Kathy’s Home & Garden Tips – Do’s and Don’ts with Isopropyl Alcohol
The old first aid kit standby, also known as rubbing alcohol, is useful for more than sterilizing your pierced earring posts or that tweezer and needle you are using to extract that pesky sliver. But you do need to take care of where, when, and how you use it.
Do use it for the aforementioned sterilizing of tools for first aid. Watch out for the dilution of the alcohol. For disinfecting, you need 60-90% alcohol. The label will tell you the alcohol’s strength, so dilute accordingly, depending on your needs. You can also clean a small cut but do not use it on a large wound or over a large area of skin. It can delay healing and cause more skin irritation.
Do use rubbing alcohol to clean stainless steel appliances and chrome fixtures—dab on with a microfiber cloth and buff to a shine with a dry one. Disinfect countertops, toilets, and bathroom surfaces with this multi-purpose agent. Spray diluted with 2 parts alcohol to 1 part water on surfaces, and let dry.
Do not use on any painted, finished, varnished, or shellac surface. It will dissolve finishes. Also, do not use on treated wood. Alcohol does evaporate quickly but still gives off fumes, so use in a well- ventilated area. It is also highly flammable, so no open flames!
Do use it for stain removal. It’s excellent on microfiber furniture, as it does not stain like water-based cleaners. Spray on and blot with a clean white cloth, then rub to bring up the nap. It is great to remove hard to get out stains like ink, grease, and grass. Soak the spot in alcohol for a few minutes, and then launder. Do not use on synthetic materials or delicate materials like silk.
Do be careful using and storing isopropyl alcohol. It is toxic when ingested in even small amounts. Keep out of reach of children and clearly label any spray bottles. Hydrogen peroxide, another first aid staple, is safe to use, like gargling to relieve minor mouth sores. Dilute by half and gargle twice daily.
KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO
