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You probably have a bottle of it rolling around in the back of a bathroom drawer, but how often do you actually use rubbing alcohol? Also known as isopropyl alcohol, this undrinkable product was once largely used to treat wounds. That's no longer considered wise, but rubbing alcohol still has a purpose: It's cheap, it has antimicrobial properties and sticky surfaces are no match for its powers. Pull it out of the bathroom and expand its usefulness in your life with these 10 cleaning tips.
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Carpets
If you have kids, pets or a clumsy side, you've got to be ready to react to a carpet spill at all times. The isopropyl in rubbing alcohol makes it a surprisingly effective stain remover. Pour enough rubbing alcohol over the spot to soak it, then press a towel down over the stain and blot up the liquid. Repeat a second time if necessary. This trick works best on fresh stains, but may also help minimize the appearance of older stains.
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Sticker Residue
You've got to say this for stickers: They do what they say they're gonna do. That's not comforting when you have sticker glue under all your nails and the residue of that price sticker is still visible on your new item. Remove all gluey traces of stickers by dampening a paper towel with rubbing alcohol and pressing it against the sticky area for a minute. Wipe the area and the residue should come off.
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Eyeglasses
People without perfect vision will recognize the telltale scent of rubbing alcohol from the sprays and wipes sold as eyeglasses cleaner. Skip the middleman and grab straight rubbing alcohol to remove streaks and spots from the lenses of your glasses. Fill a small spray bottle with a mixture of 95% water and 5 percent rubbing alcohol. Spritz it on each lens and use a soft cloth made for cleaning glasses to wipe it away.
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Stinky or Dirty Shoes
We won't tell anyone, but we know you have stinky shoes at home. Banish the lingering odor of yesterday's workout with rubbing alcohol. Pour some in a spray bottle and loosen up the tongue of each shoe to allow better access. Spritz the alcohol into each shoe and let them air out overnight. They won't smell brand new by morning, but you should notice a little less funk.
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Microfiber Surfaces
Sinking into a microfiber-covered couch is like getting a big hug. It's soft and warm, and considerably cheaper than suede, so it's no wonder this fabric is a popular choice for affordable furniture. If you have microfiber surfaces at home, spritz rubbing alcohol over marks and stains. Use a damp cloth to scrub the stain. When the alcohol dissolves, no trace of it should remain on the fabric.
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Permanent Marker
Yup, this magical little helper can banish stains from clothing, furniture and walls too. Did inspiration strike your little artist, leading them to decorate your wall with permanent marker? Dampen a paper towel or cloth with rubbing alcohol and do as the name suggests — rub that alcohol all over the marks. Sorry, little van Gogh… try paper next time.
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Venetian Blinds
Venetian blinds are affordable, and they're great for controlling the light in a room. If only they weren't so determined to display your dust for the whole world to see. Horizontal blinds are like magnets for dust and grime. Skip the pricey dusting sprays and use a soft cloth spritzed with rubbing alcohol to quickly clean them.
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Hairspray Residue
When you get your hair just right, it's only fair to preserve it so everyone you see that day can admire it. Hairspray is up for the job! And, of course, once hairspray is (literally) up in the air, it's going to come down and settle its sticky residue all over your mirror and bathroom counter. Just as it does with stubborn price stickers, using rubbing alcohol on these surfaces makes it easy to wipe away the stickiness.
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Countertops
You know those research studies that tell you about how filthy different parts of your kitchen are? Yeah, ignore those, they're terrifying. As long as you disinfect your counters every so often, you'll probably be fine. A mixture of one part water and one part rubbing alcohol makes a super simple disinfectant that's appropriate for use on a sealed granite countertop. Spray it on, let it sit for a minute and wipe away with a clean cloth.
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Your Hands
Well, if you don't want to know how dirty your counters are, you definitely don't want to think about what's going on with your own hands. Do you love all-natural DIY alternatives to expensive or chemical-laden cleansers? Whip up a homemade version of hand sanitizer using rubbing alcohol. With the additional of things like aloe vera gel and essential oils, you can make a disinfectant that actually smells good.
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