Commercial witch hazel in particular can sometimes irritate the skin, depending upon the . This may actually prevent it from becoming a full-on blister. Add a half cup of witch hazel to a gallon of water and use for mopping the floor. 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. This provides protection against infection and may also deter mites, since it is harder for pests to thrive in a clean environment. Witch hazel is a naturally occurring astringent that constricts blood vessels, which in turn reduces swelling and inflammation. Three, it's useful for hemorrhoids, which are, of course, the bane of all existence. 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. 44 Comments. What an easy and exciting recipe! In fact, its arguably one of the most effective treatments I have ever tried, and certainly among the cheapest. 2. Witch hazel is safe enough on metal and gemstones that you can do this regularly. 6. Fill a spray bottle with witch hazel and lightly mist floors, then give them a pass with a microfiber mop. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Have a look. Two, witch hazel's acidic temperament can help restore the vaginal environment after you give birth. Continue reading to learn the 10 best uses of witch hazel for cleaning, odor removal and more. You can use witch hazel in combination with various antimicrobial essential oils to make a DIY spray that will eliminate the foul odor and bacteria from your shoes. Depending on the size of your spray bottle and how strong youd like your scent to be, youll want to use anywhere from 10 to 30 drops of essential oil. This will make it tougher on soap scum, mildew, and stains. 15 drops thieves essential oil. The puffiness and redness should be gone, or at least greatly reduced. Leftover residue from stickers, price tags, or labels can be maddeningand notoriously tough to eliminate completely. The stain should lift right off! But the fact that witch hazel is associated with hand sanitizer doesn't mean it's a disinfectant it's mostly included for its holistic health benefits. Witch Hazel products in your local drug store because common Witch Hazel is such a powerful first aid tool. Please login or create a free account to comment, What Is Witch Hazel Good For 26 Magic Ways To Use Witch Hazel, What Is Witch Hazel Good For? and our Lets find out what they are! Use the spray to clean your makeup brushes, Step 1. As such, the amount of witch hazel you use to clean a wound, should be fine for your dog to lick at a little bit, But you don't want to let them be excessive about it (especially if you used a witch hazel product that contains isopropyl alcohol). I get some of my face stuff on my nostril piercings accidentally, and it doesn't seem to have bothered them yet (2 months old, and healing with litha). Astringents shrink or tighten tissues in your body. You should only use witch hazel a few times a week to avoid over-drying or stripping away the skin's natural protective barrier. It only costs a few dollars, and a little bit goes a long way. Sage is one of the best because it also has deodorant properties, and smells awesome. Add a teaspoon of salt in the bag. The witch hazel will improve drainage in your face, which will speed up healing. As you can see, witch hazel is very handy around the house! Just massage it into your scalp, and then follow it up with your standard shampoo and conditioner in the shower and rinse it all out. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Cautions Of Using Witch Hazel On The Skin. Combine water and witch hazel in a spray bottle, Step 3. Witch hazel is often sourced for skincare solutions and topical treatments for pain. 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. All can effectively neutralize germs associated with the novel coronavirus. 2. Currently, we have thousands of easy crafts and tutorials, making us the biggest crafty site on the internet. Witch Hazel has the unique ability to clean skin pores and absorb excess oil without leaving skin too dry. Use this witch hazel-based, all-purpose cleaner to clean your tiles, floors and even eliminate odor from your refrigerator. Can you put witch hazel in your ears? Place the weed pipe in the plastic bag. Witch hazel is a tree-like plant indigenous to North America and parts of Asia. Once again, the anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties of witch hazel will come to your rescue. Given that COVID-19 is a newly-discovered virus, theres a lot scientists dont know about it. The skin-tightening and deep cleansing powers of witch hazel give it a wide variety of uses in your morning and evening routine. While it may be used in sanitizing products or hand sanitizers, witch hazel is not meant to be used as a disinfectant. If you have a light scrape or cut, you can use witch hazel to clean and disinfect the wound site. The best way to do this is by mixing it with some white toothpaste first. Add 3 to 4 drops of cinnamon essential oil as well. Make the experience into a small, personal ritual and leave an offering of nuts, or similar, suitable food for the birds, mice, squirrels, etc. If the cold sore blister has already formed, put the witch hazel on it as soon as you can. Looking to do some quick maintenance mopping? And who wouldnt want shiny jewelry? Pour cup of witch hazel into a spray bottle. Pour 2 tablespoons of witch hazel into a spray bottle. You will be stunned at the difference when your hair dries! Got no rubbing alcohol to clean glass minibong with, will Witch Hazel work? Even with the best razor, it can be hard to avoid those painful little red bumps. AROUND ur vagina, like on the lips and around ur anus i recomend it. To make your own odor-removal spray, simply combine witch hazel with absorbent baking soda and fresh-smelling lavender essential oil. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Witch hazel is a medicinal plant. Its grease-cutting properties make it ideal for removing any residue lingering on the slats of your blinds, but it wont damage them or dry them out. Full Answer Witch hazel is not recommended for people with rosacea, a skin condition that causes redness and swollen bumps to form on your face. First, shake and remove any leftover debris or bits of flower from the pipe's bowl. When you have a spill, prevent it from setting with that combination. 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. It should speed up the healing process and make it go away faster. , you can use Witch Hazel as a mild disinfectant for cuts or scrapes thanks to the natural grain alcohol that appears in most brands you can buy over the counter! Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Click on button and make sure to select all the images you want to upload. Dampen a cotton ball with witch hazel and wipe down rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings to rid them of the oils they pick up from your skin during wear. Combine water and witch hazel in a spray bottle. After you wipe it down, you can just leave it to dry off. However, you need to know the proper solution for using it, and to make it, you need to have a half-gallon of water, one gallon of vinegar, eight ounces of witch hazel, and 16 ounces of lemon juice and mix them all together. Rinse and launder as usual. Dont miss a thing by downloading Apple News here and following Prevention. For a little extra boost of cleaning power on heavily soiled floors, add 1 tablespoon of borax to the mopping solution. For jewelry that hasnt been cleaned in some time, you can also soak pieces for about 20 to 30 minutes in a small dish or glass filled with witch hazel. 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. The astringent qualities of witch hazel make it great as a makeup remover. But heres another multi-use recommendation: witch hazel. Shake the bottle well to thoroughly mix all ingredients. Be sure to use a gentle soap that wont be too harsh on your glasses. Strain, and mix with vodka or pure grain alcohol at a ratio of two to one; for example, two cups witch-hazel water to a cup of vodka. She has a masters degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day. You will be amazed at how useful it is, and how much money it ends up saving you over time. 6. Instead of spending a lot of money on expensive floor cleaning solutions, just pour half a cup of witch hazel into a gallon of warm water. Just spritz a little into the air to get rid of foul, musty odors. If you have frizzy hair, witch hazel can help you to tame your locks. Pour cup of water into a clean spray bottle. Curious has anyone ever tried witch hazel on leather? You can customize it to your hearts content, and the scents are actually natural. Research indicates witch hazel has both good and bad properties for skin. Privacy Policy. Witch hazel (removes deposited impurities) as required, Tea tree essential oil (antimicrobial) 1 drop, Baking soda (scrubs out stains) as required. "I use it a lot on a granite or marble because you can't really put anything harsh on those," Reichert says. Just as the antiseptic and anti-inflammatory powers of witch hazel are great for you, they can be helpful to your pet as well. For oily or acne-prone skin, a quick swipe of Witch Hazel throughout the day is a great way to remove excess oil without the hassle of a full face wash . Gargling with witch hazel can heal inflamed gums and reduce the pain dramatically. Spray the solution like an air freshener to eliminate foul household odors. Again, witch hazel is an astringent, which means its has chemical compounds that shrink or constrict body tissues. Start at the top of the blinds and spray in a side-to-side sweeping motion, working your way down. I use essential oils a lot to get rid of odors, but you cant just spray essential oils into the air. Stick to store-bought disinfectants or, for DIY disinfecting, hydrogen peroxide, bleach, or isopropyl alcohol. Massaging your scalp with full-strength witch hazel before shampooing will strip away oil and dandruff, making your shampoo more effective. Remove the dried flowers either with a slotted spoon or by straining the liquid into a separate bowl . All you need to do is combine one part water with one part witch hazel (you can also use isopropyl alcohol), and one drop of soap. Next, submerge the pipe by filling the bag halfway with alcohol. Wash your face prior to using this product. Add a bandage, and youre set. Your email address will not be published. When used as a toner, witch hazel can reduce inflammation caused by acne and decrease excess oil. And, in particular, are DIY disinfectants and sanitizers even effective? In addition, it is a cheap solution that is very easy to find in just about any grocery store or drug store. Soothes Sore Throat. It is in fact a medicinal liquid extracted from the witch hazel shrub (hamamelis virginiana) found in North America. One great way to get it to heal quickly is by applying witch hazel using a cotton ball. Yes to Tea Tree Soothing Scalp Treatment $8.00. The wound will be less likely to infect, and the soothing effect will help to calm down your furry friend. Add 2 or 3 drops of lavender essential oil as well. Joann Pan is a content creator based in New York City. Pair it up with a natural product containing activated charcoal for the best effect. As with most other things, you must expect that there are some manufacturing differences between brands.Some companies might choose to add preservatives, alcohol, or other ingredients to enhance the product but for the most part witch hazel is an all-natural extract great for cleansing, skin repair, and fighting bacteria. But what else can it do? However, health officials do know that washing your hands well and often (with soap and water for at least 20 seconds!) You may come across recipes online that call for witch hazel in cleansers or sanitizing agents, especially if it's meant to be applied on the skin. You can use a witch hazel solution for cleaning the cat's ears. Witch Hazel typically contains only 13-14% alcohol, which means it wont get the job done for this task! If you are trying to scrub a tough stain off of a surface, try using witch hazel. Email and Push Notification Subscriber Settings. Keep in mind that it doesnt actually shrink your pores, though. That raises a major question: Does witch hazel actually kill germs? You can then disinfect the site using the same witch hazel. Leave the witch hazel on for 5 to 10 minutes. Carefully place the pipe in your sealable plastic bag or container. It can help to soothe itching and reduce redness and irritation. You can also use the witch hazel as a soak if you prefer. Much like its shelf-mates hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol, witch hazel has a number of household uses beyond skincare and home remedies. One important note before we get into its multipurpose uses: Witch Hazel is not an adequate substitute for proper disinfectant. Put the piece of dirty jewelry in the cleaning solution. Katta warns against using witch hazel to treat sunburns, rashes, poison ivy and bug bites. You just dab some on a cotton ball and carefully wipe down your jewelry. That is why it works so great to shrink pores and reduces the appearance of stretch marks. Take a 10-minute catnap, sit up, and look in the mirror. I would try hot water and salt first. Flavonoids, tannins, and a few other naturally occurring compounds found in witch hazel give it a natural astringency. In your medicine cabinet, next to the hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol, you may have a bottle of witch hazel. Alternatively, you can spritz the witch hazel solution directly onto the microfiber cloth and wipe down blinds, refreshing the cloth with additional sprays of solution as you go. Use as needed to sanitize your hands. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. While some of its antioxidant components are beneficial, specific tannins in witch hazel (such as hamamelitannin) are sensitizing and present in higher amounts than many other plants. Varicose veins are an unsightly cosmetic blemish with a similar appearance to stretch marks. No synthetic scents or mysterious chemicals here! The combination of Witch Hazel. 20 DIY Gym Gear And Clothing Ideas For The Best Workout Ever, 10 Homemade Recipes For Relief From Hay Fever And Seasonal Allergies, 25 DIY Essential Oil Sprays You Need In Your Home Right Now, 23 Homemade Remedies To Get You Through The Cold And Flu Season, DIY Heart-Shaped Gift Box from Upcycled Plastic Bottle, Upcycled Plate Earring and Jewelry Holder. FEMININE HYGIENE TIPS 101 Use witch hazel with Aloe Vera, alcohol free to keep your bum bum fresh throughout the day. (Just note that this can dry out your skin immensely, so apply hand cream afterwards.). Witch hazel is an astringent that is often used as a natural topical remedy. Doing it regularly is a huge help if you are acne-prone. When the coronavirus pandemic first hit the U.S. last spring, finding hand sanitizer was difficult. It can relieve itching, burning and irritation caused by hemorrhoids or bowel movements. 6. Depending on the location of the window, your blinds may be subject to anything from cooking grease splatters to heavy moisture or dust. Press a cotton ball soaked with witch hazel firmly on the sticky gunk for about 2 minutes, then gently scrape away residue with the dull side of a butter knife or similar tool. Witch Hazel & Rosewater Toner. 5. Study: Erythritol May Raise Risk of Heart Disease, does kill the virus if you apply it properly, approved antimicrobial cleaning products for COVID-19 here, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Her work has appeared on Oprah.com, Mashable.com, The Huffington Post and more. It's an astringent, which Dr. Engleman says can help tighten up pores (making them temporarily look smaller). Apply the witch hazel to the bruises or cuts 2 to 3 times a day. Toner Vs. Astringent 1. The astringent breaks down the sticky bonds for easy removal. Youll love our magazine! For this reason, teenagers sometimes get stretch marks as well during periods of accelerated growth or changes during puberty. Its kind of the same way with cleaning, says Reichert. Witch Hazel Sitz Bath. 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. Combine all the ingredients together, Step 2. They often form in the same locations as well (the thighs are common). Thanks good to know.I just bought a new one for $10 but some people smoke that nasty tar. You can do this several times a day if you need toand if you dont feel the relief that youre after, try any of these five other natural sunburn remedies. For more information, please see our You can use this as you would a commercial witch hazel preparation: splashing or spraying . Its even great for fighting odors in stinky gym shoes! Away with those bags! (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=bd5526af-9c84-429a-baca-e1c4e1072ef9&cid=877050e7-52c9-4c33-a20b-d8301a08f96d'; cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: "bd5526af-9c84-429a-baca-e1c4e1072ef9" }).render("7917806a0d7f4109a1cb2a4492c81a1a"); }); Reichert started using witch hazel to brighten carpets after going into a clients home and seeing her decades-old white carpet in perfect condition. If youre a fan of essential oils (many use them for their nice-smelling, mood-boosting benefits), you know you need to combine them with a carrier oil or a base so youre not putting high concentrations directly on the skin. You can gently clean the outside and inside of your pets ears using a cloth soaked in witch hazel. The organic compounds within witch hazel make it a powerful astringent substance, meaning that it can help to tighten skin. But this problem can be solved easily. Keep a bottle near your home workout area or in your gym bag for exercise on the gothough we recommend not using this on communal equipment in case others are sensitive to any of the ingredients. Vinyl, linoleum, and tile floors can be kept clean by mopping once a week with a solution made from 1/2 cup of Witch Hazel and 1 gallon of warm water. Have a cold or laryngitis? Excessive sweating or perspiration can be quite embarrassing, especially if its accompanied by bad odor. Oh, and were on Instagram too. Witch hazel can reduce swelling, dry the excess mucus and reduce pain. 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. By Carolyn Fort and Zee Krstic Published: Apr 3, 2020 Save Article Either way, the anti-inflammatory properties of witch hazel will help to tame the inflammation and irritation, speeding up the healing process. Spritz the solution where you want to repel bed bugs or other insects. Yes, although using witch hazel is not safe for cats, using witch hazel for cat fleas is effective. That means witch hazel should not be used as the single germ-fighting ingredient in DIY cleaning or sanitizing solutions (more on that in a minute), including those made to try and wipe out COVID-19. Fill your bong with warm water, and while holding your hands over the shaft and mouth-hole, give the bong a good shake. Witch hazel topical side effects. You can make your own natural DIY antiperspirant by combining witch hazel, aloe vera gel, baking soda and sage essential oil. So pick up a bottle! Taste of Home is America's #1 cooking magazine. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Your email address will not be published. Prior to joining GH in 2019, Zee fostered a nutrition background as an editor at Cooking Light and is continually developing his grasp of holistic health through collaboration with leading academic experts and clinical care providers. How To Make A Mood-Boosting Essential Oil Spray, How To Make Your Own Natural Deodorant (Stick Or Spray), 11 Unexpectedly Useful Things You Can Do With A Coffee Filter. 1. and was widely used as an herbal medicine s by Native Americans. 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. Infuse dried flowers in boiling water for 30 minutes, then allow to cool completely. While not a skincare use, witch hazel's cleansing properties can also be used to clean other surfaces. Remove your makeup with it. With that, people have tried to figure out how to make their own hand sanitizer and cleaning solutions. Bathing daily also helps keep the skin clean, lowering the chance of skin infection. Witch hazel turns out to be a phenomenal cleaner for your bathroom. Witch hazel can tighten loose skin around the scars (which is really what stretch marks are), which in turn can reduce their appearance. Whats more, The National Academy of Sciences specifically states that there is no evidence that witch hazel destroys germs, including the novel coronavirus.. 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. It also can work on you or your kids if one of you picks up a tick. Witch hazel can help with acne. Transfer to a pump or squeeze bottle and use for up to 2 weeks. To clean the outside of the ears, apply several drops to a swab and rub around the inside of the ears. .css-1pm21f6{display:block;font-family:AvantGarde,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0.3125rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-1pm21f6:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-1pm21f6{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.3;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-1pm21f6{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.3;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1pm21f6{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.3;}}Study: Erythritol May Raise Risk of Heart Disease, 11 Best Cooling Mattress Pads for Sweat-Free Sleep, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Shares AFib Diagnosis, 6 Staph Infection Signs You Should Never Ignore, Why Self-Care Is Important for Long-Term Health, The Most Common Signs of Burnout, Explained, Heart Health Is the Secret to a Sharper Brain, Bethenny Frankel, 52, Details POTS Syndrome Battle, The Best Cooling Pillows for Hot Sleepers. Now, lets get back to what you can do with witch hazel! Spritz witch hazel on countertops and wipe it up with a microfiber cloth. Attach the spray nozzle and shake the bottle well to mix the ingredients together. Its really easy. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Simply applying witch hazel after you shave can soothe your skin and reduce inflammation, preventing razor burn from forming at all. Spritz the deodorizing spray inside the stinky shoes. Cover your ear with a cotton ball or clean cloth and lean on your side to let drops enter and sit in the . If you find a tick rooted into your dog or cats body, deposit a few drops of witch hazel on top of it. While many of witch hazels uses are cosmetic, some of them are quite medicinal and include wound care and other health-related applications. Dont leave this stuff behind on your next hiking or camping trip! Just dab a couple of cotton balls in witch hazel, and then set them on top of your eyelids. Yeah . Witch hazel makes for a great alternative for a lot of jewelry cleaning jobs. Around 20 minutes should do it. Combine 1 cup of witch hazel, 1 cup of water, and a drop of dish soap in an empty spray bottle and shake well. Sometimes you dont have bags under your eyes, but you get a kind of general puffiness. Leslie Reichert, natural-cleaning coach and the author of The Joy of Green Cleaning, has two beloved golden retrieversand the perfect cleanup routine. Combine: 1 tsp witch hazel. Put cup of aloe vera gel in a container. $33. Witch hazel extract can mix with water or alcohol to form witch hazel water or distilled witch hazel extract. 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. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This makes the healing process much faster and can slow down bleeding of an open wound. The wipes and pads are used to relieve itching, burning, and irritation caused by hemorrhoids or bowel movements. Transfer the solution to a squeeze bottle. Your jewelry tends to pick up the oil on your skin.