Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Rubbing alcohol, also known as isopropyl alcohol, is an extremely useful substance. It can be used as an antiseptic, detergent, or even a survival tool. Rubbing alcohol is not safe if swallowed, and if accidentally swallowed alcohol you should consult a doctor immediately. Knowing how to use rubbing alcohol at home can help you first aid your wound and keep your home cleaner.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Use rubbing alcohol as an antiseptic

1. 

   Wash your hands with rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol is a common ingredient in most hand sanitizers on the market. Hand sanitizer is used to clean hands without soap or water. Simply rub your hands with the wash water for 30 seconds, or until the solution dries up, it will kill most bacteria. Hand sanitizers often contain extra ingredients, like a moisturizer that prevents them from drying out, but these are not necessary. If you cannot wash your hands with soap and water, or if you want to make sure your hands are completely clean, rubbing alcohol can be used to clean your hands.
   • Place a small amount of rubbing alcohol on the palm of your hand.
   • Rub hands together for about 30 seconds, or until hands are evenly covered and alcohol starts to dry.
   • Note that rubbing alcohol and hand sanitizer do not remove dirt from your hands. If your hands are really dirty, wash your hands with soap and water to remove dirt from your skin.

2. 

   
   
   Give first aid to rubbing alcohol. One of the most common uses of rubbing alcohol is to provide wound first aid. This is because rubbing alcohol has a perfect antiseptic effect. It kills bacteria by coagulating their proteins. Once the protein freezes, bacteria die very quickly.
   • Apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol to the skin around the wound. It is very effective with stings that can introduce bacteria into the wound. Once the wound is clean, you can bandage it, and see a doctor if necessary.

3. 

   
   
   Disinfect skin before injection. Certain drugs, such as insulin, need to be injected into the body. Before injection, skin disinfection is important to prevent the transmission of bacteria into the body.
   • Pour 60% to 70% rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball.
   • Wipe the skin about to be injected. Do not rub the same area twice.
   • Wait for the alcohol to dry completely before injecting.

4. 

   
   
   Disinfect medical tools. Some home medical equipment, like tweezers, can contain bacteria that can infect the wound. For this reason, it is important to disinfect medical equipment before use. You can disinfect with rubbing alcohol.
   • Completely immerse the tweezers in the alcohol. Allow the alcohol to dry before use to ensure that any bacteria on the tweezers have been killed.
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Method 2 of 3: Use alcohol as detergent

1. 

   Remove stains with rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol can be surprisingly effective at removing stains. Just mix one part alcohol with two parts water. You can put the mixture in a spray bottle, or pour it on a rag or cloth and dab on the stained area.
   • Rubbing alcohol can be used to remove stains from your clothes before you put them in the washing machine. Apply a little alcohol mixture to the stain, rubbing it thoroughly. Leave for 10 minutes, then wash the clothes as usual.

2. 

   Clean the bathroom with rubbing alcohol. Because of its antiseptic properties, rubbing alcohol is often used to clean bacteria-rich areas like bathrooms. Put alcohol on a tissue and wipe bathroom items such as faucets, sinks, and toilets to quickly clean and disinfect these surfaces.

3. 

   Make a window cleaner with rubbing alcohol. Besides other cleaning uses, rubbing alcohol can also be used as a useful window cleaner. Mix 500ml of alcohol with 30ml of ammonia and 30ml of dishwashing liquid. Mix the mixture well, then add it to a spray bottle or sponge to clean the windows. advertisement

Method 3 of 3: Explore other uses for rubbing alcohol

1. 

   Get rid of the tick. Some people think that pouring rubbing alcohol on a tick can make it shock and easier to remove. Even if this doesn't work, experts recommend rubbing alcohol to kill and retain the remains of the bug after being removed. This makes it easier for doctors to determine if the tick is a source of Lyme disease.
   • Use a clean cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol and dab it on the area where the tick is attached. If you don't have a cotton ball, you can pour some rubbing alcohol directly onto the skin.
   • Use clean tweezers (preferably after disinfection, you can disinfect with rubbing alcohol) to grab the part of the body closest to the skin of the tick.
   • Gently pull the bug up without breaking any part of its body.
   • Place the tick in a jar or bottle with a little rubbing alcohol. Make sure the bug is completely immersed.
   • Use rubbing alcohol to clean the affected area.

2. 

   Deodorize sports shoes. Use a spray to spray rubbing alcohol on the inside of the shoe. Alcohol kills odor-causing bacteria, making your shoes clean and free from smell.

3. 

   Nail polish remover. If you don't have nail polish remover, you can use rubbing alcohol as needed. Pour alcohol on a cotton ball, and rub vigorously on the nail to remove the polish. The nail polish won't peel off as easily as it does with real nail polish remover, but it will still peel off the old polish.

4. 

   Do not use rubbing alcohol to soothe the skin of a fever. A popular folk remedy for fever reduction is to apply alcohol to the skin. When the alcohol dries, it is thought to give a cool feeling. However, pouring alcohol on your body, especially with children, can very dangerous. Some children fall into a deep coma when parents apply alcohol to reduce fever. For this reason, Using rubbing alcohol to relieve fever symptoms is not recommended. advertisement

Advice

• Cover the wound every day with a sterile topical and bandage.
• Always carry first aid supplies, such as 70% isopropyl alcohol, sterile bandages, and wound ointment in case of an emergency.
• Wait for the rubbing alcohol to dry before applying the wound dressing or injection.

Warning

• Do not apply to deep wounds.
• Do not use rubbing alcohol to soothe the skin of a fever. This is extremely dangerous and is not the medical treatment for fever.
• Do not swallow rubbing alcohol. If you have accidentally swallowed alcohol, call poison control or get medical attention right away. Symptoms of poisoning include intoxication, stupor, lethargy, or even death.