People have been using alcohol as a disinfectant and for adhesive removal for a long time, but there are more uses for it beyond disinfection most people aren’t aware about.
Here are some of them:
1. Get rid of bed bugs
Bed bugs are a very unpleasant problem. Even if you’re being careful, you can bring them home after a stay at a dirty motel or after vacation. Luckily, rubbing some alcohol over your pillow and mattress can get rid of the pests. Fill a spray bottle with alcohol, then spray it all over your bed and repeat the process a couple of times to eliminate the bed bugs and their eggs as well.
2. Deodorant replacement
If you forgot to take your deodorant while going away for the weekend, don’t buy another one. Rub some alcohol on your armpits to kill the bacteria and prevent odor. However, use this method short-term only as alcohol can damage your skin.
3. Homemade cool pack
Pour 1 part of alcohol and 2 parts of water in a sealable plastic bag and remove as much air as possible from it before leaving it in the freezer. The mixture should freeze for an hour and can be used for injuries or cooling your lunch while on a picnic.
4. Kills lice
Fill a spray bottle with alcohol and spray it on your head to get rid of lice. Comb your hair afterwards to remove the dead bugs. According to the Wisconsin Division of Public Health, the comb should soak in the mixture for an hour before the process in order to remove all dead lice.
5. Clean your ears
Mix some white vinegar and alcohol, then dip a cotton ball in the mixture and use it to clean your ears. This method is better than using cotton swaps which only push the wax deeper in the canal.
6. Removes fingernail polish
Girls remove fingernail with acetone usually, but this can be harmful to the nails. However, if you rub some alcohol on the polish, your nails should be safe.
7. No more ingrown hairs Ingrown hairs are annoying – you have just had a bikini wax and the whole area is covered in red spots. Luckily, alcohol can help you – rub some of it on the area and it should relieve the irritation.
8. Clear your skin
Instead of using acne-fighting creams that contain benzoyl peroxide, you can use alcohol instead. The anti-inflammatory and soothing properties will disinfect your skin and soothe the inflammation, while preventing further acne from showing up. Apply the alcohol directly on the pimples as it can irritate the surrounding area.