10 Amazing Cleaning Uses for Rubbing Alcohol

Isopropyl alcohol, more commonly referred to as rubbing alcohol, is one of the most underrated cleaning products available. It is such a versatile and effective disinfectant, and its uses are almost endless.

This wonder product has so many applications that you will be totally amazed when you learn just what you can do with it.

We share rubbing alcohol’s 10 impressive uses with you below.

 

 

What is rubbing alcohol?

Rubbing alcohol is comprised of 70% isopropyl alcohol, water, and other chemicals.

It has amazing cleaning and disinfecting properties, dries extremely quickly, and doesn’t leave any residue, which makes it very easy to use.

Isopropyl alcohol is also the primary ingredient in hand sanitiser, which, due to COVID-19, we are all now very familiar with.

Whether you are looking at cleaning leather furniture with alcohol or removing a stubborn stain from your carpet, rubbing alcohol can usually do the trick! You’ll find it at most major supermarkets and hardware stores like Bunnings.

However, before we get too carried away, a word of caution. The fumes from rubbing alcohol can be quite powerful, so make sure you use it in well-ventilated areas.

Make sure you choose the 70% solution as this is a lot safer and is also non-flammable. Any concentration of isopropyl alcohol higher than 90% is mostly used in commercial or industrial settings, and not recommended for household use.

So, now that we have uncovered this miracle all-purpose cleaner and disinfectant, let’s take a look at 10 amazing ways you can use it in your household.

 

 

10 Ways to Use Rubbing Alcohol for Cleaning

1. Cleaning leather with alcohol

Kids will be kids and quite often, the world is an open canvas for them. Unfortunately, leather sofas don’t take so well to pens or textas.

Do you have pen or texta marks on your beautiful sofa courtesy of your kids? If so, fear not – there is an easy solution!

Try dabbing the ink mark with rubbing alcohol and wiping it with a clean cloth. Just be careful not to scrub the area too hard as you may take the colour out of the lounge.

Clean a small or inconspicuous area of the lounge first just to make sure you don’t cause any further damage.

Once done and the area has fully dried, apply some leather conditioner or suitable moisturiser to your sofa as the rubbing alcohol may cause the leather to dry out and potentially crack or tear over time.

 

 

2. Removing hairspray residue

Does your mirror or vanity unit have a sticky residue left over from using hair spray?

Hair spray is one of those products that might help improve our appearance but can leave a huge mess in our bathrooms. When you stand in one place using hair spray over a period of time, it can build up on surfaces around you and leave an unwanted residue.

As hair spray is a lacquer, it can be extremely difficult to remove and the longer you leave it, the harder it can be to clean.

However, don’t worry - rubbing alcohol comes to the rescue again! Simply spray the mirror with rubbing alcohol and wipe it clean with a paper towel or cleaning cloth. Problem solved!

 

 

3. All-purpose kitchen degreaser

Do you have greasy residue on your stove or benchtops?

Your kitchen stove and benchtops are dirty places where grease and grime easily accumulate. Unfortunately, this also means they need regular cleaning.

Traditional cleaning products require a lot of scrubbing and hard work to remove kitchen grease and grime. As a result, we tend to throw it into the ’too hard basket’ and put the cleaning off. However, there is an easier and more convenient solution!

Pour some rubbing alcohol onto a cloth and wipe down your greasy stove and bench tops. There’s no need to rinse as the rubbing alcohol will evaporate almost straight away.

 

 

4. Carpet stain remover

Muddy footprints, lipstick, crayons, wine stains, coffee stains, pet stains - most of us have experienced some or all these stains on our carpet at some point in time.

If you’ve got dark dirty spots on your carpet, spray with rubbing alcohol, blot clean, and presto!

Professional carpet cleaning is a great idea, but here's how rubbing alcohol can help.

Rubbing alcohol is a great way to clean your carpets without leaving behind any residue. As it evaporates quickly, it won't soak into the fibres of your carpet, which can potentially cause more trouble than the original stain!

Just remember not to rub too hard and avoid the use of abrasive materials or stiff brushes, as this may cause damage to the pile of your carpet.

 

 

5. Air freshener

Bad odours around the house can be very unpleasant, especially if visitors pop in unannounced. Those with pets will know what we are talking about!

Most people reach for the air freshener in this situation. However, some aerosol air fresheners contain CFCs, which can be dangerous to your health and the health of your family.

So how can we get rid of these unpleasant odours?

As an alternative, mix 1 cup of rubbing alcohol with 10 to 15 ml of essential oil and mix it together in a spray bottle.

You can also try mixing fragrances together, such as grapefruit and lavender, for an awesome fresh fragrance that not only smells good but is also safe for your family and the environment.

 

 

6. Home-made disinfectant

Luckily, there is an easy way to get rid of germs around the house without using standard disinfectants and other harmful chemicals.

All you need are some natural ingredients and a few simple steps. This method is so effective that many people find themselves trusting these homemade disinfectants more than the disinfectants you buy from the supermarket.

Try mixing 1 part rubbing alcohol with 1 part water, spray onto the surfaces and wipe clean. You can use your homemade disinfectant just about anywhere in the house - kitchen, bathroom, laundry, toilet, and even pet beds!

Your new homemade disinfectant will help to keep your home and family protected from germs and other harmful chemicals with ease.

 

 

7. Clean venetian blinds

Venetian blinds easily collect dust and gunk, which not only becomes a health hazard but is an eyesore too.

Cleaning your blinds with a soft cloth is an easy way to keep them clean, but if you want the best results, use rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol will treat dust mites and allergens, and also treats bacteria, which can lead to health problems.

Simply spray the blinds with rubbing alcohol and wipe with a clean cloth. Ensure that your blinds are open so air can circulate between each slate. However, remember that rubbing alcohol dries quickly so you’ll be done in no time! Clean your Venetian blinds monthly with rubbing alcohol.

 

 

8. Deodorise shoes

You can’t stop your smelly shoes from following you. Smelly shoes can be embarrassing as they can stink up a room, car, locker room, or office cubicle like nothing else. No matter how much you clean your shoes, they still might have a strong smell.

Luckily, there is a simple solution - rubbing alcohol!

Yep, you can even use rubbing alcohol to de-odourise your smelly shoes! Spray undiluted rubbing alcohol into your smelly shoes and the alcohol will take care of the yucky odour-causing bacteria.

 

 

9. Cleaning bathroom fixtures

Does the stainless steel in your bathroom look weathered? Rubbing alcohol is a great way to clean and disinfect any bathroom surface, but it's even better when you use it on chrome, stainless steel, and glass. The quick evaporation means that there won't be any streaking or smudging left on the surface.

All you need to do is put a little rubbing alcohol onto a cloth to clean your bathroom fixtures. The rubbing alcohol will give a streak-free shine and treat any bacteria and germs in the process. Your bathroom and its fixtures will look brand new in no time!

 

 

10. Removing stickers

Do you get frustrated by the gunky residue from stickers, price tags, and labels? The gummy residue left behind when you peel off stickers of any sort can be a real pain to clean up. Removing sticker residue isn't difficult, but you really should avoid using a knife or metal blade.

There is an easier and more convenient solution.

Soak a paper towel or cloth in rubbing alcohol and wipe down the sticky area. If this doesn't work, try laying a rubbing alcohol-soaked rag over the spot for several minutes before removing it and rubbing it clean!

 

 

Final Thoughts

As we can see from the above, rubbing alcohol is a very versatile cleaning product and is great for cleaning and disinfecting certain surfaces and removing those pesky little stains around the house.

It is a relatively inexpensive option and is readily available from most supermarkets and convenience stores if you need to remove stains or clean surfaces in a hurry.

However, it is important to understand that it may not be suitable for removing certain types of stains, particularly larger stains. This is where the use of professional cleaning services will help you to achieve the best results.

 

 

Choose Electrodry for Professional Cleaning Services in Your Home

Electrodry is Australia's most trusted and reliable carpet and home cleaning service. We are a family-owned business and have been around since 1983.

Electrodry's exclusive cleaning systems, innovative cleaning products, and expert technicians ensure that we always provide the highest possible level of service to our clients.

If you have any stubborn stains on your carpet, tiles, or upholstery or would just like a general freshen-up, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

Call Electrodry today on 13 27 13 or make a booking online.