The Creek Line House

10 Almost Life-Changing Uses for Rubbing Alcohol

by 66 Comments

Tweet
Pin456
Share55
511 Shares

Rubbing Alcohol has many uses around the house.  Here are 10 amazing uses for rubbing alcohol to help make your life easier.
Who knew there were so many ways to use rubbing alcohol? Everyone should pick up a cheap little bottle of this stuff if they don't already have it in the house!

If you’ve been reading my blog for any amount of time at all, you’ve probably seen me mention my love of using rubbing alcohol around the house. It’s good for so many things! I seem to learn a new way to make my life easier and cleaner with rubbing alcohol almost every week, I swear. So if you haven’t tried it out yet, you’ve got to! Go pick yourself up a bottle for a buck or less and then check out this quick list of some of my favorite uses to get you started.

Uses for Rubbing Alcohol - Cleaning Greasy Kitchens

First of all, it is THE BEST cleaner for kitchen grease. It cuts through anything!

 

Uses for Rubbing Alcohol - Clean Permanent Marker

You can use it to clean permanent marker off of almost anything! Not so permanent now, are ya marker?

Uses for Rubbing Alcohol - Cleaning Before Painting

It’s great to use for cleaning before spray painting because it evaporates almost instantly and lets your get to work quicker! Here you can see that I used it before spray painting my vent covers a couple of years ago.

 

Uses for Rubbing Alcohol - Clean Paint Spills

Dried-on paint spills aren’t the end of the world if you’ve got rubbing alcohol nearby! And you don’t even have to get out a scraper!

Uses for Rubbing Alcohol - Cleaning the Sink

I love to use it as a final step when I’m cleaning my sink or my stove to leave everything super shiny AND disinfected too!

So Many Great Uses

One of the most common uses for rubbing alcohol around the house is to use it to clean phones, remote controls, and other electronics that get used daily and can really get a build-up of grime and germs.

If you’ve got fruit flies, spray them with a little rubbing alcohol! It will knock them out so you can wipe them away or vacuum them up!

If you’re wearing a favorite white shirt, you can prevent that pesky “ring around the collar” by wiping your neck with rubbing alcohol. It will make it super clean and it acts as a mild antiperspirant.

 

Uses for Rubbing Alcohol - Cleaning Microfiber Furniture

I’ve shared with you before that I have an easier way of cleaning microfiber furniture, but that won’t work with all styles, so in a pinch, rubbing alcohol does a great job! Since it evaporates quicker than water, you won’t be left with those ugly water spots on your favorite chair!

Rubbing alcohol is also one of the best and cheapest ways to clean all your mirrors and glass around the house. It does a really great job!

See? I told you! It’s good stuff! And so cheap! You can pick up a bottle for yourself at any big box kind of store that has a health and beauty department, a drug store, even a dollar store, or here.

Do you have a favorite use for rubbing alcohol around the house that I didn’t mention here? Let me know! I’d LOVE to try it out!

 

MORE LIKE THIS:

This post contain affiliate links.

Tweet
Pin456
Share55
511 Shares

Comments

  2. Jane says

    Wipe rubbing alcohol inside tennis shoes and let them dry. It helps remove nasty foot odor from inside of the shoes.

    Reply

  3. Rhoda Edwards says

    This is good to know as I have a bottle of rubbing alcohol in my kitchen cupboard for months now just doing nothing. I finally found some good uses for it. Thank you.

    Reply

    • Courtenay says

      Yay! That makes me happy, Rhoda! You’ll be using it every day from now on once you see how well it works!

      Reply

  5. chris aka monkey says

    another great post, using stuff we have had for generations..new isn’t always better thanks xx

    Reply

  6. Erin says

    I thought I was the only one… it is the first thing I reach for when I have a spot or something to clean. Next on the list is Goo Gone! 🙂

    Reply

    • Courtenay says

      Thanks, Lori! That’s good to know! My new granite countertops for the master bathroom project are being installed in a couple of weeks!

      Reply

      • Almetra Briggs says

        I would check with the granite company. I worked in the design industry for several years and one thing we learned for certain is alcohol and vinegar are enemies to granite.

        Reply

        • Shannon says

          I’d love to hear the response on using alcohol to clean granite. I knew vinegar was bad but I thought alcohol was ok. I don’t want to ruin the finish!

          Reply

  9. Melissa says

    A girl after my own heart! I’ve used rubbing alcohol to clean for ages. I use it in my dishwasher in place of rinse agent. I also use it to clean my counters, stove, kitchen sink and bathrooms too. Oh and to wash windows & mirrors.

    I did want to caution anyone that it will soften paint so be careful if you don’t want to remove the paint from something and it can discolor/bleach some fabrics.

    Reply

    • Bbot Simms says

      Try using 90% alcohol on your auto windshield glass, rub in and buff with a microfiber cloth. Repels rain just like rain x. About 20% of the cost

      Reply

  12. Jean | DelightfulRepast.com says

    Great tips! But whatever you do, do NOT spill any on your leather shoes. I ruined a favorite, and new, pair right before a trip I got them for. Took them to a shoe repair shop and had them dyed, but the dye job was nothing like the original.

    Reply

    • Courtenay says

      Good to know! I guess it makes sense that it would take the dye out of leather shoes since it does such a good job of cleaning permanent marker and paint. Thanks for sharing your words of caution with us, Jean!

      Reply

      • Jutta says

        I actually have a small spray bottle of rubbing alcohol that I use to spray on leather shoes that are too tight. Have been doing this for years with no harm to the shoes and it helps shoes give a bit!

        Jutta

        Reply

  13. Vickie says

    I have always used it to stretch my boots when they are a bit snug! Never had a problem with the dye being messed up! I Soak the tight area with alcohol as i am wearing them and have my foot lifted over the toilet so It drips in there. I wear them as it dries and it works for me!

    Reply

  14. Theresa says

    I use alcohol on a cotton ball to kill aphids on my plants. They got all over my orchids a week or so ago. iIcleaned the top and bottom of each leaf very thoroughly and haven’t seen one since. Of course, it’s a messy job, but the beautiful blooms that you will have are a wonderful Thank You from your plants!

    Reply

  15. Linda White says

    Pour on stain spots on carpet then blot up the stain with white cloth or paper towel repeat til gone. Dries faster than other methods!

    Reply

  16. monica Ganzini says

    I use alcohol to remove tree sap from my car. It doesn’t eat the finish like goo gone does. You just have to wash it off with soap and water to remove any white residue.

    Reply

  17. Debbie says

    Put rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle with a few drops of orange oil. It’s great for de-greasing oven tops etc plus it leaves it lovely and shiny

    Reply

  18. Devan says

    Good article, I used to read you a lot more but the popups and ads on every. single. photo. throughout the blog are super annoying and distracting.

    Reply

    • Courtenay says

      Thanks so much for stopping by and saying Hi, Devan, and thanks for the feedback! The ad industry is always changing constantly and that’s just what they want right now! I’ll check in with my ad manager and see what we can do about them. I’m not seeing those ads as much lately though, so it could be that those are on their way out already!

      Reply

      • Beverly says

        I see NO ads. I am no techie but I must have an ad blocker.

        I need help getting the bottles and vases I root leaves in. I am cleaning and starting new rootings but the containers I use did not clean with a wire brush, with vinegar, or with alcohol. Any suggestions? I have used rice and vinegar in stem vases and shook it and the rice acted as the scrub brush but this stuff adheres very stubbornly especially at the top rim of each vase. I love propagating plants for free by rooting as many as I can. WHen I just use jars, I can just throw in recycle bin but these are pretty cut glass stemmed glasses and vases. I love your site. I have taken pages of notes as I forget things too easily.

        Reply

  19. Mary says

    I also have an infatuation with rubbing alcohol! I use it to spot clean my carpets and rugs. Works great! Just be sure to test for color-fastness first! (Trust me…)

    Reply

  20. Terry says

    Add rubbing alcohol to gel hand sanitizers to stretch their use; you can almost double the amount, and it re-gels/thickens. Just add and shake!

    Reply

  21. Sue Hansen says

    I have been using a dab of rubbing alcohol on a folded paper towel for over 5 years now to clean the outside of books, as well as all surfaces of children’s board books. You just “stand” the book up to dry all of its pages. It can dull some of the colors, but I like to know that the books my kids are reading are cleaner and germ free. 🙂 Especially ones you get from garage sales or Little Free Libraries. Hope my tip helps someone out!

    Reply

  22. JB says

    If you use wintergreen rubbing alcohol, it leaves a nice fresh scent. I use it to wipe down my bathroom counters, sinks, trash cans, toilet flush handles, seats, the rim and outside of the toilets daily, then toss the used paper towels in the trash cans to add to the lingering scent. I also use alcohol to wipe all of our door knobs and light switches often, but even daily when one of us is sick. I love the wintergreen scent for all over the house

    Reply

  23. Brooks says

    My favorite use for rubbing alcohol is for deodorant. It is the best that I have used and does not cause a rash like so many others.

    Reply

    • Courtenay says

      I never thought of that but it totally makes sense! It would really do a good job of sanitizing that whole area so I’m sure that makes a big difference. Thanks for sharing your idea!

      Reply

  24. Joy Ferguson says

    Thanks for sharing all your great ideas. Another great uses is….as a ‘sticky stuff’ remover, used it many times to get rid of the residue that stickers and labels leave behind e.g. On the bottom of a new pair of shoes after removing the price tag or on children’s books when the decided to ‘decorate’ them with pretty stickers! Just dab on and rub the sticky away 🙂

    Reply

  25. Edie says

    I make my own window/everything cleaner by adding a little dawn reg. Dish detergent, water and alcohol. Absolutely everything sparkles. It is great stuff.

    Reply

  26. Ronnie says

    Read the comments and I have one more to add…. Mix rubbing alcohol with equal parts water in quart ziploc bag remove as much air as possible, ziploc the bag and put in another ziploc seal and freeze… Does not freeze solid and is a great ice pack… Cheaper than a bag of peas and you just refreeze for the next time!

    Reply

  27. Rhoda Edwards says

    Hi there, thank you for this really super post.I have some rubbing alcohol and wasn’t sure what to do with it other than using for stings and such like. Now I know what to do with the remainder. Many blessings!

    Reply

  28. Susan says

    I’ve been using rubbing alcohol for years. Hand sanitizer also has some great uses as well. On some things you’ve mentioned hand sanitizer can be used in it’s place. The only thing I never used it on was a laminate finish as it dulls the finish.

    Reply

  29. Lee says

    I pour some alcohol in a plastic baby wipes container and use the wipes to clean and shine bathroom sinks and faucets and counters. Disinfects, cleans, shines.

    Reply

  30. ed de la cruz says

    i have been a car detailer for 27 years & i take a spray bottle of 1 3rd water,alcohol & vinegar best window cleaner there is

    Reply

    • terdralyn says

      I’ve used this too, in my windshield washer, and my windows were never cleaner nor clearer, and it doesn’t freeze.

      Reply

  31. Kathy says

    My stainless steel sink is discolored from me cleaning something with lime away, does anyone know how to get the discoloration out?

    Reply

  32. Suzanne Brodie says

    This little bottle of magic is over $10 in Australia. That equates to about $13 or $14 American. Can’t believe it is only $1.00 over there!

    Reply

  33. Shannon says

    I love this list! I am always looking for new ways to clean things, some great ideas in here. I will use the permanent marker trick for sure! Looking forward to using it on my sink tonight to help it shine instead of water spots. Thanks so much for sharing your tricks!

    Reply

  34. Karen Tokarse says

    One of the BEST uses for rubbing alcohol is to clean windshields on the car. Cleans bug juice, road oil film, etc. The cleanest my windshield has ever looked.

    Reply

    • Bbot Simms says

      Try using 90% alcohol on your auto windshield glass, rub in and buff with a microfiber cloth. Repels rain just like rain x. About 20% of the cost

      Reply

  35. Dayle Thornton says

    Use the 91 % alcohol to clean smartphone screens, LCD or Plasma /Screens, Computer or Tablet or Laptop screens. Take a microfiber cloth, dampen it in the alcohol, and gently rib from right to left and then up to down (of course these can be reversed). Check with the manufacturer online to insure that the particular device your are to clean is not among the very few that may be damaged by alcohol. After cleaning with the alcohol, turn to a dry microfiber and repeat the process. The 91% alcohol dries very quickly and is not likely to cause damage to sensitive electronics. The dry follow up process, helps to remove any remaining streaking that may be present If serious streaking, reapply the alcohol rub. Some manufacturers may use a plastic or other material that can be damaged by 91% alcohol, so check online with the manufacturer to insure that the device you want to clean is not among that very small group. Or test a hidden area. I have never encountered this issue in 15 years.
    91% alcohol can be used as a disinfectant, also. But it DOES sting on cuts. 70% alcohol can be more effective for bacterial disinfecting due to the increased water in the solution penetrating the walls of the bacteria cells slightly better.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. […] 10 Life Changing Uses For Rubbing Alcohol […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

511 Shares
Tweet
Pin456
Share55