What is Rubbing Alcohol?
Rubbing Alcohol / Surgical Spirit (Isopropyl Alcohol 70% C3H8O) pH 6 -8
Rubbing alcohol can be slightly acid, alkaline or neutral as it’s pH can range from 6 to 8.
Alcohol is a solvent, which means it’s good for dissolving dirt and oil. It also dries almost instantly which makes it great for cleaning glass.
It’s also a good disinfectant so useful around the home but don’t use on wood or varnished surfaces.
As with all chemicals, natural or manmade you do need to be careful. Its fumes are quite powerful, so always use it in a well-ventilated area.
Remember that alcohol and its fumes are flammable, so keep it away from heat sources; don’t use it on things like your gas hob or oven.
5 Ways to Use Rubbing Alcohol
Now that you know what rubbing alcohol is here are some of my favourite ways that you can use it around your home.
Granite Cleaner
This recipe is so simple but so effective and will help keep your granite worktops looking clean and sparkling.
You’ll Need :
- 1 cup of Rubbing alcohol
- 1 cup cooled boiled water
- 2 squirts of eco friendly washing up liquid
How To:
- Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle, shake to combine and your ready to go.
- Spray onto worktops, wait a couple of minutes then wipe clean with a soft cloth.
Stainless Steel Cleaner
This natural homemade stainless steel cleaner works a treat and by rubbing it over with a drop of olive oil afterwards really helps to keep it nice and shiny
You’ll Need:
- Glass spray bottle
- 1½ Cups of water
- 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol
- 1/3 cup of white vinegar
- Olive oil to polish
How To:
- Add the water (cooled boiled), rubbing alcohol and white vinegar to the glass spray bottle and shake.
- Spray onto your stainless steel appliances and wipe off with a cotton lint free cloth.
- When dry put some olive oil on a cotton cloth and polish.
Store away fro heat and children and always label your homemade cleaning products
Floor Cleaner
This recipe contains vinegar so isn’t suitable for Stone Floors but just leave out the vinegar and the recipe will then be fine to clean your Stone Floors as well
Remember not to over wet your floors when cleaning them. Happy Mopping
You’ll Need:
- 2 cups warm water
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol (surgical spirits in the UK)
- 3 drops liquid dish soap
- 5-10 drops essential oils (optional)
How To::
- Combine all ingredients into a glass spray bottle and shake gently.
- Spray onto floor and mop.
- You can double the quantity if you want to use it in a bucket with a mop
Disinfect Toilet and Toilet Brush
Just cleaning with your general purpose cleaner is fine for most Loos but if you want to disinfect as well you can give it a quick spray with Rubbing Alcohol once you’ve finished cleaning.
You’ll Need:
- Glass spray bottle
- 1 Cup of cooled boiled water
- 1 cup of rubbing alcohol
How To:
- Add the water (cooled boiled) and rubbing alcohol to the glass spray bottle and shake.
- Spray onto your loo seat, top and bottom and around the toilet bowl.
- Leave to work for a few minutes then wipe clean with a cotton cloth
Caring For Your Toilet Brush And Cleaning Cloths
And, lastly here are a few tips for caring for your toilet brush and cleaning cloths.
- Always keep your toilet cleaning cloths separate from your other cleaning cloths. Soak in a solution of 50/50 water and rubbing alcohol before washing.
- To clean your toilet brush, if you use one. Once you’ve finished brushing your Loo during it’s weekly clean rinse the toilet brush under the flush water and rinse in the clean toilet water, spray with your loo cleaning rubbing alcohol solution (do this in the Loo) and leave under Loo seat to dry without rinsing the rubbing alcohol solution off.
Store away fro heat and children and always label your homemade cleaning products
Window / Glass Cleaner
Use this for streak free sparkling windows
You’ll Need:
- Glass spray bottle
- 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1 cup cooled boiled water
- 3 drops castile soap or eco friendly washing up liquid
How To:
- Combine all ingredients in glass spray bottle and shake gently to mix.
- Spray the windows / glass and wipe off with scrunched up newspaper or lint free cotton cloth.
- You can reduce the amount of rubbing alcohol and replace with cooled boiled water if you want.
Remember to label your bottle and keep away from heat and out of the reach of children
I hope you found these recipes useful, if you would like to see more natural cleaning tips and recipes check out my Home Cleaning and Organising section.
