Did you know that mouthwash wasn’t originally intended to be used for the mouth? In 1879, the liquid solution was first invented to be used as a surgical disinfectant, while its benefits for sanitizing the mouth were discovered much later.
Today mouthwash’s main purpose is to wash away debris and freshen breath. It’s certainly not a substitute for proper brushing and flossing, but it’s a great supplement to add to your oral care routine.
Its multipurpose antibacterial properties go even further, making it a useful alternative to many common household and personal care products. If you want to get your money’s worth and save yourself from having to buy other costly products, keep reading to find out what else you can use your favorite alcohol-based, sugar-free mouthwash for.
Five Alternative Mouthwash Uses
- Athlete’s Foot Treatment: Traditional mouthwash contains a number of antiseptic and antibacterial ingredients—methyl salicylate, eucalyptol and thymol to name a few—as well as alcohol. These are all very effective defenses against fungal infections like athlete’s foot. Get a cotton ball, soak it and apply it to any affected areas on your feet.
- Dandruff Treatment: Similarly, those same ingredients help to keep dandruff, also caused by fungus, at bay. To use, you’ll need to create a solution of 1-part mouthwash, 1-part witch hazel and 8-parts water and mix it up in a spray bottle. You can then spray it on your roots and scalp as needed.
- Deodorant: Mouthwash is effective at killing odor-causing bacteria, both in your mouth and under your arms. If you forget your deodorant on a trip or you want to freshen up during the day, but only have mouthwash on hand, you’re in luck. Simply saturate a cotton ball or tissue and apply like you would your normal deodorant.
- Washing Machine Refresher: Sometimes washing machines can develop a musty odor that you don’t know how to remove. Mouthwash’s antibacterial properties come to the rescue yet again! Add in a capful to your next laundry load and smell the difference. Just be careful about adding it to color loads as the dye in mouthwash could stain your clothes.
- Fresh Flower Enhancer: Fresh flowers don’t always last as long as we would like, but mouthwash can help to preserve them a little longer. Add a capful to the water in the vase you have them displayed in to control bacterial growth and extend their life.
Our favorite mouthwash use is still for oral health, but we hope these tips help to open your mind to mouthwash’s multipurpose benefits!