After our article on
cool ways to use VapoRub, you might be wondering what other common household product can be used in new and interesting ways! Well we have you covered, with this guide of 10 surprising uses for Listerine, the mouthwash.
I never thought of using Listerine in these ways, let alone think they would work well! Truly incredible! Be sure to tell us below what you’ve tried and how well they worked. Also be sure to tell of us any neat and interesting tricks you do with other common household products! We would love to hear them.
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Listerine, really?!?
Yup! It turns out that the inventors of Listerine had imagined several more uses than just mouthwash.
In fact, according to Krazy Coupon Lady Listerine wasn’t even marketed for bad breath until the 1970s, almost 100 years after being created. Listerine was actually formulated in 1879 when its inventors were attempting to create a surgical antiseptic to help surgery wounds heal quicker.
Listerine actually has a wide variety of useful ingredients, such as thyme, eucalyptus, and alcohol. With a line-up like that, it’s no surprise that Listerine has a bunch of surprising uses.
Alright, time to get started. Scroll down to see some of these truly incredible uses!
1. Rubbing it under your arms
It turns out that Listerine actually helps fight underarm odors.
If you pour some on a cotton ball and gently dab it on your underarms, you can use it as a replacement for some deodorant if you’re in a pinch!
2. Soaking your feet in it
Did you know that you can use Listerine to get rid of toenail fungus? Well, according to Top 10 Home Remedies, you can!
Just pour some Listerine into a foot bath, let your toes soak in it for around half an hour and you should have clean, minty toes again!
If you’re still fighting the fungus after the Listerine bath, it is recommended to try mixing a bit of white vinegar into the Listerine to give it a bit more strength for those notorious cases. Your toes will thank you!
3. Clean your toilet bowl with it!
Pouring your Listerine down the toilet might seem like a bad idea, but hear us out! Listerine can actually clean and deodorize your toilet bowl just like new!
It turns out all you have to do, is pour a little into your toilet bowl, take your toilet brush and scrub a few of those problem areas with it.
Then your bowl will be super clean and have that famous Listerine minty smell.
4. Dabbing it on your itchy spots.
Dealing with a nasty bug bite can be really annoying. You know you shouldn’t scratch it, but sometimes you just do it.
Well it turns out that Listerine can help with that, too!
According to Dental hygienist Carrie Ibbeston, if you dab it on the problem areas, it will provide you some much needed relief. She wholeheartedly recommends it, saying “Listerine is my go-to source for stopping bug bites from itching like crazy.”
Carrie even recommends it for helping to deal with poison ivy or poison oak! As a green thumb this is something I never once thought of!
5. Get rid of dandruff
You might be wondering who would ever think of using Listerine to stop dandruff. Well, it turns out that Listerine was marketed by the company itself as a way to remove dandruff.
Using Listerine for this method never really caught on and the company decided to stop marketing it for this use. But according to Mommy Savers, the product still works amazingly for it.
All you have to do is massage some Listerine on your scalp, wrap your hair in a towel, give it some time to do its magic, and then wash it out. No more dandruff!
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6. Rubbing it on your dog
This is definitely one of the crazier ideas, but amazingly Listerine works here too. It turns out that you can use Listerine as an alternative to flea sprays.
The Krazy Coupon Lady recommends “mixing it with shampoo in a bath or diluting it with water and using it as a spray.”
Many pet owners have been using it this way as an alternative to the harsh chemicals in other flea sprays.
7. Fight acne!
Acne always seems to pop up at the worst times, doesn’t it? Well it turns out that you can actually use Listerine to fight acne.
One person wrote into the Seattle Times, to tell of how Listerine helped them. “I have tried all types of antibiotics and topical prescriptions on the market. Nothing has worked as well as applying Listerine morning and night,” the person wrote.
I’ll be sure to try this before the next wedding I have to go to!
8. Soaking your toothbrush
One of the more obvious, but perhaps missed uses is to actually soak your toothbrush in it.
Your toothbrush can often have a few yucky germs on it even after you’ve washed it. If you soak the head of your toothbrush in a small glass of Listerine, your brush will be as clean as new!
Make sure you let it sit for at least a few hours to do all its magic.
9. Clean your TV screen
Not only can your Listerine do all of the above, but you can even use it to clean your computer or television screen.
Sounds crazy? A little bit, but it actually works!
Simply spray a little bit on your computer screen and use a soft cloth to wipe away fingers, dust, and other gunk. It will leave your screen clean with a nice minty smell.
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10. In the trash can?!
And the last surprising trick, is to actually throw a paper towel soaked in Listerine at the very bottom of your trash can.
This will help keep your kitchen smelling clean no matter what you throw in there!
So what do you think? Are you gonna try any of these out? Heard any other interesting uses for Listerine? Be sure to tell us in the comments below!
Do you think Listerine’s uses end there? Nope! It turns out a researcher is testing to see if it can help cure a STD! Wow!