Hydrogen Peroxide can be used for many things. Most people think Peroxide is only to disinfect a cut, but did you ever thing it could help shine the tiles on your floor? There really is an endless list of practical uses for it around the home, so enjoy this article!
As you know I love using natural household products in my home, like baking soda and vinegar. I thought today I would have fun and share 24 ways to use hydrogen peroxide.Peroxide is another one of those staple household items to keep in stock as it has so many uses without the harsh chemicals of normal cleaning and disinfecting products on the market.
Hydrogen peroxide (chemical symbol for it is H2O2) is mostly used in liquid forms in the house and in commercial operations. There are various strengths of substance available. In the home, a 3% solution is normally used. For the purpose of the information I am writing about here, I will be referring to home uses rather than commercial uses. There are so many ways to use hydrogen peroxide and this is just some of the ways to use it in your home, and you will quickly see why you want to keep it handy in your cupboards.
24 WAYS TO USE HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
1. Whiten Clothes: One of the uses for hydrogen peroxide is whiten your white clothing. Instead of chlorine bleach, add about 1/2 to 1 cup of H2O2 to your wash. It is also excellent for removing stains such as blood from white clothes. Just apply, rub and then thoroughly rinse.
2. Foot Fungus: When you have athletes foot or toenail fungus, make up a 50/50 solution of H2O2 and water to soak them in once a day. This solution will clear up the fungal problem. You may need to repeat the soak several days in a row for it to be effective.
3. Cleaning Wounds: Hydrogen peroxide effectively kills germs and bacteria on wounds. If the wound is small, just dab some 3% H2O2 that has been mixed 50/50 with water on the wound. When the wound is larger, you may need to soak the wound in the same type of mixture. The reason to dilute it is because straight 3% H2O2 can shock the healthy skin, at least according to a wound care specialist I had take care of me one time. Also, after treating a wound with this peroxide, it should be rinsed off to insure the healthy tissue is not harmed.
4.Vegetable Wash: Pour some 3% hydrogen peroxide in your water that you wash your vegetables in to remove any herbicides or pesticides from them. You can also mix up a spray bottle with half water and half 3% H2O2.
5. Sanitize Sponges: Soak your sponges in the same strength peroxide solution, as mentioned in #5. This kills any germs or bacteria that love to live in the sponges.
6. Wood Cutting Board Cleaner: H2O2 is ideal to clean wood cutting boards. These boards are more difficult to remove germs from than the other types of cutting boards.
7. Tile Grout Cleaner: Brighten your dingy tile grout with the 3% hydrogen peroxide. It may also take some a bit of scrubbing with a brush.
8. Counter-top Sanitizing: Sanitize your counter-tops making a spray using the 3% version of this peroxide mixed with water at about a 50/50 ratio. Just wipe dry with a white cloth or paper towels.
9. Refrigerator Cleaner: The same spray listed in #9 is useful in cleaning the inside of the refrigerator. This keeps it clean and fresh for your foods.
10. Toothbrush cleaner: Keep a glass of hydrogen peroxide in your bathroom to place your toothbrush in between uses. This prevents germs from growing on it. Just rinse thoroughly before using it and change out the peroxide every few days.
11.. Sanitize Kid’s Toys: Clean the kids’ toys with even full strength H2O2 to keep them free from germs and bacteria that could otherwise make your children sick.
12.Acne: Dab on some 3% hydrogen peroxide on acne to kill the bacteria that causes it. This will also help heal the acne effectively.
13. Whiten Teeth: Mix H2O2 with baking soda to brush your teeth. Just add enough of the peroxide to make a paste. The baking soda works to remove stains and debris, while the peroxide whitens the teeth. Make sure to rinse thoroughly to complete your brushing.
14. Natural Hair Bleach: Lighten your hair by spraying it with a 50/50 mixture of 3% H2O2 and water after it has been washed. Just comb this spray through your hair and let it dry. This does not bleach your hair drastically in the same way as the commercially lightening mixtures do. This gradually lightens and you may have to reapply every few days to get the effect you desire.
15. Nail Whitener: Are your nails yellow or dingy? Whiten them up by scrubbing them with some 3% H2O2.
16. Dish Washing: Another one of the uses for hydrogen peroxide is to sanitize your dishes. Add 2 ounces of 3% H2O2 to either your automatic dishwasher or to your dishwater. Add the appropriate dish washing detergent and wash your dishes as you normally would and then thoroughly rinse (if hand washing). The automatic dishwasher does perform the rinsing for you.
17. Mold and Mildew: The 3% peroxide is also ideal for removing mold and mildew from objects in your home including walls. Mold and mildew can be damaging to your health. The quicker you clean it up the better for you and your family.
18. Mildew Free Humidifier: You can place a pint of 3% H2O2 into the water in your humidifier to keep mold and mildew from forming. This will help the moist air that comes from your humidifier to be healthier to breathe.
19. Aquarium Cleaner: Hydrogen peroxide is ideal for cleaning aquariums to remove any algae and other buildup that forms on the sides and other elements involved in them. This is safe for the fish, as long as you thoroughly rinse the aquarium after cleaning it.
20. Neti Pot Nasal Cleaner: Mix some 3% H2O2 in with some filtered water to use in a neti pot to flush out your sinuses. This is an effective treatment for sinus infections, colds, or other nasal congestion problems. Start with a 50/50 mix on the solution and if this is not effective, you may need to change the ratio and add more H2O2.
21.Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Clean your toilet bowl with this type of peroxide. You can just pour it straight into the bowl, as the water in there will dilute it some anyway. Then just swish the water and H2O2 all around and under the rim, and let it sit for a few minutes. Now, just brush to remove the stains and possibly mold, and flush. Clean off the toilet seat and other areas with a 50/50 of this peroxide and water making sure to rinse and dry the areas completely.
22. Cleaning Meat: You can rinse your meat off with a solution of H2O2 and water to sanitize, if you are so inclined. Then rinse the meat in just water afterwards before seasoning and cooking it.
23. Hand Sanitizer: Wash your hands with hydrogen peroxide after handling anything that is germ laden. Then wash your hands with soap and rinse.
24. Perspiration Stain Remover: Remove perspiration stains on white shirts with a mixture of H2O2 and liquid laundry detergent at the ratio of 2 to 1. Apply this mixture to the stains and let set for about 60 minutes prior to washing the white shirts.
These are just some of many ways to use hydrogen peroxide. There is no doubt this is an awesome old-fashioned product that has many modern-day uses. As you can see it’s an ideal sanitizer and disinfectant, among other things!