15 Rubbing Alcohol Cleaning Recipes to Make Your House Sparkle (2024)

You may remember from our post on uses for rubbing alcohol that it’s a miracle solution. You can do so much with it! As it turns out, it makes a great addition to homemade cleaners, so we’ve found some of the most useful rubbing alcohol for cleaning recipes to share with you. What are you waiting for? Grab a spray bottle, and let’s start cleaning.

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Rubbing Alcohol Safety

Rubbing alcohol is not meant to be consumed. In fact, if you drink rubbing alcohol, it can be extremely poisonous and you need to seek medical assistance immediately. Here are some things you need to know before making cleaning recipes with this product:

  • This kind is made from isopropyl alcohol, which is different than what you find in alcoholic beverages. Not only is isopropyl toxic to consume, but also, it has toxic vapors which you shouldn’t breathe in.
  • When using rubbing alcohol with children, you should be extremely cautious. This is not a tool for them to use without supervision!
  • Rubbing alcohol also is flammable, so don’t do any of these fun projects near an open flame such as a candle.

Occasionally rubbing alcohol is hard to find at the store or can only be bought in limited quantities, it is very important to have some around the house. As we shall see, it’s a good cleaner and disinfectant that is cheap and versatile to have around the house.

Must-Try Rubbing Alcohol For Cleaning Recipes

1. DIY Linen Spray Form Rubbing Alcohol

You are going to need these common ingredients to make a towel and linen spray that will have your visitors and family just wowed!!

  • 30 Drops of Essential Oils (I love lemon and lavender combination)
  • 3 oz. Rubbing Alcohol
  • 1.5 cupsDistilled Water
  • Spray or empty hairspray Bottle
  • Funnel (or mix in a glass measuring cup for easy pouring)

Mix all these ingredients and pour them into a spray bottle. Apply lightly on your clean towels and linen as you fold them to leave your closet smelling like heaven.

This DIY linen spray is just as good as Febreze (smells better, actually), but you can make it for a fraction of the cost.

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2. Two Rubbing Alcohol Cleaning Recipes for Your Windows and Glasses

Glass Cleaner

Combine white vinegar and rubbing alcohol to get a very effective window, windshield, and glass cleaner. However, should streaks on the windows prove themselves to be more stubborn, a splash of cornstarch in the cleaner will help rub them right off.

This natural glass cleaner uses a surprise ingredient to get windows super clean and shiny. Any guesses? It’s cornstarch!

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Window Cleaner

And to get old windows clean on the outside, you can’t beat this mixture of 45% rubbing alcohol, 45% water, and 10% home ammonia. Remember to handle the ammonia with extreme caution.

If you have ever tried cleaning old windows or glasses that have been too long since they were last washed, you are familiar with a layer of grime that feels a bit oily and will just not come off with simple soap, or detergent, and water. This window and glass cleaner is guaranteed to make easy work of this grime.

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3. DIY Chemical-free cleaning wipes

Use chemical-free cleaning wipes to clean just about any surface in your home and out of bacteria. It’s made with vinegar, rubbing alcohol, dish soap, water, and essential oils.

Soak paper towels in this concoction and you have your own wipes that are cheap and work very effectively to clean and disinfect any surfaces. Unlike commercial towels, these disintegrate fast after disposing and so you do not have to worry about your waste littering the beach somewhere.

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5. Hardwood Floor Cleaner

You’ll never use another hardwood floor cleaner again after you make this version with vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and Dawn. Did you notice those are the three common ingredients in many of these cleaning recipes?

The rubbing alcohol will soak and dilute any stains off the hardwood leaving your floor looking clean and polished.

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6. Rubbing Alcohol Cleaning Recipes for Microfiber Furniture

Microfiber seats are easy to maintain and can take years before their age starts to show. As a result, microfiber material is a good choice especially for young families with toddlers running around. However, the material can get streaks of dirt that just refuse to come off and could be a source of great embarrassment.

Use pure rubbing alcohol again to clean your microfiber furniture. Just dab a cloth in rubbing alcohol and wipe down the streaks. I can’t tell you how badly we need to try this trick.

Please remember that rubbing alcohol will soak up any dyes in the fabric and so you may want to test the alcohol on a discrete portion of the sofa before you use this simple cleaning method. Otherwise, you’ll leave your sofa with patches of bleached colors

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7. Granite Countertop Cleaning Recipes Using Rubbing Alcohol

There is nothing quite as disappointing as finishing the dishes but your countertop looks messy. It feels like all the effort to clean the kitchen were for naught. However much you wipe the counter-top down, it does not shine and the joints still show some dirt.

Worry not, I will show you this DIY cleaner for granite that will polish the countertop and leave the entire kitchen looking professionally cleaned.

Combine 2 cups of water and 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol with a few drops of dish wash soap and essential oils for a heavenly smell in a spray bottle. Use this to wipe down the countertop and you will not be disappointed.

Make your granite countertops shine and sparkle with this granite cleaning recipe.

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8. Kitchen Disinfectant

It is said that the average kitchen holds more germs than a toilet, and why not, particles of food get into crevices where they fester and rear germs.

Worry not, a blend of bandit’s oil and rubbing alcohol sprayed over surfaces will get into every crevice and kill all germs and you can feel safe prepping your food on your countertop again.

Whip up your own kitchen disinfecting spray using this recipe. If you don’t have Bandit’s oil, no worries because she links to a tutorial to make your own.

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9. Polish Your Kitchen Sink

You don’t even need a recipe for this trick: polish your sink with a soft cloth and rubbing alcohol. Isn’t it shiny? What’s more, the sink will also be disinfected as a bonus by the alcohol.

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10. Daily Shower Spray

Bathroom tiles can be a hustle to clean once they get stained, and so, you should avoid having to do major shower scrubbing by using this daily shower spray instead. It makes keeping a clean shower so much easier, plus, with your choice of essential oil, the bathroom will smell fresh all the time.

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11. Poo-pourri

It’s not exactly a cleaning recipe, but this poo-pourri will save you embarrassment in the bathroom! Spray it before #2 to eliminate odors. It’s easy to make, you just need some water, rubbing alcohol, and an essential oil or two in a spray bottle. Making this bathroom deodorizer at home can really save you some money because the ingredients are inexpensive and the time to create the room spray is minimal!

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12. Toothbrush Sanitizer

Are you a total germophobe? If so, you’ll love this toothbrush sanitizer recipe. I never knew how many germs my toothbrush could harbor. Ew!

Dissolve some baking soda in water, add some rubbing alcohol, and an antibacterial essential oil of your choice to make this sanitizer for your toothbrush. Make sure to use just a small amount of rubbing alcohol since it is poisonous and the toothbrush will end up in your mouth at some point.

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13. Remove Labels From Jars Before You Can Reuse Them

This is one of my favorite rubbing alcohol uses! You can use rubbing alcohol to remove labels from any jar. Instant containers to organize everything in your house! The alcohol washes the dye right off and you have unmarked jars to reuse.

15 Rubbing Alcohol Cleaning Recipes to Make Your House Sparkle (14)viaDon’t Waste the Crumbs

14. Remove Acrylic Paint From Clothing

You have just completed your DIY painting project and have made a mess all over yourself, just wipe off the paint using some rubbing alcohol. Get acrylic paint out of your clothes when the paint is still wet. Timing matters! Acrylic painting may be water-soluble, but it still leaves stains on clothes so it is important to wipe it off before it can dry.

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15. Make Mildew Spray

Fight off mildew with a natural mildew spray made with vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and essential oil. While vinegar is the main ingredient, rubbing alcohol gives it a little boost.

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16. Homemade Shoe Deodorizer Spray

Mix equal parts of water and rubbing alcohol with a few drops of your favorite essential oil to finally cure the stinky shoe problem with this DIY shoe spray. It dries fast and smells great!

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17. Eyeglass Cleaner Recipe

Keep a bottle of eyeglasses cleaner in your purse, car, office, and at home. It’s super cheap to make thanks to this recipe. Some rubbing alcohol and liquid dishwashing soap is adequate to keep your glasses crystal clear and your vision 20-20

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More Rubbing Alcohol For Cleaning Tips and Recipes From One Crazy House:

  • Rubbing alcohol is both a solvent and a disinfectant that has a variety of medical and household uses. Learn more about rubbing alcohol uses and alcohol for cleaning recipes here.
  • Make your house smell fresh with these cleaning tips and homemade alcohol for cleaning recipes.
  • Green cleaning recipes are a great way to keep your home clean without using harsh chemicals. Find out more about green cleaning as well as some alcohol for cleaning recipes.
  • You do not need to buy expensive medicines at the pharmacy to enjoy a good sleep. Learn more about home remedies for leg cramps and how to cope with them with alcohol for cleaning recipes here.
  • Get hydrogen peroxide cleaning recipes, Hydrogen peroxide and alcohol for cleaning tips, Hydrogen peroxide uses, and more. Hydrogen peroxide is a safe and effective cleaner.

Which of these rubbing alcohol for cleaning recipes is most effective and beneficial for you? Let us know in the comments!

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15 Rubbing Alcohol Cleaning Recipes to Make Your House Sparkle (2024)

FAQs

How do you make house cleaner with rubbing alcohol? ›

Here you go: 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol, 3 drops Castile soap, 16 ounces of water. Just put in a spray bottle and enjoy!

Can I clean my house with rubbing alcohol? ›

Rubbing alcohol has many uses in your home, including cleaning and disinfectant purposes. You can also take advantage of its antiseptic and cooling purposes on the skin in small amounts. Remember to not drink it, use it on children, or use it near open flames.

Can I mix vinegar and rubbing alcohol? ›

You can also use vinegar to eradicate grime and soap buildup elsewhere throughout the shower including doors and in bathtubs. Glass Cleaner: Vinegar can be combined with water and rubbing alcohol to create a homemade glass cleaner.

Which cleans better vinegar or rubbing alcohol? ›

The argument can be made that isopropyl alcohol does an even better job than vinegar at disinfecting surfaces. However, be careful on finished surfaces as it can also dissolve varnishes, always keep the windows open, and never never never mix with bleach.

Can you mix Dawn and rubbing alcohol? ›

When you're searching for how to make Dawn Powerwash, you can't skip the rubbing alcohol. It is one of the ingredients that works to make it so powerful and effective at removing gunk and grime.

Can you mix Dawn and alcohol for cleaning? ›

It's a simple recipe. One. One. 11oz of water, ounces of isopropyl alcohol, and 3oz of Dawn dish soap.

What should you not clean with isopropyl alcohol? ›

It's Not a Friend to Wood or Leather

You can use rubbing alcohol on some surfaces like marble, limestone, or terrazzo, but not on wood. The chemical will damage a wood finish. And while it's safe to use in a pinch on coated leather, like in your car, over time, it will damage and discolor the leather.

Can you mix baking soda and rubbing alcohol? ›

Make your own air freshener using ½ cup of isopropyl alcohol, 2 cups water, 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 15-20 drops of your favorite essential oils. This will even remove the odor of cat urine!

Should you dilute rubbing alcohol for cleaning? ›

Alcohol's effectiveness at killing germs “drops sharply when diluted below 50% concentration,” and the optimal concentration for killing bacteria is between 60 to 90 percent, according to the CDC.

Can you mix vinegar Dawn and rubbing alcohol? ›

Mix vinegar, rubbing alcohol, water, and dish soap in a spray bottle. Spray onto stains, let sit, and wipe away with a cloth. Affordable and effective!

What happens when you mix apple cider vinegar and rubbing alcohol? ›

Yes, both rubbing alcohol and vinegar have disinfecting properties and can be used to clean and disinfect surfaces. However, again, it is not recommended to mix the two together as it can produce harmful fumes and may not be as effective in disinfecting.

What two chemicals should never be mixed? ›

Dangers of Mixing Household Chemical Cleaners
  • Bleach + Vinegar = Chlorine gas. This can lead to coughing, breathing problems, burning and watery eyes. ...
  • Bleach + Ammonia = Chloramine. ...
  • Bleach + Rubbing alcohol = Chloroform. ...
  • Hydrogen peroxide + Vinegar = peracetic/ peroxyacetic acid.

Is hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol better for cleaning? ›

Both hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol can kill germs. Generally, you can use rubbing alcohol on the skin and some surfaces while you can only use hydrogen peroxide on surfaces. Rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide are two common household cleaners.

What happens when you mix rubbing alcohol and white vinegar? ›

Using isopropyl alcohol and white vinegar together makes a quickly evaporating spray glass and mirror cleaner that competes with national brands. This can also be used to give a nice shine to hard tiles, chrome, and other surfaces.

What alcohol cleans the best? ›

Why Is 70% the Most Effective Concentration of Isopropyl Alcohol for Disinfection? Isopropyl alcohol, particularly in solutions between 60% and 90% alcohol with 10 – 40% purified water, is rapidly antimicrobial against bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

What is the ratio of rubbing alcohol to water for cleaning? ›

Homemade Disinfectant

Mix 2 parts rubbing alcohol to 1 part water in a spray bottle, and use it to disinfect points of contact and other germy areas. You can even use it directly on a cotton pad to clean your earring posts, thermometers, and any other personal items.

How much to dilute rubbing alcohol for cleaning? ›

While it is generally okay to use it at the 70/30 ratio, many detailers prefer to dilute it down to a 50/50 (Alcohol to Distilled Water) ratio for optimal results.

Is rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide better for cleaning house? ›

Both hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol can kill germs. Generally, you can use rubbing alcohol on the skin and some surfaces while you can only use hydrogen peroxide on surfaces. Rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide are two common household cleaners.

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