Most of us grew up with Hydrogen peroxide ( H2O2) in our medicine cabinets, and as an adult, I am still always sure to have it in there! I’ve really only used it for the occasional pierced ear infection or when my kids get an “owie”. Just recently I have been learning how amazing Hydrogen Peroxide actually is, and I am stocking up!! It has wonderful antiseptic qualities that make it great for personal hygiene AND house cleaning, and a few more things you probably never would have thought of. Check out the list below!
1. Sanitize Sponges
Add a bit of hot water to Hydrogen Peroxide and let your sponges soak for 20 minutes. The solution will kill any harmful bacteria that love living in porous items.
2. Mouthwash
Use a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water to gargle with. It’s a pretty effective mouthwash, just don’t swallow it!
3. Whiten Clothes
To get desired results, add about 1/2 to 1 cup of H2O2 to your wash. It is excellent for removing hard to remove stains from white clothes!
4. Foot Fungus
Soaking your feet in a peroxide solution helps soften calluses and corns, and it disinfects minor cuts, and cures athletes foot or toenail fungus! Prepare a 50/50 solution of H2O2 and water, and soak your feet in it once a day.
5. Cleaning and Healing Wounds
Hydrogen peroxide has been proven to effectively kill germs and bacteria on wounds. 3 percent solution mixed 50/50 with water helps clean wounds when applied directly on the wound. Sports injury experts warn that applying undiluted H2O2 can be too harsh on delicate skin. After treating any wounds be sure to rinse it off.
6. Wood Cutting Board Cleaner
H2O2 is perfect for cleaning wood cutting boards. These boards are typically more difficult to remove germs from than the other types of cutting boards because of their porous surface. Let them soak in a 50/50 solution of water and H2O2.
7. Eye Care
Hydrogen peroxide is also useful for cleaning contact lenses – it’s said to be very effective in eliminating the microbes that build up on the lenses after time.
8. Water Purifier
Add one pint of hydrogen peroxide to one gallon of water and use it in your humidifiers and steamers. It helps purify the water.
9. Tile Grout Cleaner
Speed clean your dirty tile grout with 3% hydrogen peroxide. It might also take a bit of elbow grease and a good brush, but it typically does a good job if you let it soak in.
10. Tooth Whitener
As an all-purpose whitener, hydrogen peroxide is hard to beat. Gargling with it helps to whiten teeth, but the same rule applies about not swallowing it!
11. Vegetable Wash
Pour 3% hydrogen peroxide in your water that you wash your vegetables in to remove any herbicides or pesticides. You can also mix up a spray bottle with a 50/50 solution of 3% H2O2 and water. After washing, rinse thoroughly with cool water.
12. 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 the spray through your hair and let it dry.
This does not bleach your hair in the same way commercially lightening mixtures do. This gradually lightens hair and may have to be reapplied every few days to get the desired effect.
13. Toothpaste
Mix H2O2 with baking soda (baking soda works to remove stains and debris) and you have an effective toothpaste! This is handy for those times when you run out of toothpaste!
14. Mildew Free Humidifier
Who wants to breathe in mildew? Obviously it can be damaging to our health. Place a pint of 3% H2O2 into the water in your humidifier to keep mold and mildew from forming.
15. Nail Whitener
Are your nails yellow or dirty? You can whiten them up by gently scrubbing them in some 3% H2O2.
16. Aquarium Cleaner
Hydrogen peroxide is ideal for cleaning aquariums and removing any algae and other nasty buildup that forms on the sides. This is safe for fish, as long as you thoroughly rinse the aquarium after cleaning it.
17. Refrigerator Cleaner
H2O2 is useful for cleaning the inside of refrigerators. This keeps it clean and fresh for food. Use a box of baking soda to eliminate odor, then wipe everything down with a hydrogen peroxide solution to keep your refrigerator clean and safe.
18. Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Just pour it straight into the bowl, swish the water and H2O2 all around the toilet bowl, under the rim, and let it sit for 20 minutes or so. Then, use a brush to remove the stains and flush.
19. Cure For Acne
Dab on some 3% hydrogen peroxide on acne to help kill bacteria that can contribute to it. This will also also help to heal any current acne effectively.
20. Dishwasher Detergent
Hydrogen peroxide can be used with regular dishwasher detergent to sanitize your dishes, and it can also be used on its own to clean dishes if you wash by hand.
Add 2 ounces of 3% H2O2 to either your automatic dishwasher or to your dish water. If washing by hand, be sure to thoroughly rinse.
21. Sanitize Kid’s Toys
Clean the kids’ toys with H2O2 to keep them free from germs and bacteria. Also wiping down their lunch boxes frequently with hydrogen peroxide is a great way to keep them clean.
