Rubbing alcohol is a staple in every home. In fact, in recent years, we have known its importance to all of us. There are so many uses of rubbing alcohol. It’s a powerful disinfectant, especially when we’re outside. Most of our bags include rubbing alcohol sprays or alcohol pads.
But apart from being a disinfectant, did you know that rubbing alcohol has many other uses that you might not have heard of until now?

Some rubbing alcohol uses include streak-free cleaning and deodorizing shoes. Rubbing alcohol is truly amazing! Here are 8 other uses of rubbing alcohol.
Clean Smelly Sneakers
Do you have a problem with stinky shoes? We understand it’s hard to get rid of that terrible smell! Did you know that rubbing alcohol for stinky shoes works wonders?
Just attach a sprayer to your rubbing alcohol bottle, and thoroughly coat the insides of the offending sneakers with the alcohol. Allow the shoes to dry in a well-ventilated area overnight, and enjoy your newly deodorized shoes.
Uses of Rubbing Alcohol: Clean Jewelry
Of course, for rubbing alcohol to be effective, we need to use one that’s not yet expired. Wait, does rubbing alcohol expire?
This is a common question. Unfortunately, rubbing alcohol expires after about two to three years, and when it does, it will evaporate or may no longer be effective.
Better use it before it expires! Here’s one way you can use your rubbing alcohol – clean your jewelry.
Does rubbing alcohol clean jewelry? It does! Use a small bowl, fill it up with alcohol and soak your jewelry. Leave them for a few minutes and that’s it. It will quickly dry on its own.
Clean Eyeglasses
Do you always have dirty eyeglasses? No problem!
Rubbing alcohol evaporates extremely fast, which makes it the perfect eyeglasses cleaner. Just use rubbing alcohol spray on your glasses and with a quick burst of alcohol, and use a microfiber cloth to clean. You’ll be left with crystal clear spectacles.
Remove Sticker Goop
Don’t you hate when you can’t get the price tag off of a treasured item? Why do they need to put it there using stickers?
Don’t worry because rubbing alcohol can help. Try this trick: pour rubbing alcohol over the tag, and allow it to sit for 10 minutes. The alcohol will dissolve the adhesive, making the sticker pull off easily.
Clean and Shine Appliances
We all know hydrogen peroxide cleans but so can rubbing alcohol. You might be confused about rubbing alcohol vs hydrogen peroxide, and here’s the answer.
Rubbing alcohol can kill germs and bacteria such as E. coli and staph in as fast as 10 seconds while hydrogen peroxide is considered as an antiseptic, or disinfectant.
So it makes sense that rubbing alcohol can clean and even shine your appliances. To do this, pour some rubbing alcohol onto a sponge, and scrub any dingy appliances. The alcohol will leave a streak-free shine since it evaporates in seconds.
Soothe Sore Muscles
After an especially long day at the gym, the lactic acid buildup can leave you feeling sore. Massage a generous amount of rubbing alcohol onto your sore muscles for some relief.
You can also try a homemade ice pack with rubbing alcohol.
Remove Permanent Marker
Did you accidentally write on your whiteboard with a permanent marker instead of a dry-erase marker? Oh no!
Don’t worry, just add a dab of rubbing alcohol to a moist sponge, and gently scrub the area. The alcohol will dissolve the unwanted marks on any non-porous surface.
Freshen Your Home
Did you know that you can make an easy, eco-friendly air freshener to perk up your home? To do this, just dilute 1 part rubbing alcohol with 4 parts water in a spray bottle.
Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda, and 20 drops of essential oil of your choice. Shake vigorously, and spray any dingy smells away.
Bottom Line
It’s so nice to know the different uses of rubbing alcohol. So, now, you don’t have to stock alcohol just for disinfecting your things and hands. You can also use it for many other things as well.
Sources: [Debbie Mozelle, DIYN Crafts, Fit Chic LA, FCT Cleaning, Grandparents, Remedy Daily, Natural Living Ideas, One Good Thing By Jillee, One Green Planet, Reader’s Digest, Top Sneakers, Wikihow]