Isopropyl alcohol, or even isopropanol, is a terrific substance. It can be used as an antiseptic, cleanser and even a survival tool. It is not intended for human or animal consumption, and if it is accidentally ingested, a doctor should be contacted immediately. By learning how to use this product with the proper precautions, you can heal your wounds and keep your home cleaner.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Use Isopropyl Alcohol as an Antiseptic
Step 1. Use it to clean your hands
Isopropyl alcohol is an ingredient commonly used in the preparation of commercially available hand sanitizers. These products allow you to sanitize your hands in the absence of soap and water. Just rub for about 30 seconds or until the liquid evaporates and they manage to kill most of the bacteria on the skin. They often contain other substances, for example with a moisturizing action to avoid drying the skin, but they are not necessary. If you are unable to wash your hands with soap and water or want to make sure they are completely clean, you can use isopropyl alcohol to disinfect them.
- Pour a small amount into the palm of your hand.
- Distribute it by vigorously rubbing both hands for about 30 seconds until it begins to evaporate.
- Keep in mind that isopropyl alcohol and hand sanitizer do not clean your hands. If they are visibly soiled, you should wash them with soap and water to get rid of the dirt.
Step 2. Use it to heal wounds
Due to its antiseptic properties, isopropyl alcohol is often used to treat wounds. It kills germs by clotting their proteins. When a microorganism's protein solidifies, it dies quickly.
Pour a small amount on the skin surrounding the wound. This is especially true for puncture wounds, from which germs are at risk of entering the human body. Once the wound is clean, you can bandage it and, if necessary, see your doctor
Step 3. Disinfect your skin before giving an injection
Some medications, such as insulin, need to be injected. Before administering them, it is important to disinfect the skin to prevent bacteria from entering the body.
- Pour 60-70% isopropyl alcohol onto a cotton ball.
- Rub it thoroughly on the area of skin you will inject on. Don't pass it twice on the same spot.
- Wait for the disinfected area to dry completely before injecting.
Step 4. Disinfect some tools
Some tools for personal or home use, such as tweezers, can harbor bacteria that are likely to enter the body in case of injury. Therefore, it is important to disinfect them before use. You can do this with isopropyl alcohol.
Carefully dip the tips of the tweezers into the alcohol. Let them dry before use to make sure all bacteria present have been eliminated
Method 2 of 3: Use Isopropyl Alcohol as a Cleaner
Step 1. Use it to remove stains
Isopropyl alcohol has a strong stain removing action. Just mix 1 part with 2 of water. Once you have the solution, you can spray it or pour it on a cloth or towel and clean the stained fabrics.
Isopropyl alcohol can be used to treat grass stains before doing laundry. Apply the mixture described above to a stain, scrubbing the fabric thoroughly. Let it sit for ten minutes, then wash the item of clothing as you normally would
Step 2. Use it to clean the bathroom
Thanks to its antiseptic properties, isopropyl alcohol is often used to clean areas most exposed to germs, such as bathrooms. Apply it to a paper towel and pass it on bathroom fixtures, including faucets, sinks and toilets, to quickly clean and disinfect surfaces.
Step 3. Prepare a window cleaner
In addition to being a valuable aid in other household cleaning, it is also useful for cleaning windows. Just mix 500ml with two tablespoons of ammonia and two tablespoons of dish soap. Mix the solution thoroughly, then apply it to the windows using a spray bottle or sponge.
Method 3 of 3: Find Other Jobs
Step 1. Remove ticks
According to some people, it is possible to apply isopropyl alcohol on ticks to stun and remove them more easily. Even if it doesn't work, experts recommend this method for killing and storing the insect after removal. This way your doctor will be able to determine if it is a parasite that can transmit Lyme disease.
- Use a cotton ball to apply alcohol to the affected area. If not, you can pour it directly on the skin.
- Use a clean pair of tweezers (preferably alcohol sterilized) to grasp the tick's body as close to the surface of the skin as possible.
- Gently pull it up, being careful not to break it anywhere on your body.
- Put it in a jar or bottle filled with isopropyl alcohol. Make sure it is completely submerged.
- Use alcohol to clean the skin surface from which you removed the tick.
Step 2. Deodorize your sneakers
Use a spray bottle to apply isopropyl alcohol to your sneakers. It will kill odor causing bacteria, leaving them clean and deodorized.
Step 3. Remove the polish
If you run out of nail polish remover, you can use isopropyl alcohol. Pour some on a cotton ball and rub it vigorously on your nails to remove traces of nail polish. It won't dissolve them as easily as the special solvent, but it will still do its job.
Step 4. Do not use isopropyl alcohol in case of fever
An ancient folk remedy recommends applying it to the skin to lower fever. It is believed that, as it evaporates, it is able to offer a feeling of freshness. However, it can be very dangerous when applied to the body, especially that of a child. In fact, it happened that some children went into a coma after their parents applied it as an antipyretic remedy. Therefore, the use of isopropyl alcohol to relieve fever symptoms is strongly discouraged.
Advice
- Treat the wounds every day with a special ointment and bandage them with sterile bandages.
- Get everything you need for first aid, such as 70% isopropyl alcohol, sterile dressings, and wound ointment, in case of an emergency.
- Wait for the alcohol to evaporate before dressing wounds or giving an injection.
- Isopropyl alcohol can also be used to remove adhesive traces from hard surfaces and clean some beauty products, such as the mascara tube if you want to reuse it.
Warnings
- Do not apply isopropyl alcohol to deep wounds.
- Do not use it in case of fever. It is very dangerous and not recommended by doctors.
- Be careful not to ingest it. If this happens accidentally, call your doctor or emergency services immediately. Symptoms include intoxication, drowsiness and coma. It can even cause death.
