Rubbing alcohol, or Isopropyl alcohol is cheap and makes a brilliant disinfectant. It kills up to 99.9% of germs in a game-changing 10 seconds, so it’s an ideal choice for all kinds of household cleaning.
Because it’s less well-known as a cleaning product, however, it’s hard to know what exactly to use it for. With that in mind, we’ve put together this list of some of our favorite jobs around the house that rubbing alcohol is perfect for.
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To make sure you get the best kind of alcohol for cleaning and disinfecting, choose a formula that is comprised of at least 70% isopropyl alcohol. A weaker percentage will be less effective at killing bacteria.
Here are 12 uses for rubbing alcohol around your home – we guarantee they’ll change the way you clean.
The only other things you will need to clean are a good quality spray bottle so that the hydrogen peroxide doesn’t evaporate, and (a few) microfiber cleaning cloths.
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RELATED: How To Make A Cheap Hand Sanitiser With Ingredients You Already Have At Home
- Disinfect your cleaning cloths and sponges
You can’t clean with a dirty, smelly sponge. Soak your washcloths and sponges in rubbing alcohol for a minute or two – they will be good as new! - Banish Limescale
No need for expensive sprays. Your freshly disinfected cloth and a few dabs of alcohol will have your stainless steel sparkling again. Isopropyl is particularly effective on your kitchen sink dish drainer. - Make a Cheap and Effective Hand Sanitizer
If you’re struggling to find sanitizer at your local drug store, you can easily DIY your own hand sanitizer at home by combining rubbing alcohol with aloe vera gel. If you want to learn how to quickly and easily make your own hand sanitizer, read our article here. - Clean your phone
Our phones go everywhere with us, which unfortunately means they can be covered in all kinds of nasty bacteria. Put some rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and lightly mist over a piece of clean kitchen towel or a microfiber cloth. Rub all over your device to clean and disinfect it. Make sure to spray the cloth and not the device but don’t worry if you put on a bit too much, the alcohol evaporates almost instantly. - Save your favorite makeup brush
Before you throw away your best makeup brushes, pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol in a jar, and dip the brush ends in. It will disinfect, remove gunk, and renew the brush. And speaking of makeup application… - Get streak-free mirrors
Ever tried to apply cosmetics while looking into a dirty mirror? Lightly spray alcohol onto any mirrored surface and follow with some light rubbing with a paper towel or microfiber cloth to give you a crystal clear reflection. Just remember to use smooth circular motions while rubbing to keep it streak-free. - Just like new beauty tools
Fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and use it to clean and disinfect beauty tools such as metal nail files, trimmers, and tweezers.
