes Stickers

source: Richard Barraclough’s Web Pages

If you have a sticker or label that won’t come off, soak the area in alcohol. After a few minutes the sticker should peel off easily.

2. Disinfects Makeup Brushes

source: Ricky’s Beauty Guide / One Creative Housewife

Dirty makeup brushes can cause rashes and skin irritations. Dip brushes in alcohol and let them air dry so they are clean and ready to use.

3. Removes Hairspray

source: Mane Addicts / iStock

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.

4. Melts Frosted Windshields

source: Budget Glass / Deposit photos

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.

5. Cleans Cellphones

source: Tech Advisor / MacWorld

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.

6. Removes Ticks
source: PestWiki / Shutterstock

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.

7. Cleans Chrome Hardware

source: Supply Knowledge Center

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.

8. Removes Ink Stains
source: Cooking in Plain Greek 

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.

9. Cleans Plastic/Silk Plant
source: Wonderopolis / iStock

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.

10. Cleans Stainless Steel
source: Clean and Scentsible

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.

11. Removes Grease Stains From Carpet

source: Fit My Car

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.

12. Removes Strong Odors From Skin

source: Reacho / iStock

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.

13. Nail Polish Remover

source: HBFIT

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.

14. Stops The Itch
source: Thrombocytes

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!