Hydrogen Peroxide can do so much more than clean cuts and scrapes. It’s actually an inexpensive way to take care of a lot of little things around the house.
Peroxide, I can’t believe that it has taken me this long to do a WWII post on this incredible product. I personally use peroxide for a ton of things around the house, not just because it’s inexpensive but because it’s non-toxic and a powerful disinfectant. When I sent the word out to my family that this weeks topic was going to be peroxide they went to town and sent me an incredible list of household tips. Wait to you see this list, you’ll be running to the store to pick up several bottles, just like I did.
Here are some quick facts about hydrogen peroxide:
- The chemical element is: H202
- It’s made of water and oxygen, with an extra oxygen atom.
- Your white blood cells naturally produce hydrogen peroxide.
- Fruits & Vegetables naturally produce hydrogen peroxide.
3% Hydrogen Peroxide Uses
Beauty
- Acne – to help clear up skin, dab pimples with peroxide using a cotton ball.
- Finger Nails – to whiten, soak a cotton ball with peroxide and rub it on your nails.
- Hair – to gradually give your hair highlights, mix equal parts peroxide and water and spray on wet hair. Comb the solution through your hair and dry.
- Mouthwash – instead of purchasing expensive mouthwashes, try using peroxide instead.
- Teeth – to whiten, hold one capful of peroxide in your mouth for 10 minutes daily.
- Toothpaste – to make your own, make a paste using peroxide and baking soda.
- Boils – to heal, pour ½ a bottle of peroxide in your bath water.
- Canker Sores – to prevent, hold one capfull of peroxide in your mouth for 10 minutes.
- Colds – to cure in 24 hours, put a few drops of peroxide in your ear, when the bubbling stops (5-10 minutes), drain onto a tissue. Repeat for the other ear.
- Colonic – to make your own, add 1 cup of peroxide to 5 gallons of warm water.
- Corns and Calluses – to soften, soak feet in a solution made of equal parts water and peroxide.
- Cuts – to keep from getting infected, clean the cut with peroxide.
- Detox Bath – to rejuvenate, add 2 quarts of peroxide to your bath water. Soak for at least a ½ hour.
- Ear Infections – to relieve, place 6-8 drops in the affected ear.
- Ear Wax – to remove, add a couple of drops of warm olive oil followed by a couple of drops of peroxide. Sit with head tilted for several minutes and then flush the ear with warm water.
- Enema – to make your own, add 1 tablespoon of peroxide to 4 cups of water.
- Foot Fungus – to cure, spray a solution made of equal parts peroxide and water to your feet every night.
- Infections – to heal, soak the infected area in peroxide for 5-10 minutes several times a day.
- Sinus Infection – to relieve, add one tablespoon of peroxide to non-chlorinated water to be used as a nasal spray.
- Toothache – to relieve pain, hold one capfull of peroxide in your mouth for 10 minutes.
- Yeast Infections – to control, add 2 capfulls of peroxide to your douche 1-2 time per week.
General Cleaning
- Bathroom – to disinfect, fill a spray bottle with equal parts peroxide and water.
- Counter tops – to kill germs, spray the counter tops with peroxide and wipe with a clean cloth.
- Grout – to whiten, make sure the grout is dry, then spray a generous amount of peroxide on the grout. Let it sit for 1-2 hours and scrub the area with an old toothbrush and some warm soapy water.
- Mirrors – for a no streak clean, spray mirrors with peroxide and wipe with a paper towel or newspaper.
- Mold – to control, clean the area with peroxide.
- Tile – to remove stains, make a thick paste using flour and peroxide. Apply the mixture to the stain, cover with plastic wrap and let it sit overnight. Rinse clean.
- Toothbrush – to kill germs, soak your toothbrush in peroxide.
Kitchen
- Cutting Board – to kill germs, after rinsing off your cutting board, spray it with peroxide.
- Dishrags and sponges – to clean, soak them for 15-30 minutes in a solution using equal parts peroxide and warm water. Rinse.
- Fruits & Vegetables – to clean, spray them with peroxide (food grade) and let them stand for a few minutes, then rinse and dry.
- Fruits & Vegetables – for a non-toxic sanitizer, pour peroxide (food grade) into a dark colored spray bottle (light destroys peroxide) and fill another spray bottle with vinegar. Spray your fruits and vegetables with the peroxide and then repeat using the vinegar.
- Fruits & Vegetables – to neutralize chemicals and prolong freshness, add ¼ cup of peroxide (food grade) to a sink full of cold water. Soak vegetables for 20-30 minutes. Rinse, drain and let dry.
- Refrigerator – to disinfect, spray the interior with peroxide and wipe with a clean cloth.
- Salad – to prolong freshness, lightly spray with a solution of ½ cup water and 1 tablespoon of peroxide (food grade).
Laundry
- Blood Stains – to remove, pour peroxide on the spot and let it sit for a few minutes. Then rub and rinse with cold water.
- Clothes – to whiten, add a cup of peroxide to your wash. Peroxide is more mild than bleach and will keep your clothes from wearing out as fast.
- Wine Stain – to remove, mix together equal parts peroxide and liquid detergent. Pour the mixture over the stain. With a clean cloth blot the stain and wash with warm water.
- Wring Around the Collar – to remove, spray the area with a mixture of 2 parts peroxide and 1 part liquid detergent. Let it sit for an hour before rinsing. *Works great on armpit stains too.
Miscellaneous
- Mites – to kill, spray the area with peroxide.
- Plants – to improve their root system, water them with a mixture of 32 parts water and 1 part peroxide.
- Seeds – to sprout, soak seeds overnight in a mixture of 1 ounce peroxide and 2 cups water.
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Very interesting! Pinned to check out all the uses 🙂
I tried this and BOY dose it work! To clean the oven I sprinkled baking soda all over the oven and sprayed the peroxide over that. Closed the door and waited about an hour. Damp sponged it all out. I have the oven cleaner on my oven but I hate to use it, cost to much to use and to hot for me. And I hate using chemicals. And to clean between the glass on the door was just a easy. I unscrewed the two screws, be careful here because the outside door will just fall. Let it down and clean the glass the same way. Baking Soda and peroxide. Here you might need a razor blade scraper to help get it all off. I never thought cleaning the oven could be so easy!
Absolutely cannot wat to try this!
To prevent swimmer's ear – when you have water stuck in your ears, mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide with equal parts rubbing alcohol. Put into ear with a dropper, let sit for a minute and drain. The water will come out with the solution!
Wow! I never would have imagined it could be safely used for all of these things. I guess I've thought of it as a strong chemical, not something safe. Thanks for this info. I appreciate it.
Wow….I have used this for some of these things, but your list has greatly expanded my knowledge. Thanks…I am pinning this!
Pinned this in my home practical board and sharing on Facebook:)
It just slays me how many uses that little bottle of hydrogen peroxide has and it only costs like $1.00. And we pay a fortune for all of these other chemicals that sometimes aren't even as effective they just smell a little better.
Heidi’s Wanderings
I always love reading the different uses for hydrogen peroxide, considering it is so inexpensive. Thanks for sharing.
This is great! Just what I needed. Thanks so much for sharing at Katherine's Corner Blog Hop where I'm co-host today.
Great info. Just found you through A Glimpse Inside Link party. Thanks for the info. If you get a chance check out some recipes
You never seem to amaze me. I have a bottle in my bathroom cabinet and I haven't used it since we moved in. Now why is that? lol! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
This is a very informative post on the uses of hydrogen peroxide. I knew a few of these but have learned so many more. Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week; I hope you’ll join us again!
Cheers,
Kathy Shea Mormino
The Chicken Chick
Cleans concrete too!
I use a fresh 16 oz. bottle of hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda, and a tsp. of dish soap to clean off my goofy dogs when they encounter a skunk. It really works! The skunk odor disappears and you get your dogs back. Now if we could just get them to leave the skunks alone……
A capfull in your minnows helps add o2. Keeps them alive and lively longer
Absolutely cannot wat to try these tips!
Can it be bought by the gallon? If so, where?
Yes it can be bought by the gallon on amazon
Ah, H202 for a cure for a cold. No, no, and Do NOT put it in year EAR.
It’s been doctor approved for ear wax removal.
Yes, it has by my doctor, too, but need to use a fresh or fairly fresh bottle! Use a capful for each ear then let drain. I use while showering maybe once a week or even a month. Don’t use expired.
Yes this was recommended to me by my allergist
NEVER put H202 in ear or rubbing alcohol. either, please.. This does not sound right. Maybe back then it was a folk cure for a common cold.
I recently had a doctor suggest using peroxide in the ear for wax removal he said it was a safe way to do it at home because peroxide is just water and oxygen with an extra oxygen atom. As for the rubbing alcohol I haven’t heard one way or the other.
I have frequent ear wax build up to the point that I’ll lose my hearing & lose my balance. I’ve used various products to gain relief. I’ve gone to my Dr. & had them flush out for me & they not only USED but also RECOMMENDED for me to use hydrogen peroxide on my own. It is safe & absolutely works!
When I was in my teens, had a lot of ear infections. The ear drum would break. The doctor had me use peroxide in the ear followed by alcohol and boric acid (liquid) solution.
I now use it on areas where by dog piddled–after blotting up the spot then I pour the peroxide on it with a towel to absorb the peroxide–most of time several minutes will blot it. Doesn’t leave a smell.
It works great for cleaning the wax from your ears. My oldest son used to have terrible ear infections and the specialist told had us use peroxide.
How can I use 10 volunm peroxide for cleaning?
I’m not familiar with 10 volunm peroxide.
I had a blister on my shin- it leaked for a long time
but won’t seem to heal
Will peroxide help?
I don’t know if it would help or hurt, you should ask a doctor.
Very interesting info.
Thnanks
My friend uses a few drops under her tongue for hydration of the system. Is this safe. The course increases in dosage
My dentist instructed me to gargle with it after brushing, so I don’t think that a few drops would do any harm.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I recently bought a spray bottle of it, and it’s goig to be empty in about an hour. Can’t thank you enough!