Many uses of Rubbing Alcohol

Humbly-disguised in boring, unattractive packaging, the numerous alternative uses of rubbing alcohol are easy to miss. Sure, it'll ease a sore muscle and cool a fever, but did you know it can also be used to create a nifty ice pack? With several uses, rubbing alcohol is an inexpensive, drugstore wallflower worth a second look. As a mat...ter of fact, those adorable sweet smelling, fast drying, hand sanitizing gels that pay top dollar for, contain large amounts of alcohol! That's because rubbing alcohol is a potent germ fighter!
Priced to sell between $1.99 (CVS for 70% Isopropyl) and $3.95 for (90% Isopropyl at Amazon.com) a 16-ounce bottle is generally recommended for use in "decreasing germs in minor cuts and scrapes ... and relieving minor muscular aches due to over exertion." But don't stop there.

Mirror Mirror
The ThriftyFun website suggests using rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth or paper towel to clean old mirrors that have developed a patina or stubborn spots and streaks. The site also notes the same treatment can be given to bathroom mirrors, faucets and counters. "It eliminates germs on many surfaces and cleans them for little cost," enthuses the site.
Does your bathroom mirror attract sticky messes from hair spray and toothpaste? Mine does! It seems not long after I wipe my mirrors clean with Windex a new sticky spot appears. Well, just use some magical rubbing alcohol! Well, actually your regular bottle is the magical potion, but you get the point. If you have a spray bottle, fill it up with some alcohol so as soon as a splat appears on your mirror, its just a spritz and wipe away! Just spritz the sticky mirror mess and wipe a few seconds later. You may need to repeat the step for stubborn toothpaste, but it definitely does the trick!
Rubbing alcohol is 70 percent isopropyl alcohol and 30 percent water, and is safe for contact with the skin. It has a number of general medicinal and household uses. This list of ideas makes having a bottle of rubbing alcohol in the house a good idea

Disinfectant
Be aware, however, that although rubbing alcohol does disinfect skin, it doesn't promise to sterilize all surfaces. Designated as "the gold standard against which all other skin disinfectants should be measured," by the World Health Organization, it earns an "intermediate level disinfectant" classification by the APIC (Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology) because it won't sterilize surgical instruments (when used alone) or kill hydrophilic viruses (as opposed to the more common and easily-sterilized lipophilic viruses, but you already knew that!).
Consider it a friendly warning for do-it-yourselfers looking to practice at-home surgeries. However, if you're at a point where you need to perform your own operations, you've got bigger fish to fry than finding multiple uses for rubbing alcohol, but I digress.

Clean bathroom fixtures
Just reach into the medicine cabinet the next time you need to clean chrome bathroom fixtures. Pour some rubbing alcohol straight from the bottle onto a soft, absorbent cloth and the fixtures. No need to rinse -- the alcohol just evaporates. It does a great job of making chrome sparkle, plus it will kill any germs in its path.

Minimize reactions to earrings
If you take a bit of rubbing alcohol and apply it to the post of your earrings, then it will help the earring insert far more smoothly. Also, take some rubbing alcohol on a tissue and rub it around your ear.

Remove Stickiness
Have you ever bought a picture frame only to find that the price sticker won't come off? I mean you tried everything and the residue is still sitting right dab smack on the glass of your new frame. Soak a cotton ball in some plain rubbing alcohol and place the soaked cotton ball on the sticker. The trick is to let it sit for a minute or so until the alcohol has penetrated the sticker and sticky residue. Then rub the cotton ball over the sticker and watch it all just wipe away!

Remove wax from carpet
If you had a beeswax candle that spilled on your carpet, you can use rubbing alcohol to help remove the wax. Start by pulling the largest clumps of beeswax from the carpet. Once removed, you can dab the carpet with a paper towel soaked with rubbing alcohol to remove the remnants.

Helps with mosquito bites
Rubbing alcohol can actually help with mosquito bites a lot better than store-bought remedies. Just rub it on the bites and it will dry them out bringing quick relief.

Dry Erase Board Build-Up
The super solution easily removes build up from dry erase boards, and can be swiped over dirty computer keyboards, cell phones and MP3 players. The surfaces will be cleaner and home to fewer germs. A good thing.

Natural De-Greaser
Reported to moonlight as a cheap and easy de-greaser, I poured some onto a cloth and wiped down my stove, vent and teapot. It worked great, and cost much less than products marketed to do the same thing. Several websites suggest wiping down all kitchen appliances including chrome to clean and shine. One notes, there is no need to rinse afterwards because the rubbing alcohol dries almost immediately. This technique also scores points for reducing the number of chemicals sprayed around the kitchen and bathroom, similar to using baking soda or vinegar as previously discussed in a WalletPop article entitled, Toothpaste to polish silver? One mom cleans green and finds big savings.
Handy rubbing alcohol ice packs can be made by combining one part rubbing alcohol with two parts water in a zip lock freezer bag. Voila! The rubbing alcohol prevents the bag from freezing solid. Ready for emergencies or maybe just the morning after the big office party. Good to be prepared!

Health and Beauty
Helping out in the beauty and fashion department, rubbing alcohol can substitute for nail polish remover and clean the backs of pierced earrings as well. In a pinch, you can use rubbing alcohol instead of deodorant. Melissa Howard writes on eHow that by adding 15 drops of essential oil to a fine-mist spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol you will have an instant grooming staple. She cautions to avoid applying immediately after shaving the arm pits.

No More Ring Around the Collar
Reader's Digest also suggests eliminating ring around the collar by swiping your neck with a little rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball or cloth. They claim it's refreshing, but be warned it's also drying to the skin. Don't over-do this one.

Medical Marvels
eHow notes, however, in the case of mosquito bites and cold sores, dabbing a little rubbing alcohol onto affected areas will dry out the areas (in a good way!), relieve itchiness and reduce the cold sore.

Candle Cleaner
But wait, there's more. You know those candles that haven't been lit since last holiday season and might have accumulated just the teensiest bit of dust and grime? Dampen a cleaning rag with rubbing alcohol and swipe away the dust -before you light them! Like new. This tip gets two thumbs way up.

Fire Starter
Speaking of fire, be sure to keep your rubbing alcohol away from heat and flame since it is extremely flammable. Unless of course, you're trying to start a fire -- which I don't recommend as there are far safer methods available.

Stain Removal
Getting back to tips I do recommend, rubbing alcohol can be used to blot away fresh ink stains on carpet or clothing. For tougher stains, soak the spot in rubbing alcohol for several minutes, then wash.

Frost Free
This winter, several sites, including Reader's Digest, suggest keeping windows frost free by washing them with a solution of one quart water and a half-cup of rubbing alcohol. Could be worth a try on car windows especially. In fact, simply pouring rubbing alcohol onto frosted car windows will dissolve it immediately. Another item to put in the trunk.

Fight Fruit Flies
The next time you see fruit flies hovering in the kitchen, get out a fine-misting spray bottle and fill it with rubbing alcohol. Spraying the little flies knocks them out and makes them fall to the floor, where you can sweep them up. The alcohol is less effective than insecticide, but it's a lot safer than spraying poison around your kitchen.

In The Garden
Lauren Wise advises on the Garden Guides website that rubbing alcohol can also be used to clean garden tools that have been used to remove dead, diseased and rotting plants. "Gardeners don't always consider the fact that this harmful bacteria will be transferred to their garden tools and needs to be removed so it doesn't transfer to healthy plants .... there are many sanitizers that you can use to do this, but rubbing alcohol is something almost everyone has around." Wise advises cleaning off the tools with soap and water and then letting each tool soak individually in rubbing alcohol for about a minute. Wipe the tools with a clean rag that has also been soaked in rubbing alcohol. The tools should dry quickly.

Sanitizing
You have seen those commercials where the woman wipes down her phone with a Clorox wipe or sprays it down with some Lysol, right? Well, I have a cheaper, even more effective sanitizer for that phone; yup! Good 'ol Rubbing Alcohol will do the trick! You can just wet a paper towel or cotton ball with full strength rubbing alcohol and wipe the phone down. It's fast drying and works great to kill germs and rid your phone of grime. Use it on door knobs too!

Clean a Skipping CD or DVD
When finger prints grace the backside of your DVD's and CD's they are likely to skip and not perform well. A neat, very inexpensive trick is to spritz the CD or DVD with some alcohol and wipe with a clean, lint free cloth. The finger prints will literally dissolve when the alcohol hits it!
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Clean venetian blinds
Rubbing alcohol does a terrific job of cleaning the slats of venetian blinds. To make quick work of the job, wrap a flat tool -- a spatula or maybe a 6-inch (15-centimeter) drywall knife -- in cloth and secure with a rubber band. Dip in alcohol and go to work.

Keep windows sparkling and frost-free
Do your windows frost up due to the aircon? Wash them with a solution of 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol to 1 quart (1 liter) water to prevent the frost. Polish the windows with newspaper after you wash them to make them shine.

Clean your phone , laptop and keyboard
Is your phone getting a bit grubby? Wipe it down with rubbing alcohol. It'll remove the grime and disinfect at the same time. One of the advantages of rubbing alcohol is that it evaporates so quickly once you apply it to something

Remove ink stains
Did you get ink on your favorite shirt or dress? Try soaking the spot in rubbing alcohol for a few minutes before putting the garment in the wash.

Erase permanent markers
Did Junior decide to decorate your countertop with a permanent marker? Don't worry, most countertops are made of a nonpermeable material such as plastic laminate or marble. Rubbing alcohol will dissolve the marker back to a liquid state so you can wipe it right off.

Remove dog ticks
Ticks hate the taste of rubbing alcohol as much as they love the taste of your dog. Before you pull a tick off Fido, dab the critter with rubbing alcohol to make it loosen its grip. Then grab the tick as close to the dog's skin as you can and pull it straight out. Dab again with alcohol to disinfect the wound. This works on people too.

Freshen and Stretch tight-fitting new shoes
This doesn't always work, but it sure is worth a try: If your new leather shoes are pinching your feet, try swabbing the tight spot with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol. Walk around in the shoes for a few minutes to see if they stretch enough to be comfortable. If not, the next step is to take them back to the shoe store. Also, sprite them to freshen and get rid of odors.

Not A Cocktail
Whatever you do, don't drink it. Although there is alcohol in the name, rubbing alcohols are mixed with poison (often Methanol) and bitter-tasting additives to prevent human consumption -- and avoid the taxes and fees of a party beverage. As such, it is considered a "denatured" alcoholic product. In fact, it can cause death or permanent injury (think: coma, blindness, seizures, vomiting, confusion, slow breathing, pale or bluish skin) if consumed, which is sobering indeed.
You can also use alcohol to make an emergency heater for your car or bug out bag...

How to Make a Survival Heater for Your Car
Homemade Canned Heat
Your car survival kit should contain a means to heat your vehicle if you become stranded.
During winter months in the higher latitudes, even on highways near large cities, you and your car can become snowbound for several days with no outside help. Even in warmer locations and during the summer months being able to heat your car during an emergency can mean the difference between survival and not making it.
Do not rely solely on running the engine of you car for heat. Your car may be somehow disabled and not in running condition. You may run out of gas or need all the gas you do have for travel once you are able to move out again. And importantly, running your engine while sitting in the car may expose you to increased levels of carbon monoxide.
Here is how you can make a survival heater for a car that does not require you to use up the gasoline in the tank or expose you to carbon monoxide gas -

How to Make a Car Survival Heater
What you will need:
A roll of unscented toilet paper.
A half dozen bottles of unscented 70 to 91% isopropyl alcohol.
An empty metal can that is a little taller than the toilet paper roll.
A larger metal can such as a 3-lb coffee or large popcorn container.
An aluminum pan or pot a little wider than the top of the larger can.

Choosing the Can
The can for your car survival heater must be metal, preferably unpainted and with the outer paper removed. It can be a one pound coffee can or 30oz fruit can, which will hold the full roll of toilet paper as is. However I have found that smaller 10 or 12 oz cans like those fruit, vegetables, or coffee come in work more to my liking in terms of versatility. More on that later.

Add the Toilet Paper
Remove the cardboard core from a roll of toilet paper and then take off enough sheets so the toilet paper roll just fits into the can when pushed hard. The key is to make sure there is no space around the toilet paper roll and that it is completely below the rim of the can.

Position the Car Survival Heater
When you are ready to use your car survival stove, place the can containing the toilet paper into the larger can. This will help contain the flame and keep you or your pets and family from getting too close. Position the car survival heater in an area of the car that is clear for at least 18 inches all around.
I have found that if I move one of the front seats of my vehicle all the way back there is sufficient room for the heater in the middle of the passenger floor space.

Add the Fuel
Next pour several ounces (not the whole bottle) of the isopropyl alcohol over the toilet paper that is in the smaller can. The paper will absorb the liquid.

Light the Survival Heater
Next open a window a crack in order to bring in fresh air. Then place a match or lighter carefully against the soaked toilet paper. A small flame will develop that burns slowly and warm enough to heat your car. Be sure the flame is not close to anything within your vehicle that may catch fire.
Easy Ice Pack
When the car is warm enough, conserve your fuel by placing the aluminum pan over the car survival heater opening in order to snuff out the flame. When the vehicle cools enough so that you are feeling uncomfortable, add a little more isopropyl alcohol to the toilet paper and light the stove once again.
Four to six bottles of rubbing alcohol will be sufficient to keep your car war for at least 24-hours. To extend your fuel reserves, heat the car to a minimum necessary for warmth and turn off the stove when that point has been obtained.
I prefer to have two of these car survival heaters on hand because I use the smaller 10 to 12 ounce cans. This allows me to run one or both depending upon how cold it is and is therefore more efficient than just one large survival heater.

My Car Survival Heaters

In the picture above you can see one of my car survival heaters in action. It is made from a 10oz pineapple can. I happened to have an donut shaped aluminum desert mould that fit perfectly on the top of the can which serves to direct the flame a little more. This of course is not necessary. The survival heater is placed inside a 3-lb coffee container.
I find that just one of these car survival heaters will sufficiently warm my vehicle when it is 20 degrees F outside. If it is very cold I can run two of these smaller heaters simultaneously in order to get the car to a warm enough temperature and then use just one off an on again to maintain that level.

Increasing the Warmth of Your Vehicle

There are a number of ways you can increase the warmth of your vehicle, mainly through the use of insulation or reducing the amount of air space you need to heat.
Snow is an excellent insulator and also will help keep winter winds from robbing your vehicle of warmth. If there is enough snow you can bury the vehicle three or four feet, keeping an airway open to one of the doors of your car in order to bring in fresh air and allow access as needed.
If you car is buried in the snow, be sure to place a means of signaling would be rescuers that your vehicle is beneath the surface. Hoist a brightly colored cloth or other object on the car antenna or a stick to mark your location.
Another way to increase the warmth inside your vehicle is to block off unused space. For example, if there is nobody in the back seat then use a blanket, sheet of plastic, or luggage to make a wall between the front and back the car. If natural materials are available, such as evergreen boughs, use them to fill the extra spaces so that there is less airspace to heat.
Because cold air sinks to the lowest portion of your vehicle, try to position yourself so that your legs and feet are level with the seats. Be sure to wear as much warm clothing as possible, including a warm hat or wrap clothing around your head.
If the space in your vehicle is small enough then several bodies will serve to heat the area significantly. Invite other stranded motorists into your car so that you can share body heat. And making the event a social occasion will help pass the time as you await rescue.

Other Uses for the Car Survival Heater

Water may be problem during winter conditions because it is often locked up in the form of ice. You can use your car survival heater to melt snow for drinking water or even for heating meals.
Readers Comments:
Pamela Bytner thx for all the great info you are sharing.
Carolyn McElroy Use it to clean mirrors.
Casey Reppert One of my jobs we used it to clean tables and steel. I found it to work really well.
Sally Sutton-Halliday Rawlings clean mirrors
James Stephens I actually use denatured alcohol more mostly for cleaning. Working on electrical/electronics just put it in a spray bottle and hose down whatever you are working on then let it dry. Leaves little residue. Rubbing alcohol works to if you can find the stuff with a low enough water content.
Kelly Harris makes a great window cleaner, disinfectant, removes odors from hands, removes sticky substances
Jeremiah Shine Lamp, heat source in a pinch, infusions for topical use...
Amy Barrier Pollman
Drawer Spray
Makes about 1/2 cup
2 ounces isopropyl alcohol
1/2 teaspoon essential oil of sandalwood
1 teaspoon essential oil of tangerine
...1/8 teaspoon essential oil of spruce
1/8 teaspoon essential oil of lavender, if desired
2 ounces filtered or distilled water
Pour the isopropyl alcohol into a spray bottle, and add the oils, using as much lavender oil as suits you. Add the water and shake to mix. Before using, test the spray on a small section of a drawer—alcohol can dissolve a shellac finish. If the finish is unharmed, spray the empty drawer and allow it to dry before replacing the clothes.
Bonnie Comfort I put it in an old spray bottle and spray the inside of my shoes with it. Kills the bacteria and keeps them smelling fresh.
Jennifer Hansen Zahm I use it for cleaning glass and to clean countertops if I run out of vinegar or peroxide. I also use it to wipe down doorknobs, non - porous surfaces during once a week. Put rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle with distilled water (2 parts alcohol to one part water) and a drop of essential oil and you can use as an antibacterial spray for hands (instead of gels).
Dianna Annette Well when I get a fever blister/ cold sore ( if I don't keep lips moisturizer and they get too dry I'll get one) I pop them with a sewing needle and apply rubbing alcohol ( yes it burns) but it dries then up.
Bonnie Comfort Use it on a Qtip swab to clean the contact on electronic stuff, like the contacts on the cord for charging my cellphone. It had quit working evidently because of dirty contacts, and that fixed it. Yee-haw!!
Lone Shaman ‎4 Tablespoons Of Apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar mixed With 4 Tablespoons of natural honey. Put mixture in a small jar and store in the fridge. Take 1 Teaspoonful when required. For Coughs and Sore Throats.
Carol Hillman Proffitt Walker Lone Shaman - add 2 tbsp of 80% whiskey or rum if someone has flu like symptoms. May also add juice of one lemon.
vinegar is an antiseptic
honey is antibacterial and soother
liquor is for sleep and antiseptic
lemon for flavor and antiseptic.
Brandy Teasley Glass and mirror cleaner 50/50 with water.
Eliza Beth Mostly cleaning of sticky stuff <bandaid or bandage glue> once when kid spilt choc milk in car & nuttin else got out the smell, cleaned it w/ rubbing alcohol & stink was all gone the next day.
Beth Blair Apple cider vinegar and water actually makes for an awesome hard wood floor cleaner. It restores and shines.
Linda Leach what about the different percentages on the alcohol ... should they be used differently? I use the higher percentage on my pierced ears when they get to acting up .. usually as a reaction to cheap earwires.
Rachell Bucklew Hruschak I make air freshner w/it. I don't really measure but I mix about a cup of rubbing alcohol & about a 1/2 tsp- 1 tsp of concentrated fragrance oil (the cheap stuff that sells for $2 for 2oz at retailers) in a spray bottle. The recipe I had ca...lled for 1/2c Vodka to 20 drops of essential oil- I went the cheap route and other then the initial smell of alcohol (which fades in mins) the scent lingers for hours. Much better than any aerosol spray on the market. Once I mixed up a batch of cinnamon nutmeg around the holiday & sprayed it in our bedrooms. We could still smell it the next day :)
Debi LeLievre Gray So many great ideas! I love the one for sticky stuff. I save jars to use for food storage instead of plastic, but I have this thing about removing the labels....this should help. Thanks! OrganicSizeMe.com
Shawn Rounsville Burkett
Disinfectant for both your body and your house. Also use it when making (melt and our) soaps to keep the bubbles off the top. When painting (acrylics) to clean your brushes. And it melts ice so if your lock freezes you can use it to open... your door or car door.
Rachell When I make homemade air freshner I just use fragrance and water then shake. The other day I was wondering how long to keep it. Maybe I will try adding a little rubbing alcohol so it can last longer.See More
Twana Casey Actually, in this flu season, I use alcohol for my computer keyboard and desk, and especially in the bathroom, toilet seat, and sink handles..
Mary Jane Mettin in a mix of equal parts: 1/4 teasp of each of: Ivory or other biodegadable dish soap, rubbing alcohol, and baking soda: to 1 quart of water. It is a spray I use to kill fungus, different kinds of bugs it will kill sprayed directly on them including fire ants, and it is a systemic that the plant will absorb which will make their leaves soapy so other bugs will not feed on them.