Do you remember that fresh pine scent after your parents cleaned with Pine-Sol? You may also have some Pine-Sol in your home now with your household cleaners and reach for it as your toilet bowl cleaner. But did you know that you can use Pine-Sol in many other ways?
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What Is Pine-Sol?
Pine-Sol is a concentrated, cleaning solution. Pine-Sol does not contain ammonia. Because it’s concentrated and widely available, Pine-Sol is a cost-effective solution for keeping your house clean. Use Pine-Sol diluted with water to get the most value from your cleaning supplies.
What Can I Clean with Pine-Sol?
You can clean “hard, nonporous surfaces, including floors, sinks, counters, stoves, bathtubs, shower stalls, tile, toilets, garbage cans and diaper pails” with Pine-Sol. Pine-Sol is safe on stainless steel and many other surfaces, especially when you dilute it. So, you can use one bottle of Pine-Sol throughout your home: in the kitchen, bathroom, living room, bedroom, laundry room, and garage.
Original Pine-Sol can also be used as a disinfectant, meaning that Pine-Sol can kill many germs in your home. According to Pine-Sol, Original Pine-Sol can kill 99% of germs, including the COVID-19 virus. However, when using Original Pine-Sol as a disinfectant, you will need to use it at full strength (meaning without diluting the Pine-Sol with water).
Besides Cleaning, What Else Can You Use Pine-Sol for?
Besides the usual cleaning methods with Pine-Sol, there are many other ways to experiment with Pine-Sol. Here are ten unexpected uses for Pine-Sol that others have tried and suggested:
- Deter pets from peeing
- Keep animals away from your trash cans
- Keep pests away from your home
- Keep flies away
- Remove paint from small objects, like miniature models
- Keep your bathroom smelling fresh
- Freshen up your laundry room
- Remove stains from fabrics
- Clean your laundry
- Kill pesky weeds
1. Pet Pee Deterrent
You can deter pets from urinating in your home by using Pine-Sol to clean up the areas that the pets have soiled. Using a mixture of ¼ cup Pine-Sol and one gallon of water, clean the area with a mop or cloth immediately after the pet has contaminated the area. During and after using the Pine-Sol, ensure to keep the pet from ingesting or touching the Pine-Sol.
2. Critter Free Trash Cans
Are raccoons or other pests bothering your trash? Try using a mixture of equal parts of water and Original Pine-Sol in a spray bottle. Spray the Pine-Sol mix in and around your trash cans to repel the pests. You can also soak pieces of cloth or cotton balls in Pine-Sol and leave them in and around your trash cans to keep pests away. As a bonus, your trash cans will smell better!
3. Keep Pests Away
The same mixture of water and Pine-Sol may keep other pests away. Leave pieces of cloth soaked in Pine-Sol in areas where you are trying to repel the pests.
4. Homemade Fly Spray
Are you heading outside to enjoy the weather? Or having problems with flies inside the house? Pour equal parts of Pine-Sol and water into a spray bottle and mix. Spray the Pine-Sol mixture on your deck, table, chairs, and cushions to keep flies away outside. Spray the mixture on your countertops or in areas indoors where you see the most flies to keep the flies away. For the outdoors, you can also try a mixture with 80% Pine-Sol and 20% of water to use to repel the flies.
5. As a Paint-stripper
If you need to remove paint and don’t have paint remover or want to use something safer on more surfaces, grab the Pine-Sol. Pine-Sol will remove enamel, oil paint, and acrylic paint from small objects, like miniature models. Submerge the object in a jar or bucket with undiluted Pine-Sol. Leave the object to soak in a well-ventilated area, and then use a toothbrush to scrub off the remaining paint.
6. Fresh Bathroom Scent
Do you want to keep your bathroom smelling clean in between regular cleanings? Fill your toilet brush holder with your favorite scent of Pine-Sol. Drop paper towels or cotton balls soaked with Pine-Sol for additional freshness into the bathroom trash can. And now there’s no need to purchase any air fresheners!
7. Laundry Room Scent
Similarly, you can use Pine-Sol to deodorize and freshen up your laundry room. Soak paper towels, old pieces of cloth, or cotton balls in Pine-Sol. Hang or place the soaked cloth (or paper towel or cotton ball) somewhere out of view in your laundry room. Now, your laundry room will smell as fresh as the rest of your house.
8. Stain Remover
Pine-Sol can help you remove grease and other heavy stains from furniture and clothing. Use the Pine-Sol at full strength and apply it directly to the fabric. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes, and then wash the item per the fabric requirements.
Be careful to use Pine-Sol only on whites and colorfast fabrics. To check if the fabric is colorfast, apply a small amount of Pine-Sol on an area of material that is hidden. Let the Pine-Sol sit for at least 15 minutes.
If you see any changes in the color of the clothing, then the fabric is not colorfast, and you should not use Pine-Sol with that item of clothing. If you do not see any changes in the color of the clothing, your fabric is colorfast. You can proceed to use Pine-Sol on other parts of the material.
9. As a Laundry Cleaner
Pine-Sol can be mixed in with your laundry detergent in your washing machine. Add ½ cup of Pine-Sol with your laundry detergent when you load your washing machine.
Pine-Sol is safe for many fabrics, including cotton and polyester. Adding Pine-sol to your laundry can help with softening fabrics. Pine-Sol also boosts the power of your laundry detergent for extra cleaning power. As a degreaser, Pine-Sol helps remove stains from greasy clothes. Of course, Pine-Sol also helps remove odors from fabrics so you can have fresher, cleaner clothing.
Be careful not to use Pine-Sol with dry-clean-only fabrics, silk, wool, or other fabric that may be delicate. Pine-Sol could potentially ruin these fabrics.
10. Weed Killer
If you’re tired of the weeds growing in the cracks around your driveway, you can try a mixture of equal parts of Pine-Sol and water. Put the Pine-Sol and water mixture into a spray bottle and spray the weeds. You can also experiment with a mixture of equal parts of Pine-Sol and Dawn dishwashing soap. Be careful not to spray any plants or grass you want to keep alive.
What Should You Not Use Pine-Sol for?
Do not use Pine-Sol on “marble, aluminum, or wood that is unfinished, unsealed, unpainted, waxed, oiled or worn.” Avoid using Pine-Sol on cars, as well. Using Pine-Sol on food-safe surfaces is also not recommended. Pine-Sol should not be mixed with other cleaners.
Pine-Sol is not safe for human or pet consumption. So you should ensure that children and pets do not accidentally consume Pine-Sol.
Pine-Sol is also considered an irritant, so use gloves and ensure the Pine-Sol does not come into contact with your skin for too long. And avoid getting Pine-Sol in your eyes. You also want to ensure that you use Pine-Sol in a well-ventilated area, especially when using it at full strength.
Do Bugs Like the Smell of Pine-Sol?
No, bugs aren’t fans of the smell of Pine-Sol. In fact, Pine-Sol can repel flies and cockroaches. However, the pine oil in the Pine-Sol may be what repels the bugs. Unfortunately, most Pine-Sol on store shelves no longer uses pine oil as the main ingredient. However, Pine-Sol with pine oil as the active ingredient can be purchased directly from the Pine-Sol company.
Will Pine-Sol Keep Flies Away?
Yes, Pine-Sol can keep the flies away. You can spray an area or items within an area with a mixture of Pine-Sol and water. However, as noted above, the pine oil may be what repels the flies. If that is the case, you will need to purchase the Original Pine-Sol with the pine oil from the Pine-Sol company.
Can You Pour Pine-Sol Down the Drain?
Pine-Sol is safe to pour down the drain. It is also safe for septic systems. You can also safely pour Pine-Sol down your garbage disposal to remove odors. So, feel free to rinse your rags containing Pine-Sol in the sink.
Can I Add Pine-Sol to My Laundry?
Yes, you can. Pine-Sol is a degreaser. So you can use Pine-Sol as a stain remover and in your laundry. Use a sponge or cloth to add the Pine-Sol directly to the stain. Add ½ cup of Pine-Sol with the laundry detergent when you load your washing machine to clean your laundry. Note: Only add Pine-Sol into your whites or colorfast loads to keep your clothing looking its best.
Pine-Sol can also be used to clean the surfaces of your washing machine and dryer.
Go Forth and Use Your Pine-Sol
Pine-Sol has been available for decades. Countless families have used Pine-Sol over the years to clean and deodorize. Chances are that you have some now amongst your cleaning supplies. Given its effectiveness as a cleaner and degreaser and the low cost and wide availability of Pine-Sol, it is no wonder we still use Pine-Sol so much.
But, now, you can take the same Pine-Sol you are using in your bathroom and experiment with using it in new and unexpected ways. Even if you find that one of these ways isn’t as effective as you hoped, at least you’ll have the nostalgia of that wonderful pine scent.
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