16. Prevent Sweat Stains
To prevent sweat stains, wipe some rubbing alcohol on your armpits and neck before dressing. You can also apply alcohol to stained clothing using the same technique as the ink treatment above.
17. Dissolve Windshield Frost
Use this trick on regular windows and windshields alike!
To prevent frost:
- Wash your windows 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.
To remove frost:
- Fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and spritz the car glass.
- Wipe the frost right off and start the car.
18. Kill Nail Fungus
Since rubbing alcohol kills fungus too, it’s a safe way to treat an infection before it develops into athlete’s foot (7).
To use:
- Mix equal amounts of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar.
- Soak a thick pad of cotton in the solution and place it over the infected toenail.
- Wrap it with a small bandage or tape to keep the cotton pad in place.
- Allow it to sit for about 30 to 45 minutes.
- Finish by gently scrubbing the toenail with a soft-bristled toothbrush, then rinse the area.
- Use this remedy once daily for several days.
19. Soothe Mosquito Bites
To relieve the itching and swelling of mosquito bites, look no further than your first aid kit! Being a natural antiseptic agent, rubbing alcohol also reduces the chance of developing an infection.
Here’s how to do it:
- Apply some rubbing alcohol directly onto the affected site.
- Massage the area gently for 1 minute.
- Wait 10 minutes, then rinse off the area with cool water.
- Finish by applying some fresh aloe vera gel.
- Repeat as needed
21. Jewelry Cleaner
Jewelry cleaners aren’t easy to find, but there are household products that can to the job.
This trick is safe for platinum, silver, genuine gold, silver-plated, titanium, tungsten and stainless steel jewelry. Precious stones are also safe. However, acrylic, semi-precious stones, and pearls should not be cleaned using rubbing alcohol (8).
How to use:
- Place the jewelry in a clean, non-porous bowl and pour in the alcohol until the jewelry is completely submerged.
- Let the jewelry sit in the alcohol overnight and use the tip of a cotton swab or a soft cloth to try to rub away some of the grime.
- If the grime is still hard to remove, let it soak longer and try again. Do not scrub the grime with a brush if you are trying to clean metal or silver, as these two metals are soft and will scratch easily. For hard metals (like stainless steel and tungsten) and gemstones with crevices and engravings, scrub gently with a soft toothbrush.
- Wipe the jewelry with a lint-free cloth to lightly polish it after cleaning.
22. Fight Foot Odor
To fight stinky feet, spray the soles of your shoes with rubbing alcohol mixed with a few drops of lavender essential oil. Place in a sunny spot to dry.
23. Stretch Out Shoes
To stretch out cloth shoes, apply a thin coat of rubbing alcohol to the interior and exterior of the shoes, then place them on a shoe stretcher.
24. DIY Air Freshener
Swap out the toxic Febreze with your own mix of 1 cup rubbing alcohol with 10-15 drops of essential oil. Spray in a well-ventilated area.
25. Clean Windows
Skip out on the Windex thanks to this simple mixture.
Here’s how to do it:
- Pour 2 cups of distilled water in a spray bottle.
- Add ¼ cup each of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar in it.
- Add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and mix it well.
- Spray this solution on your mirrors and glasses and then wipe them clean using a lint-free cloth.
26. Treat Poison Ivy
Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are plants that can cause a non-contagious itchy rash upon contact (9). Isopropyl alcohol will provide instant relief thanks to its soothing and cooling properties.
How to use it:
- Saturate a paper towel with rubbing alcohol.
- Use it to gently wipe the affected area.
- When the area is completely dry, wash it with soap and warm water.
- Do this several times a day for 2 to 3 days.
27. Soothe Muscle Aches
Rubbing alcohol soothes sore muscles and joints. While it isn’t a long-term solution, it’s great for short-term relief.
Here’s how to do it:
- Apply some rubbing alcohol on your aching muscles.
- Massage gently in circular motions for 10 minutes.
- Wrap the area with a warm cloth for at least 30 minutes.
- Repeat 2 or 3 times a day.
What is rubbing alcohol used for? Well, now you know that it has over 27 therapeutic uses. Which remedy will you try first?