Just about everyone has a bottle of rubbing alcohol in the medicine cabinet. You need it for its antiseptic properties, but you can use it lots of other ways. It’s time to put that bottle to work. Here are 10 handy household uses for rubbing alcohol.
Remove Permanent Marker
Permanent marker isn’t as permanent as the name suggests. Use rubbing alcohol to remove it from hard surfaces such as countertops, plastic, and a myriad of other places. Just dab it on the spot and wipe clean. This is a great tip to keep in mind when you come across a yard sale find that someone has put their name on.
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Make Your Own Ice Packs
Save some money by making your own ice packs. All you need is rubbing alcohol and water.
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Clean Mirrors
Bathroom mirrors have a way of collecting a buildup of hairspray and splashes of toothpaste. Just spray the mirror with rubbing alcohol and wipe it clean. It’ll take off all the gunk and leave you with a streak-free shine. You can also use rubbing alcohol to remove hairspray from your bathroom sink, floor, hairbrushes, and any other styling tools.
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Remove Water Spots and Fingerprints
Rid faucets and stainless steel sinks of water spots by wiping them down with rubbing alcohol. If you have stainless steel appliances, you can also use it to remove fingerprints and smudges.
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Keep Car Windows Frost-Free
Scraping frost off your windshield is one of the biggest irritants of winter in a cold climate. Rubbing alcohol can keep the frost away. Just mix one part rubbing alcohol together with eight parts water and apply the solution to your car windows to prevent frost from forming on them. To maintain effectiveness, repeat the process each time you wash your car and after heavy rainstorms.
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Remove Grime
Wipe cellphones, computer keyboards, and other high-use gadgets down with a rag that’s been lightly moistened with rubbing alcohol to remove all that built-up dirt and grime from the keys and to keep germs to a minimum.
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Degrease Your Kitchen
Tackle that grease buildup on your stove, countertops, and cabinets by wiping them down with a sponge or rag that’s been soaked in rubbing alcohol. It’s quick, easy, and effective.
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