Wound healing involves a number of complex processes in the body. We'll talk about the four stages and what to expect with each. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.
Medical practices Home health Household cleaning What not to use it for Takeaway Rubbing or isopropyl alcohol is a common and surprisingly versatile household item.
Medical practices. Home health. Household cleaning. What not to use rubbing alcohol for. The takeaway. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Rubbing alcohol more formally known as isopropyl alcohol has a variety of uses for health, hygiene and household. Some of them might surprise you, so we spoke with Sarah Pickering Beers, MD to learn more about how to use this versatile tool and how to be safe when using it.
The rubbing alcohol you buy at the drugstore is a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water. Beers says. Alcohol is handy for disinfecting household tools like thermometers, scissors and manicure tools. You can even use it to clean makeup brushes: Swirl the brush in a small cup of rubbing alcohol, then allow it to air dry.
Use rubbing alcohol to zap germs on high-touch surfaces like your phone, keyboard and computer mouse. Use a small amount on a cloth to wipe surfaces clean. Rubbing alcohol can get rid of the bacteria that leads to armpit stink. But how exactly does it work? COVID is a virus. Viruses are different from infectious bacteria, but the two do share something in common — how they survive outside of a host body.
Bacteria and viruses protect their insides with a membrane made up of oils and water. While intact, that membrane allows microbes to exist for long periods of time on surfaces such as tabletops, doors, floors — you name it. But if the membrane is breached, the microbe dies instantly. Isopropyl alcohol dissolves those protective oils and dries the bacteria or virus. This is why medical facilities routinely wipe surfaces and why in the wake of COVID, virtually everyone has been taking precautions to keep their personal property sterile via rubbing alcohol or other disinfectants.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology AAD , people can use rubbing alcohol to help clean the skin around new ear piercings. To do this, a person should dip a cotton ball or pad into the rubbing alcohol. They should then gently wipe it around the piercing on the front and back of the ear. People should clean the piercing twice a day to help prevent bacterial infections and scabbing.
It is important to note that some experts disagree with this advice, recommending that people avoid using rubbing alcohol because it might slow the healing process.
Rubbing alcohol can help kill odor-causing bacteria. A person can apply rubbing alcohol under the armpits to help eliminate body odors. However, they should avoid applying rubbing alcohol soon after shaving, as this will cause stinging. Shoes can develop a strong odor, particularly if a person wears them while exercising or doing other physical activity. Spraying the insoles of the shoes with rubbing alcohol can help eliminate odor-causing bacteria. A person should fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and use this to spray the insides of the shoes.
Leaving the shoes in the sun will help dry them out. It is possible to make a room deodorizer by pouring rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle and adding a few drops of an essential oil. A person can then spray the mixture around the room to help mask unpleasant odors. By mixing water and rubbing alcohol, a person can create a reusable and malleable homemade ice pack.
They can follow these steps:. Once the ice pack is ready, people can apply it to sore muscles or joints to relieve pain and inflammation. Rubbing alcohol can help clean and disinfect hard surfaces.
It is effective against most, but not all, pathogens. The main ingredient in rubbing alcohol is isopropyl alcohol IA. Rubbing alcohol can also help disinfect household items, such as bathroom or kitchen sponges or cleaning cloths. A person should pour some rubbing alcohol onto the sponge or cloth and let it soak for several minutes or hours inside a sealable container.
Alcohol evaporates quickly and can kill pathogens on phones, laptops, tablets, and other devices. A person should apply a small amount of the rubbing alcohol to a paper towel or cloth and gently wipe it across the electronic device. This chemical can also help remove water from an electronic device if a person accidentally drops it into water or spills some water on it.
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