In university, the only use we tend to get out of our alcohol is drinking it. There are many different types of drinks college students come to be familiar with over the years, but believe it or not, there are other ways to get your money's worth. I'm here to fill you in on the different uses of liquor you can get with those frequent (and costly) trips to the liquor store.

Homemade Mouthwash

cake, tea, coffee
Razan Kawar

If you've got some cheap vodka laying around, you may want to experiment with making your own mouthwash. Just add some water and a food-grade essential oil of your choosing (for example, peppermint) and you've got yourself an easy fix for bad breath in the morning. 

Antiseptic 

candy, coffee
Razan Kawar

Yes, it will sting, but if you've got a shallow cut or wound, but a good use for alcohol is to apply it to the cut to kill the bacteria. It's quite simple and you don't have to use very much to get the job done. 

Baking 

cake, pastry, sweet, pie, cream, dairy product, chocolate
Paige Delany
If you haven't been using vodka in your pie crust, you may want to start now. With a flakier and lighter crust, you'll be reaching into your liquor stash to bake that apple pie more often. If you're interested in more ideas for baking check out these 3-ingredient boozy brunch muffins. 

Freshen Clothes 

alcohol, beer, liquor, wine, water
Razan Kawar

Believe it or not, spritzing a little bit of vodka on your clothes in a well-ventilated space can help to freshen them up. This is worth while if you don't want to wash the same piece of clothing after one wear. Also, if you're an avid thrift store shopper, this hack can help get those questionable scents out of your new finds.

Sunglasses Cleaner 

water, tea, coffee
Razan Kawar

If you've got some gunk or sunscreen on your sunglasses, just take a towel with some vodka and you'll be seeing clear in no time. 

Stain Remover

Razan Kawar

If you're an avid red wine drinker such as myself (and a little clumsy after a glass) you'll understand the struggle of trying to remove it from clothes or the carpet after a spill.

#SpoonTip: Pour white wine onto the stain and then apply baking soda for a couple hours and you'll be as good as new (aka ready for another glass of wine). 

Preserve Flowers

tea, coffee, milk, cream, sweet
Razan Kawar

Flowers can be a nice gift, but it's disappointing how fast they can become just a dying plant in your room. Simply add a splash of vodka and a teaspoon of sugar to the water in your vase to keep your flowers from wilting as fast. 

Decoration

tea, beer
Razan Kawar

Not exactly a use for your alcohol but if you've got any empty bottles laying around you can toss some flowers in for a make shift vase and a creative addition to your dorm room or house. 

Drinking it may always be your favourite use for alcohol, but now you know there's more you can do. If you've got a gross and cheap bottle hanging around, you might as well put it to good use.