Today’s hack is some ways you may have never thought about using Hydrogen Peroxide. It is one of the the more underrated items in any natural cleaning kit. You can use it to disinfect, sanitize, and deodorize hundreds of surfaces and items around your home. Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful oxidizer, making it useful for whitening and bleaching things. Keep a bottle on hand for everyday hydrogen peroxide uses like whitening teeth, cleaning mirrors, and preventing stains.
Hydrogen peroxide is a natural anti-septic, therefore one of its most common uses is to clean wounds to prevent infection.
I am going to provide you with some insight on the different uses for hydrogen peroxide, and I would love to know if any of these surprised you.
Cleans Sponges
Have some funky sponges in the kitchen or bathroom? The many uses for hydrogen peroxide can also help you get rid of their dirty appearance and weird smell. Soak sponges in equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water, then rinse thoroughly. If that doesn’t work, it’s time to toss it.
Blood Stains
iStock/SuwanPhoto
Most hydrogen peroxide uses involve brightening or bleaching an object, which makes sense, because the chemical compound is a kind of bleach. That means it’ll do wonders on stained white fabrics. Pour some directly onto a stain and let it sit, then blot it out and rinse it in cold water.
Skin Saver
Hydrogen peroxide is majorly used for skin lightening and acne.Dab on cotton swab some hydrogen peroxide on pimples or acne to help clear skin.
Whiten Fingernails
If you paint your nails a lot, you’ve probably already noticed that your nails can yellow over time. Get rid of the yellow tinge by applying a cotton ball soaked in hydrogen peroxide to each affected nail. Let them sit for a few minutes until the stains disappear. Make sure to apply a lotion or cuticle cream afterwards, since hydrogen peroxide can be rough on skin.
Whiten Your Nails Naturally
Count this as one of the best tricks to get healthy and gorgeous nails. Take one part hydrogen peroxide to two parts baking soda to form a paste, and gently massage the paste over your nail beds. Let it sit for two to three minutes then rinse away the dingy yellowness.
Carpet Cleaner
Is your carpet in need of a little love? You can clean it up with just three ingredients — hydrogen peroxide, lemon essential oil, and water. All you have to do is mix two parts water with one part hydrogen peroxide and five drops of lemon essential oil. Make sure you use a dark bottle (like the one peroxide comes in). Shake it up and it’s ready to go. Just spray it on the stained carpet, let it sit for a minute or two, and then use a brush to scrub the stains out.
This solution works on upholstery, too, and you can repeat the process a few times until you get your carpet and fabrics squeaky clean!
Ear Cleaner
No matter how many times we’re told that Q-tips are not safe for your ears, we still use them often. Have wax buildup in your ears? Peroxide is a better solution than stabbing at your eardrum with a cotton stick.
Note: This isn’t an effective remedy for people with damaged ears or infections. It’s just for some maintenance on otherwise healthy ears!
Fruit & Veggie Wash
Wash vegetables and fruits with hydrogen peroxide to remove dirt and pesticides. Add 1/4 cup of H2O2 to a sink of cold water. After washing, rinse thoroughly with cool water.
Awesome Toothpaste
Use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to make a paste for brushing teeth. Helps with early stages of gingivitis as it kills bacteria. Mixed with salt and baking soda, hydrogen peroxide works as a whitening toothpaste.
Dish Washing Booster
In the dishwasher, add 2 oz. to your regular detergent for a sanitizing boost. Also, beef up your regular dish soap by adding roughly 2 ounces of 3% H2O2 to the bottle.
Appliance Cleaner
Wipe out your refrigerator and dishwasher. Because it’s non-toxic, it’s great for cleaning places that store food and dishes.
Mouthwash
Use hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash to freshen breath. It kills the bacteria that causes halitosis. Use a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water.
Food Stain Dissolver
Remove baked-on crud from pots and pans. Combine hydrogen peroxide with enough baking soda to make a paste, then rub onto the dirty pan and let it sit for a while. Come back later with a scrubby sponge and some warm water, and the baked-on stains will lift right off.
Kitchen Cleaning
Clean your cutting board and countertop. Let everything bubble for a few minutes, then scrub and rinse clean.
Banish Dust Mites From Mattresses
Dust mites are almost inevitable, but they don’t have to build up. Spray hydrogen peroxide on your bare mattress to rid it of any invisible critters.
Whiten Bathtub Grout.
First dry the tub thoroughly, then spray it liberally with hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit — it may bubble slightly — for a little while, then come back and scrub the grout with an old toothbrush. You may have to repeat the process a few times.
Raise your hand if you hate those pesky yellow armpit stains on your precious white shirts! Well, on second thought, maybe don’t raise your hands … Anyway, you probably know that bleach is not the answer. So, what is? You probably guessed by now, but yes, hydrogen peroxide can help.
Combine two parts hydrogen peroxide with one part Dawn dishwashing liquid and let the solution sit for at least an hour. Then just spray it on the stain and scrub, scrub, scrub. You can add some baking soda for heavier duty staining.
Toilet Cleaner
Clean the toilet bowl. Pour half a cup of hydrogen peroxide into the toilet bowl, let stand for 20 minutes, then scrub clean.
Floor Brightener
Brighten dingy floors. Combine half a cup of hydrogen peroxide with one gallon of hot water, then go to town on your flooring. Because it’s so mild, it’s safe for any floor type, and there’s no need to rinse.
Mouth Rinse
Some hydrogen peroxide uses aren’t intuitive, but they still work! Save money on mouthwash by mixing equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water and swish it around your mouth. Bonus: It’ll help naturally whiten your teeth in the process.
Scour Burnt Pots
Source: Getty Images
Stain Remover
Remove stains from clothing, curtains, and tablecloths. Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a pre-treat for stains — just soak the stain for a little while in 3% hydrogen peroxide before tossing into the laundry. You can also add a cup of peroxide to a regular load of whites to boost brightness. It’s a green alternative to bleach, and works just as well.
Toy Cleaner
Clean kids’ toys and play areas. Hydrogen peroxide is a safe cleaner to use around kids, or anyone with respiratory problems, because it’s not a lung irritant. Spray toys, toy boxes, doorknobs, and anything else your kids touch on a regular basis.
Plant Doctor
To ward off fungus, add a little hydrogen peroxide to your spray bottle the next time you’re spritzing plants.
Hair Highlighter
Add natural highlights to your hair. Dilute the hydrogen peroxide so the solution is 50% peroxide and 50% water. Spray the solution on wet hair to create subtle, natural highlights.
Reblogging to my readers at sister site Timeless Wisdoms
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❤️️Thank you Ana! ❤️️
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😚
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❤️️☺️
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Excellent tips! Thanks for sharing!!
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Thank you kristian, so glad you like it❤️️
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❤️️
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Many of these we have used in Russia, as there weren’t any chemical cleaners, detergents, etc. But some are new to me and amazing, such as salad keeper – wow! I assume it works the same way for any green leafy vegetables, right?
Thank you for this gem, darling!
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Yes, just like vinegar.
You are so welcome.
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😻
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😍🐈🐱
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Reblogged this on olderfatterhappierdotcom and commented:
No time for an original post today, but I wanted to share these great tips from a modern-day Hints From Heloise. I love her blog and think you may, too. xx, Alisa
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❤️️Thank you ❤️️
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So many uses! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
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❤️️☺️My pleasure!
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Good to know. 👁👁🍃
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Great tips…Hydrogen Peroxide is cheap too! ❤️️☺️
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I love these practical tips on the use of Hydrogen peroxide. Thanks Kelly!
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You are so welcome arlene! Thank you so much for checking it out and finding it useful! Have a great weekend!
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Amazing! Who knew? This is a keeper 🙂
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Thank you so much Christine! I am so glad you liked it!
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Oh yes, I do 🙂
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That is so wonderful to hear! Thank you again! hope your having a great weekend!
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These are amazing! I’ve heard of some of them, but there’s a lot I didn’t know about. I’m definitely going to try it on my rug! Thanks for sharing these!
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Michelle, I have a newer sofa I love, and yesterday I spilled some hot coffee on it ;( I quickly soaked it up with a rag, then I sprayed some hydrogen peroxide on it,all better, no stain!! It really works!
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That’s amazing!! I need to try that on my sofa!
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Definitely!
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Very informative!
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Thank you so much Callie!
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Callie is the name of my adorable cat, my name is Joni. Nice to meet you.
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Oh, I am sorry Joni! Callie is such a cute name!🐱❤️️
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Silly you, no reason to apologize. Callie is a calico cat. I love her name too:-)
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I live in Ca. My sons doggie is called Cali. I loved your story. 🐱❤️️
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I live in Anza- Borrego Desert State Park and Encinitas, California. I should have also included California for Callie’s name sake:-)
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I live in Palm Desert Ca. Not to far from you!!!
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Wow! My husband is a podiatrist at Borrego Health and he practices there a couple of times a month and at Cathedral City and here in Borrego Springs. What a small world.
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It sure is!!!
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Wow, fantastic tips that I never knew!
Many thanks for stopping by my Travel and Photography site.
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My pleasure! I am so glad you stopped by!
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So many great tips!!!! Eho knew?
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Now you do heather❤️️
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This all sounds wonderful!
I have only one question.
What is hydrogen peroxide?
(Sorry, just a man!)
Thank you for following Sound Bite Fiction.
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It is a colorless, horrible smelling, unstable liquid with strong oxidizing properties, commonly used in diluted form in disinfectants and bleaches. Its in the same kind of bottle as alcohol, usually found in same area of store.
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Horrible smelling and unstable?
Why do I feel a strange affinity to this stuff?
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😂 I know right!?!?!? I made it sound crazy, but you asked! ☺️❤️️
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I knew handful of these, but you gave me plenty more uses thanks.
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Oh I’m glad!! Do you have a handy tip using the Hydrogen Peroxide? ☺️❤️️
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None that you didn’t mention 😉
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thanks!❤️️☺️❤️️
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Great tips!
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Thank you Lana! How’s the kids?
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Gosh, what a lot of uses, and what a perfect pair of feet. Are they yours Kelly. I’m envious, whoever they belong to.
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Great tips here! Thanks for stopping by and liking my blog! Best to you- I’ll be back here many times
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