However, witch hazel should not be used by people with dry or extremely sensitive . 8. Research indicates witch hazel has both good and bad properties for skin. Method 1: DIY Insect Repellent. Leslie Reichert, natural-cleaning coach and the author of The Joy of Green Cleaning, has two beloved golden retrieversand the perfect cleanup routine. Additionally, due to its potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, you can use witch hazel around your house to deal with a broad array of problems, such as repelling insects, deodorizing stinky shoes, cleaning your dogs infected ears and much more. This is a great way to save money, since you can go through those Preparation H pads pretty quickly. Tea tree or eucalyptus oil packs a powerful odor-busting punch, but you can experiment with any combination of scents you prefer. Witch hazel may help heal hemorrhoids, which are dilated veins in the anus or rectum. They often form in the same locations as well (the thighs are common). Required fields are marked *. You can use this mixture as an air freshener anywhere in your house. Boil a tablespoon of witch hazel in a cup of water for 15 mins and then gargle with it. Soothe Sensitive Skin Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Its cost-effective and does a great job. Taste of Home is America's #1 cooking magazine. 6. It does clean the skin, and according to the Professional's Handbook of Complementary & Alternative Medicines, it helps to stop bleeding and reduce swelling 2. Who doesnt love to sparkle with jewelry? Add 6 drops of peppermint essential oil to the spray bottle. You can also put them in the sunlight for a few hours to let them dry completely. The total size of all your images should be less than 1 MB. Gross points out that this crucial step in your skincare routine sets you up to use other products and more powerful ingredients effectively. The antiseptic properties will reduce the chances that a bacterial infection will take root, and will also speed up the healing process. Either way, the anti-inflammatory properties of witch hazel will help to tame the inflammation and irritation, speeding up the healing process. Youll save a lot of money this way, as actual paint thinner can be quite expensive. Once again, the anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties of witch hazel will come to your rescue. Depending on the location of the window, your blinds may be subject to anything from cooking grease splatters to heavy moisture or dust. Using deep analytical testing and writing expertise in appliances, cleaning, textiles and organizational products, she produces cleaning and home care advice for GH, has authored numerous books and bookazines for the brand and partners with the American Cleaning Institute to co-produce the Discover Cleaning Summits. Hemorrhoids can cause irritation, bleeding, and discomfort. It's often distilled into an ointment or a concentrated extract that can be used in many different ways. Try mixing water and witch hazel in a 1:1 blend and applying it directly to the itchy areas. Create a simple yoga mat spray using witch hazel, distilled water, and tea tree oil. The quick-drying astringent witch hazel will tighten skin, setting the makeup and ensuring that you look your best throughout the entire day. Plus, why making DIY sanitizers and cleaning products is risky in the first place. Witch hazel is a popular folk remedy for spider veins. Transfer the solution to a squeeze bottle. Ineffective ingredients and inaccurate measurements can lead to poor outcomes that dont actually work. It can also reduce irritation of hair follicles that can inhibit new hair growth. Use witch hazel and essential oils to customize a room spray that will freshen the air in your home and help neutralize odors. Considering it can help with chicken pox, it is more than up to the task of taking care of a few bug bites! In a spray bottle, combine 1 cup of mineral water with 1 tsp. Our commitment to clean, safe and healthy environments. No synthetic scents or mysterious chemicals here! Witch Hazel products in your local drug store because common Witch Hazel is such a powerful first aid tool. If you really want to have a back-up hand sanitizer around, Dr. Adalja simply recommends applying straight rubbing alcohol to your hands. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Witch hazel is a botanical astringent from the plant Hamamelis virginiana. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. If youre interested in an odor neutralizer, add a few drops of clove or eucalyptus oil. This is true even if you do not suffer from acne or oily skin. Tip: This works best on high-shine flooring, including marble! Thanks to its astringent and anti-inflammatory properties, it has a number of holistic health and beauty useseverything from soothing itchy mosquito bites to cleaning minor cuts and scrapes. Share them with us in the comments below! (Just note that this can dry out your skin immensely, so apply hand cream afterwards.). 2. Witch hazel can be used to clean your jewelry, as it is comparatively mild and will not damage or tarnish precious metals or stones. At that point, you can grab it and pull it off successfully. Witch hazel (removes deposited impurities) as required, Tea tree essential oil (antimicrobial) 1 drop, Baking soda (scrubs out stains) as required. Stir the mixture together and start mopping. Forums Smoking Accessories Bongs, Dab Rigs, Bubblers, Water Pipes. Then apply your favorite formulation of Thayers Witch Hazel before adding a moisturizing cream or serum. This provides protection against infection and may also deter mites, since it is harder for pests to thrive in a clean environment. Though it is often found in commercially prepared hand sanitizer or DIY hand sanitizer recipes, it is included for its skin-soothing benefits rather than any germ-fighting ones. I would try hot water and salt first. Pour 4 tablespoons of witch hazel into the bottle as well. In high dosages, witch hazel can cause kidney and liver damage when it is taken internally. Now, lets get back to what you can do with witch hazel! We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. You can use a witch hazel solution for cleaning the cat's ears. Joann Pan is a content creator based in New York City. Spritz witch hazel on countertops and wipe it up with a microfiber cloth. But witch hazel should not be used to disinfect surfaces, and witch hazel alone is not an Environmental Protection Agency-approved product approved to disinfect surfaces. When you feel that little tingle that signifies you have a cold sore coming on, try applying a little witch hazel to the spot. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. She has a masters degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day. That same quality helps to tighten up the skin under your eyes. Can you put witch hazel in your ears? You can either buy it from the market or make your own at home. It also is great for personal hygiene, cosmetics, wound care, and more. One important note before we get into its multipurpose uses: Witch Hazel is not an adequate substitute for proper disinfectant. 9. Due to its medicinal properties and its action as an astringent, witch hazel can be used in a variety of ways for health and beauty. Its going to leave the finish just like glass. Its always a good idea to test any new cleaning product on a small, inconspicuous part of the material before applying it liberally. Witch hazel is well known for being a soothing and cooling remedy for hemorrhoids. Therefore, it has many important uses. Even with the best razor, it can be hard to avoid those painful little red bumps. is one of your best defenses against COVID-19. Doing it regularly is a huge help if you are acne-prone. As you can see, witch hazel is very handy around the house! Your jewelry tends to pick up the oil on your skin. All rights reserved. It should loosen up its grip. Its very important to get rid of ticks as quickly as possible, and witch hazel can help speed up the job. Put witch hazel on a cotton ball and wipe jewelry clean. water. While many of witch hazels uses are cosmetic, some of them are quite medicinal and include wound care and other health-related applications. 3. Your email address will not be published. Contrary to popular opinion, witch hazel has nothing to do with witches, magic or wizardry. Vaginal odor & witch hazel. You can honestly use whatever chemical to clean away the resin you want, just be sure that whatever you use . For this reason, teenagers sometimes get stretch marks as well during periods of accelerated growth or changes during puberty. It will be wet for a moment, but should dry quickly after soaking into your skin. Liquid Castile soap (breaks down hardened product) 1 teaspoon. Make Your Own Mosquito Repellant Bracelet, 17. 2. Is witch hazel an anti-inflammatory? This can come from fatigue, crying, allergies, or other irritants. The two main ingredients are witch hazel and rose water. The organic compounds within witch hazel make it a powerful astringent substance, meaning that it can help to tighten skin. It can be difficult to remove when not addressed right away, and many a garment has been lost to the mindset that nothing can be done once a bloodstain has set. cup aloe vera gel. Much like its shelf-mates hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol, witch hazel has a number of household uses beyond skincare and home remedies. The solvents in the Witch Hazel strip away old wax while the water dissolves dirt and debris. With that, people have tried to figure out how to make their own hand sanitizer and cleaning solutions. Next, submerge the pipe by filling the bag halfway with alcohol. Witch hazel can feel like a domestic solution for everything after all, there's a good chance that this plant-derived liquid has always been in your medicine cabinet. Always test on a small, inconspicuous patch of carpet first to check for the possibility of discoloration. This is one of best uses of witch hazel around the house. My favorite brand is Thayers, can be fo. If you find a tick rooted into your dog or cats body, deposit a few drops of witch hazel on top of it. Perhaps most commonly, it can be incorporated into a daily skincare routine as a facial cleanser or toner. Dip a cotton ball or pad into witch hazel and press it onto any cuts or bruises on your face. Your email address will not be published. Chicken pox is no fun for anyone. Use this witch hazel-based, all-purpose cleaner to clean your tiles, floors and even eliminate odor from your refrigerator. You know those annoying bags that show up under your eyes when youre tired? Reduce Itching From Poison Ivy & Poison Oak, 18. "It tends to tighten and dehydrate, thus exacerbating such conditions.". Winged critters arent the only things outdoors in the summer that can make you itch. Currently, we have thousands of easy crafts and tutorials, making us the biggest crafty site on the internet. Pour cup of water into a clean spray bottle. How To Clean Your Scalp With Witch HazelEliminate itchy scalp. If your pet has a minor cut or scrape, you can treat it with witch hazel just as you can do for yourself. I use it all the time. Around 20 minutes should do it. Sunburn is a form of inflammation, so witch hazels anti-inflammatory properties are ideal for quenching the burn. While it's generally applied to the outermost layer of skin to relieve itching and reduce swelling, it's also found within other topical and oral medicines. The EPA has maintained lists with approved disinfectants for killing germs, having also recently launched a list of cleaners that have been shown to neutralize the virus that causes people to develop COVID-19. 1 tablespoon witch hazel. This just smells clean. 1. If you have an acute or chronic skin irritation such as psoriasis, witch hazel makes for a great treatment. On that note, witch hazel can remove stains from your skin too. 5. These 9 Little-Known Uses For Flour Are Surprisingly Practical, 9 Unique New Uses For Your Old Kitchen Appliances. Washes can be made with distilled water Witch hazel alcohol or any mixture of the three you choose. Lavender essential oil (pleasant-smelling and antimicrobial) 7 or 8 drops. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Pour 3 tablespoons of warm water into a spray bottle. Follow up with a light, non-comedogenic moisturizer. Attach the spray nozzle and shake the bottle well. Carolyn Fort brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab. Step 1. You can use this mixture as often as you want. If you add some witch hazel to paint, you can thin it out. But heres another multi-use recommendation: witch hazel. (Spam-FREE), 10 Best Uses of Witch Hazel for Cleaning, Odor Removal and More, Single-Step Method: Mix witch hazel and cinnamon oil to make a natural spray repellent, Step 1. Appointments & Access. While clear glass windows and doors give a home an open and welcoming feel, keeping the glass free of dirt and smudges can often prove to be an arduous task. Add about 15 drops of tea tree essential oil. Definitely don't spray it on on purpose, cause witch hazel is too harsh for fresh piercings, but I wouldn't stress too much if it's just the odd bit of mist that misses your face. Cookie Notice Privacy Policy. But it's not a magical elixir, unfortunately, and it cannot be used to properly disinfect a surface to kill germs, including viruses and bacteria. Its really easy. It is a liquid extracted from parts of a flowering plant called the witch hazel plant," says board-certified dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, M.D. Thats because witch hazel is rich with tanninsnaturally occurring compounds found in plants, seeds, bark, and leaveswhich are known to have some antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Start at the top of the blinds and spray in a side-to-side sweeping motion, working your way down. If you have a sensitive scalp, you can dilute the witch hazel with . It can be applied with a cotton ball that remains on the skin as a compress, if desired. It should speed up the healing process and make it go away faster. It temporarily tightens the pores, reducing the appearance of large pores, she says. Although it is popular as a toner, it can be found in shampoos as well. Use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe down blinds, again starting from the top down and wiping side . Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Mens Health, Womens Health, Self, Glamour, and more. Combine all the ingredients together, Step 2. If the cold sore blister has already formed, put the witch hazel on it as soon as you can. Home Care & Cleaning Lab Executive Director, skincare products that are designed to relieve itchy skin, the outermost layer of skin to relieve itching, maintained lists with approved disinfectants, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Before each use, shake the bottle. I think its time to bring that bottle out of the cupboard and start putting it to good use! You can easily find. I asked her, How do you keep it so clean? and she said, I use club soda and witch hazel on it,' Reichert says. Add 1 or 2 drops of sage essential oil as well. While it may be used in sanitizing products or hand sanitizers, witch hazel is not meant to be used as a disinfectant. After the Witch Hazel has dried, she places one drop of lavender essential oil onto the skin and follows it with a squirt of her favorite lotion. You can also use the spray to treat bed bug bites, this makes this DIY insect repellent one of the best uses of witch hazel around the house. Toner Vs. Astringent Mosquitoes, biting flies, and other insects are thinking the exact same thing. Excessive sweating or perspiration can be quite embarrassing, especially if its accompanied by bad odor. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. and our Witch hazel (natural antiperspirant) 2 tablespoons, Aloe vera gel (antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory) 1 tablespoon, Baking soda (absorbs sweat and odor) teaspoon, Sage essential oil (fresh and fragrant scent) 1 or 2 drops. Whats more, The National Academy of Sciences specifically states that there is no evidence that witch hazel destroys germs, including the novel coronavirus.. First, shake and remove any leftover debris or bits of flower from the pipe's bowl. Use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe down blinds, again starting from the top down and wiping side to side. Disinfecting hard, nonporous surfaces from kitchen countertops to door knobs and even toilets can be achieved if you use the following mixtures. He has written about food and dining for Time, among other publications. The astringent qualities of witch hazel make it great as a makeup remover. William Schaffner, M.D., the medical director for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, says the best DIY remedies for a true disinfectant are bleach and water, or hydrogen peroxide, as well as isopropyl alcohol. Use an eyedropper to insert several drops of witch hazel into each ear to dry up pus and break up wax and .