Rubbing alcohol can be used to clean and sanitize around the home. Always use rubbing alcohol in a well-ventilated area, such as by opening a nearby window, and keep it away from any flames as it’s highly flammable.
Spot test delicate surfaces before use.
Rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl alcohol) is an item that’s found in nearly every home. Many of us keep it in the bathroom and pull it out along with some cotton balls when we receive a scrape or cut.
But did you know that rubbing alcohol is a great addition to your cleaning arsenal? It’s inexpensive, convenient, effective, and it’s strength (70% isopropyl) makes it safe to use for cleaning.
Here are a few ideas for ways to use rubbing alcohol to clean and sanitize around the home.
I keep a bottle in our kitchen because I use it often. It works great to remove hubby’s fingerprint marks off of our stainless steel appliances, Gigi’s nose marks off our glass patio doors, and more.
It can be used by itself or you can add a few drops to your cleaning solution for an added measure of cleansing. It also cleans well because it dries super quick and doesn’t leave a residue.
1. PHONES, TABLETS, AND TOUCHSCREENS
To clean screens on phones and tablets, take a microfiber cloth and lightly dampen it with 70 percent rubbing alcohol. Do not soak it, but just use the alcohol as a dampening agent, and use it to wipe the screens to cut through fingerprints, facial oils and various types of germs.
Rubbing alcohol evaporates quickly and also leaves no residue. That is why it is the most frequently used cleaner for even the most dirty tech devices in your home.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve cleaned the screens of my teenagers’ phones and wondered what the excess residue and grime was. I’ve stopped asking, and I’ve been told that the smudges go in the realm of science projects.
Bad dead skin, food, germs, and gross stuff are often find smears on screens. They are different every week.
Nasty.
2. STREAK-FREE GLASS AND MIRRORS
You may be able to keep your nose prints off your bathroom mirrors though that’s unlikely, but there’s nothing you can do about Gigi’s nose prints on our glass patio doors. Rubbing alcohol gets the job done quickly on our glass doors as well as other glass or mirrored surfaces and leaves no residue or streaks.
Our bathroom mirror is particularly challenging to keep looking good. It’s a communal effort between three people and hair spray and toothpaste splatter builds up quickly.
While other cleaners just smear the grime around, rubbing alcohol cuts through it like a champ.
3. WINDOWS WITHOUT THE STREAKS
Mix together some rubbing alcohol and water and use this solution in place of store-bought glass cleaner. Spray down windows and wipe with a microfiber cloth or ball up some old newsprint for a classic approach.
Either way, windows will come out squeaky clean and streak-free.
4. DISINFECT HIGH-TOUCH SURFACES
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Germs love to hang out on doorknobs, light switches, cabinet handles…the list goes on.
Rubbing alcohol, specifically the 70% variety, is a bactericide and kills germs on contact. It won’t stop my daughter’s latest cold from moving through our household like wildfire but it does help me feel like I’m doing SOMETHING, especially during the depths of winter when germy air becomes rampant.
Plus, unlike many disinfecting cleaners, rubbing alcohol dries quickly, leaving absolutely NO residue behind.
5. GAME CONTROLLERS AND KEYBOARDS
Rubbing alcohol also comes in really handy for cleaning germs off of remotes, game controllers, computer keyboards…basically anything with buttons. Buffing these items down with rubbing alcohol gets them squeaky clean.
To clean sticky buttons on devices, use rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab and insert it into the seams of game controllers or between keyboard keys to remove grime. Make sure to power the device off first and go lightly, allowing it to dry fully before turning it back on.
6. MAKEUP BRUSHES AND SPONGES
Full cleansing of makeup brushes and sponges is a multi-step process involving soaking, washing, reshaping and air-drying. In between thorough cleansings, you can save yourself some time by giving your collection a once-over with some rubbing alcohol.
Spray some rubbing alcohol onto makeup brushes and swirl them in the center of a paper towel. The alcohol helps dissolve makeup (especially colors) and break down any oily residue.
Repeat with fresh sections of paper until the original becomes noticeably dirty.
7. EYEGLASSES AND SUNGLASSES
I’m guilty of cleaning my glasses with my shirt when they get smudged, but when they’re REALLY grossed out, I dampen a soft cloth with some diluted rubbing alcohol and rub until clear. Works like a charm.
Just use sparingly as rubbing alcohol can remove certain coatings on lenses.
8. REMOVE PERMANENT MARKER
Yep, “permanent” is doing a lot of heavy-lifting in that name because rubbing alcohol can take it off of just about anything, including white boards, countertops, and glass. Allow to sit for a moment before wiping away.
My daughter used to decorate EVERYTHING when she was little, leaving our poor coffee table scarred for life. We still have it.
We’re sentimental like that.
9. STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES
I am a fan of stainless steel appliances, however, fingerprints (especially oily ones) show up pretty readily. My husband opens our fridge about 400 times a day leaving fingerprints everywhere.
Spray some rubbing alcohol onto a microfiber cloth and rub in the same direction as the grain of the appliance. This will remove those pesky prints.
10. STICKER AND LABEL RESIDUE
Rubbing alcohol is the answer to removing pesky sticker and label residue from glass, plastic, and metal surfaces. Apply the rubbing alcohol directly onto the adhesive and let it sit for a minute before wiping away.
I’ve been saving all kinds of jars because someday, I’m going to get around to organizing the pantry. When the day comes, rubbing alcohol is going to be my best friend for cleaning out any gummy residue.
11. JEWELRY AND GEMSTONES
Oils and other types of grime build up on your jewelry and make it look dull. Get rid of that grimy film by soaking gold or other types of jewelry in rubbing alcohol and brushing them with a soft bristle brush.
I always know my wedding band needs some TLC when it doesn’t sparkle as brightly as it’s supposed to. Rubbing alcohol has been a life-saver.
Just keep any rings or jewelry with opals, pearls, turquoise, or any soft/gem stones away from rubbing alcohol.
12. BATTERY CORROSION
Have you ever popped open a battery pack, only to discover some nasty, crusty white gunk? I just added a quick note to my blog post.
Before you toss it, dip some Q-tips in rubbing alcohol and rub off the gunk. Remove the old batteries, wipe the battery contacts, let it all dry, and insert new batteries.
I found an old flashlight in a drawer, so of course I needed to see if rubbing alcohol would make those crusty old boys work again.
13. DISSOLVE HAIRSPRAY BUILDUP
Dampen a soft rag or paper towels with rubbing alcohol and use them to remove any sticky residue caused by an over-spritzed application of hairspray from floors, walls, countertops, mirrors, etc. Recently, I’ve been giving my daughter’s getting-ready area an extra deep clean, and found that her bathroom floor was a little tacky near the vanity.
Instead of giving the entire bathroom another deep-clean, I dampened a soft rag with rubbing alcohol and gave her getting-ready floor another wipe-down. Problem solved.
14. CHROME FAUCETS AND FIXTURES
Rubbing alcohol is great for getting that gleaming, polished finish on chrome faucets and other bathroom and kitchen fixtures. Apply rubbing alcohol onto a soft cloth and rub away toothpaste splatters, water spots, etc.
Bonus points for sanitizing faucet handles in the process.
15. SCISSORS, TWEEZERS, AND CLIPPERS
Tape residue makes it nearly impossible to snip paper properly. Rubbing alcohol cuts right through tape residue, and sanitizes scissors, nail clippers, and tweezers in the process.
Give them a quick once-over and allow them to dry to avoid rust.
My kitchen scissors get super gross from cutting tape and opening packages and cutting up food. I clean them off with an alcohol wipe and they’re as good as new.
16. EARBUDS AND AIRPODS
Dip a Q-tip in rubbing alcohol to get into nooks and crannies. This is perfect for cleaning out grimy earbuds and airpods.
Clean out your carrying case too, and you’d be surprised how grimy those get too. Important: Do not get them too wet.
Wait until they’re completely dry before putting them back in their cases to charge. Mine are super grimy because my kids leave theirs in their pockets, backpacks, gym bags, etc.
17. INK STAINS ON FABRIC
Before washing out an ink stain, blot it with isopropyl rubbing alcohol with a cotton ball, working from the outside of the stain inward. If you try to wash the garment normally before blotting with rubbing alcohol, the stain will set.
Then wash as usual. This trick has saved at least one of my husband’s work shirts from becoming a rag.
An ink pen exploded on his shirt and it worked like a dream.
18. FROST-FREE CAR WINDOWS
I live in Iowa where we get some doozy winters. Nothing makes me happier than NOT having to scrape my windows in the morning.
Mix rubbing alcohol with water and keep a spray bottle in your car. In the morning, just spray your windows with the mixture and rub off frost.
No scraping. Alcohol lowers the freezing point of water, so the frost will melt and rub right off.
This saves me so much time in the mornings and spares me from having to stick my poor, frozen self outside in the bitter cold at 7 in the morning.
19. BLINDS AND WINDOW TRACKS
Dampen a rag and tie it tightly around an old butter knife to get into narrow spaces like window tracks. Rubbing alcohol is helpful here because it will cut through the dust, whereas with water alone the dust can get a little goopy and smear.
For blinds, use a Q-tip dipped in alcohol to get into each slat. The blinds in our kitchen get coated with a combination of dust and cooking oil that’s perfect for rubbing alcohol.
Cleaning blinds is such a tedious chore that it’s one of those things that I constantly put off.
20. DEODORANT MARKS ON CLOTHES
Have you ever washed a shirt only to pull it out of the dryer and find white streaks from deodorant? Ugh!
Instead, wipe marks with a cloth dampened with a little rubbing alcohol. It removes the marks and won’t leave a residue.
Perfect for dark-colored shirts.
If you have a mark from deodorant on a black top, you can dab the top with rubbing alcohol. Presto!
You’re good to go and won’t have to change your outfit.
21. TV AND COMPUTER SCREENS
Use sparingly. Never use rubbing alcohol undiluted and don’t use it directly on your screen.
Instead, spray or apply to a cloth and give a quick wipe-down. Never use rubbing alcohol if it says to never use it, such as on some coated and matte screens.
Dust bunnies love to settle into TV screens. Mine has random fingerprints because it’s at nose level for our dog.
Wiping it down with a slightly damp cloth makes it look brand-new.
22. WHITE SNEAKERS AND SCUFF MARKS
Rubbing alcohol can help to brighten canvas shoes and get scuff marks out of rubber soles. Apply alcohol directly to a rag or cotton ball and rub in a circular motion on dirty marks.
My daughter’s white sneakers get dirty after about a week of regular use. Rubbing alcohol can help to prolong their shiny-white lives, though eventually they’ll be gray.
23. GREASY LIGHT SWITCHES AND OUTLET PLATES
We all think that we keep our house immaculate and clean. Then, one day you pick up a rag to dust the outlet plates around the house and realize that they’re absolutely grimy.
Dip a rag into rubbing alcohol, making sure that it’s damp, not wet, and rub the plate until it’s squeaky clean. Those gross, greasy fingerprints are no match for rubbing alcohol.
24. HARD PLASTIC TOYS
Although we don’t clean our kids’ toys with alcohol on a regular basis, it is helpful to do so after everyone has been sick or if your child has taken their toy to a dirty environment. Apply rubbing alcohol to a rag or sponge and wipe down hard plastic toys.
Allow them to air-dry. This will not only clean them, but disinfect them.
I also do this with the dog’s hard chew toys because Gigi eats everything in the backyard.
25. COFFEE MAKER AND BLENDER BUTTONS
Any dried-up food or drink splatter in those pesky cracks or buttons will break down with a cotton swab dipped into rubbing alcohol.
Last time I had sticky buttons on our coffee maker and couldn’t remember where we had spilled. I dipped a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and wiped away the stickiness.
It worked wonderfully. It’s one of those little victories.
Nothing major, but it’s still nice to start the morning with a working coffee maker.
26. WATER-BASED PAINT SPLATTER
Water-based paint splatter on tile, hardware, and other household items can be cleaned with rubbing alcohol. Try rubbing alcohol to remove latex paint splatters before they’ve had a chance to completely harden.
Rubbing alcohol won’t scratch glass. Try it on glass surfaces with paint splatters too.
Let the rubbing alcohol soak into the paint splatter for a minute, then scrape away. It may wipe away easily.
27. STAINLESS SINK AND DRAIN AREA
The sink and drain areas in our kitchen are stainless. We can easily wipe away water spots with rubbing alcohol to restore that shiny, streak-free sink.
More importantly though, rubbing alcohol also acts as a disinfecting agent. Next time you wipe down your sink, keep in mind, you’re not just giving it a quick rinse, you’re disinfecting that sink.
28. REFRESH WHITEBOARDS AND DRY-ERASE BOARDS
Rubbing alcohol wipes away those pesky dry-erase marker spots. Do you have a command center in your kitchen or entryway?
Our family uses our kitchen for planning and posting messages, shopping lists, and reminders. Once in a while our command center gets stale with old spots.
Refreshing it with rubbing alcohol gets rid of the spots and ghosting.
29. DISINFECT TRASH CANS AND DIAPER PAILS
Once the trash can or diaper pail has been cleaned, spray or wipe down the inside with rubbing alcohol to disinfect the container and help with odor control. Our kitchen trash can always seems to have an odor.
We’ve tried masking it with a scented candle with little success. Try rubbing alcohol next time you empty the trash.
It may surprise you.
30. DEFOG AND CLEAN GOGGLES
Dirt, body oil, and other residue collects quickly on our kids’ swimming goggles. Rubbing alcohol wipes away that filmy residue to give the goggles a thorough cleaning.
You can also use rubbing alcohol to wipe down other eyewear such as ski goggles and safety glasses. Note: Do not use rubbing alcohol on goggles that have been treated with a defogging product.
It will dissolve the coating.
Rubbing alcohol is an inexpensive cleaner that can be used in a variety of situations around your house. Not only is it an effective grease-cutter, it also acts as a disinfectant at certain strengths and doesn’t leave any streaks since it dries super quickly.
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT CLEANING WITH RUBBING ALCOHOL
WHAT SHOULD YOU NOT CLEAN WITH RUBBING ALCOHOL?
Although it’s an all-purpose cleaner, there are still some items you should avoid cleaning with rubbing alcohol. Being a solvent, it can remove lacquer and other finishes on wood.
Acetate, rayon, silk, and wool should also be avoided. In addition, some plastics, rubber, and vinyl may cloud, crack, or become damaged, so proceed with caution.
When in doubt, always test in an unobtrusive spot to be sure.
WHAT SHOULD YOU NEVER MIX WITH RUBBING ALCOHOL?
Never mix rubbing alcohol and bleach together as this produces chloroform and other toxic chemicals. In addition, be sure to avoid any heat or open flames and make sure you’re in a well-ventilated area as rubbing alcohol is highly flammable.
CAN YOU MIX RUBBING ALCOHOL AND DAWN DISH SOAP?
Absolutely. Rubbing alcohol is a common addition to glass and multi-surface cleaners for its ability to remove grease.
Try a DIY all purpose cleaner made from Dawn dish soap, rubbing alcohol, and water for a streak-free glass and surface cleaner, with the Dawn for grease cutting power. For best results, store in a spray bottle and make sure to write the date you made it on the label.
IS RUBBING ALCOHOL GOOD FOR CLEANING THE HOUSE?
From grandma’s dishes to your teenager’s smartphone, there’s nothing like rubbing alcohol. If there’s one item that seems to make its way into medicine cabinets generation after generation, it’s rubbing alcohol.
Besides disinfecting items we touch throughout the day, rubbing alcohol can help you clean glass, stainless steel, electronic screens and more. Keep rubbing alcohol, the 70% kind, on hand, and you’ll be glad you do.
IS IT BETTER TO CLEAN WITH RUBBING ALCOHOL OR VINEGAR?
Both are effective and inexpensive cleaning products that have their own individual uses. For instance, vinegar is ideal for removing soap scum, limescale, and other mineral deposits.
Rubbing alcohol is not interchangeable with vinegar and has the bonus of removing grease, sanitizing at 70% strength, bringing back shine, and evaporating much quicker leaving no streaks behind. Rubbing alcohol is safe to use on electronic screens making them go-to products when faced with that dreaded, “what do I clean this with?” situation.