Hydrogen peroxide has been around for hundreds of years, and in that time humans have come up with all sorts of things to do with it. First used to bleach hats, the very pale blue liquid now has medical, beauty, and domestic uses. The liquid can be used as a bleaching agent, an antiseptic, and an oxidizer. Because of this, hydrogen peroxide kills fungi, mold, yeast, bacteria, and even viruses. So get yourself a fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide, and see what needs to be done.
Because hydrogen peroxide kills germs and bacteria, it can actually be more effective than regular mouthwash. Simply mix some of the liquid with water, swish around your mouth, and spit out.
To use, just spray your solution onto a surface, let it sit for a few minutes, and then wipe it clean. Say goodbye to sticky surfaces and crumb covered countertops.
To freshen up your washing machine, reach for your bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Add the liquid to the detergent section of the washer, and then put the machine on a hot wash cycle.
Used as a hair dye, hydrogen peroxide is oxidative, which means that it dyes the hair through a chemical reaction. This type of dying is more permanent, but it’s also rather stressful on the hair.
After the allotted time, brush and flush the toilet to find it looking sparkling new. This is a more environmentally conscious way to clean too, as bleach contains many corrosive and harmful chemicals.
As with the surface cleaner, use 3% hydrogen peroxide to kill mold, and transfer it to a spray bottle. Spray the product onto whatever mold you’re trying to kill until it’s completely saturated with hydrogen peroxide.
To make, mix one cup of baking soda with two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide until it looks like damp sand. Add 20 drops of essential oil, stir, and scoop with a tablespoon. Let bombs dry overnight on parchment paper, then drop one in the cutlery caddy and run on a hot wash.
To avoid carrying around grimy and grubby bags, spray your reusable totes with hydrogen peroxide in between uses. This will keep bags fresh and ready to carry your precious produce home.
For glass cleaning, just pour ¾ cup of hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle along with one or two drops of dish soap. Top the bottle up with water, shake, and spray onto the windows. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes, and then wipe.
Use hydrogen peroxide to brighten your whites by adding a cup of it to the bleach section of your washer. Likewise, add it to a load of diapers to disinfect and deodorize.
When applied to the skin, hydrogen peroxide bubbles on the wound surface. This is evidence that the solution is attacking bacteria in the wound, but it’s also likely that it’s damaging healthy cells.
Keep Your Breath Fresh
First things first – when using hydrogen peroxide on or in your body, make sure you’re using a food-grade product. Once you’re certain you have something that’s safe to put in your body, swirl a mouthful of hydrogen peroxide around your mouth to kill bad breath.
Because hydrogen peroxide kills germs and bacteria, it can actually be more effective than regular mouthwash. Simply mix some of the liquid with water, swish around your mouth, and spit out.
Disinfect Counters and Surfaces
Because of hydrogen peroxide’s bacteria killing functions, the liquid can be used as a cleanser for just about anything. To make your own surface cleaning spray, just take some of the 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and put it in a spray bottle. That’s it! There’s no need to dilute it or anything.
To use, just spray your solution onto a surface, let it sit for a few minutes, and then wipe it clean. Say goodbye to sticky surfaces and crumb covered countertops.
Clean Your Washing Machine
It might sound strange to clean a washing machine – after all, doesn’t it wash things? But, your washer also needs a spring clean every now and then. Washing machines can easily get clogged up with loose hairs, pieces of lint, and random objects left in pockets.
To freshen up your washing machine, reach for your bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Add the liquid to the detergent section of the washer, and then put the machine on a hot wash cycle.
Disguise Your Roots
As well as containing excellent cleaning power, hydrogen peroxide can also be used to lighten hair. Now, we’re not saying that you can just dye your entire head of hair with this stuff, but you can certainly touch up your roots.
Used as a hair dye, hydrogen peroxide is oxidative, which means that it dyes the hair through a chemical reaction. This type of dying is more permanent, but it’s also rather stressful on the hair.
Disinfect the Toilet Bowl
We’ve already recommended hydrogen peroxide as a great cleaning tool for surfaces, so why not throw some in the toilet too? To clean dirty loos, pour half a cup of hydrogen peroxide into the toilet bowl and leave it there for 20 minutes to half an hour.
After the allotted time, brush and flush the toilet to find it looking sparkling new. This is a more environmentally conscious way to clean too, as bleach contains many corrosive and harmful chemicals.
Kill Mold Spores
Likewise, there’s no need to turn to bleach or other corrosive chemicals when trying to rid your house of mold. If you come across some of the pesky spores on household fixtures, clothing, walls or appliances, go ahead and grab your trusty hydrogen peroxide.
As with the surface cleaner, use 3% hydrogen peroxide to kill mold, and transfer it to a spray bottle. Spray the product onto whatever mold you’re trying to kill until it’s completely saturated with hydrogen peroxide.
Make a Dishwasher Bomb
Despite dishwashers being used to clean things, they still can suffer from a buildup of food debris, grease, and grime. To combat this, use hydrogen peroxide to make a dishwasher bomb.
To make, mix one cup of baking soda with two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide until it looks like damp sand. Add 20 drops of essential oil, stir, and scoop with a tablespoon. Let bombs dry overnight on parchment paper, then drop one in the cutlery caddy and run on a hot wash.
Refresh Reusable Totes
In order to be environmentally friendly, many of us now use reusable cloth totes when we go grocery shopping. However, because we use these bags for foodstuffs or random belongings, we can forget to give them a thorough cleaning every once in a while.
To avoid carrying around grimy and grubby bags, spray your reusable totes with hydrogen peroxide in between uses. This will keep bags fresh and ready to carry your precious produce home.
Make Windows Shine
Hey, if hydrogen peroxide can be used to clean countertops and toilet bowls, imagine what it can do on mirrors or windows. There’s no need to buy a specialized glass cleaner because hydrogen peroxide does the trick just as well.
For glass cleaning, just pour ¾ cup of hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle along with one or two drops of dish soap. Top the bottle up with water, shake, and spray onto the windows. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes, and then wipe.
Brighten Dirty Laundry
Many people prefer using hydrogen peroxide instead of bleach or other cleaning products because it’s completely non-toxic. The liquid is similar to water, but contains an extra oxygen molecule that makes it very reactive. This makes the liquid a great alternative to bleach, especially when it comes to laundry.
Use hydrogen peroxide to brighten your whites by adding a cup of it to the bleach section of your washer. Likewise, add it to a load of diapers to disinfect and deodorize.
Heal Small Cuts
There’s some disagreement around whether hydrogen peroxide should be used on cuts or not. Web MD claims that the product can actually delay healing and harm tissue, but other sources state that it can be used to clean minor cuts and scrapes. In that instance, use the 3% solution.
When applied to the skin, hydrogen peroxide bubbles on the wound surface. This is evidence that the solution is attacking bacteria in the wound, but it’s also likely that it’s damaging healthy cells.
