Listerine has been used over more than a century as an all-purpose disinfectant and cleaner. When not having a cleaner to hand made for that exact purpose, quite often Listerine would come to the unlikely rescue.
We list and explain how to use this exciting product 10 different ways for improved personal care, better cleanliness, and decisive disinfection when it really counts.
Read more >>
Listerine is not a new product. It was created in 1879 intended for use solely as an antiseptic for medical surgeries. The product itself hasn’t changed much over the years and still includes various useful ingredients including eucalyptus, thyme, and a dash of alcohol (don’t say we didn’t warn you!).
Related: The 30 Best Toothpaste Life Hacks Ever
Since its original invention, people have been playing around with this product to try it out for other purposes. The result is an extensive list of ways to use Listerine that weren’t originally intended, but nonetheless useful for consumers who don’t wish to have to purchase numerous products when one works so well.
Top 10 favorite ways people use Listerine:
- Foot bath and toenail disinfectant
Anyone who’s ever had a case of fungus on their toenails or other foot-related skin irritations, using Listerine as the basis for a foot bath is a useful approach to take. Bathing the feet for 30 minutes is about the right amount of time for this. When dealing with severe cases of fungus infection, then consider adding white vinegar to the concoction to make it even more potent.
- Dandruff Removal
Believe it or not, but Listerine received early promotion as an effective way to remove dandruff from the scalp and hair. If it worked for other people, it might also work for you. Try taking some of the product into your hands and massaging it directly into the scalp. You’ll want to leave the product in the hair for a period. It is best to wrap a turban using a towel to protect the carpet from any of the product dripping down. Once the time is up, wash the hair with running water to remove it from the scalp and hair.
Also read: 55 WEIRD THINGS EVERYONE DOES BUT NO ONE ADMITS
- Alternative to Deodorant
When pushed for time and unable to find your deodorant, you may want to try rubbing Listerine under your arm pits. This is a useful one when either your roll-on or spray deodorant runs out unexpectedly, and you’re not close to a store. The product does fight the natural body smell and reduces it down. Body odor occurs from hair interacting with sweat which creates bacteria; it’s the bacteria that smells. As Listerine is a strong disinfectant, it’s able to tackle the bacteria directly. Use a cotton ball, wet it with the product and dab the ball under your arm pits.
- Toilet cleaner
Just when you want to clean the bathroom, you discover that the cleaner has run out. Damn! Don’t despair, Listerine is here. Just use a small amount of the disinfectant, distribute it around the inside of the bowl and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. After this period, rinse it off by flushing the toilet. To bring the shine back to dirty toilets, try scrubbing the bowl with a toilet brush once the product has been applied.
- Flea Remedy for Dogs
The amount of money wasted on sprays and ointments to remove fleas from dogs is incredible. Pet owners attest that they’re often not effective, expensive on the pocketbook, and either the homeowner or the dog regularly get an allergic reaction to the treatment. Instead, why not try distributing a little Listerine over the dog’s coat and letting it seep through the fur. It is a good idea to mix the Listerine with water to reduce its potency first. People also find it works well when blended with dog shampoo first.
- Disinfect your Toothbrush
After brushing your teeth, your toothbrush lays there for another 12 hours and accumulates germs along the way. When brushing the teeth again, this bacteria transfers to your mouth. One way to avoid this is to use a glass with a little bit of Listerine in it and dip the toothbrush in head first. After two hours of soaking, the toothbrush is disinfected. Be sure to wash it off fully before next use.
- Acne relief
Dealing with acne is a daily hassle. Anyone who’s done the rounds of topical ointments and full-spectrum antibiotics will tell you that they don’t work for everyone. One way to use Listerine here is to use cotton wool balls and tip the bottle upside down with the cotton ball pressed over the top to dampen it. Then apply it to your face where the acne is most prevalent. At the very least, the disinfectant properties will reduce the instance of new flare-ups developing overnight.
- Monitor cleaner
Just like with regular cleaning solutions for the monitor screen, Listerine is an option for wiping the monitor of fingerprints and dirty marks that accumulate over time. A basic cloth is the best material to use. A side benefit is that the flavors offered with Listerine are preferable to the chemical aroma of computer monitor cleaning solutions.
- Minty Fresh Trash
When you have trash collection that is weekly or bi-weekly, the smell coming from the garbage pile gets pretty odorous after a while. One idea to combat that is to place some Listerine at the bottom of the trash bag to let the vapors rise up to help handle some of the bad smells. The disinfectant cannot completely remove the effect of food going stale or bad and the bad smell that results, but it certainly helps.
- Itchy Bites? Try this!
Anyone who’s ever had bites when sleeping in a motel or hotel bed can attest to how painful they are next morning. For bites that are itchy, try dabbing on some Listerine to disinfect the bite and cut out much of the uncomfortable feeling. It won’t instantly heal up the bite, but it will make it more pleasant to deal with until it is.
Leave a Reply