Amazing Uses For Hydrogen Peroxide
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.
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.
Dishwashing 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.
Sponge Sanitizer
Clean your sponges. Soak them for 10 minutes in a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and warm water in a shallow dish. Rinse the sponges thoroughly afterward.
Toothbrush Sanitizer
Soak your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide between uses to keep it clean and prevent the transfer of germs. This is particularly helpful when you or someone in your family has a cold or the flu.
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. (I’ve been using it for this a LOT lately!)
Grout Whitener
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.
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.
Stain Remover
Remove stains from clothing, curtains, and tablecloths. Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a pre-treater 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
Help out your plants. To ward off fungus, add a little hydrogen peroxide to your spray bottle the next time you’re spritzing plants.
Lunch Box Sanitizer
Sanitize your kids’ lunch boxes/bags.
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.
Bath Soak
According to alternative therapy practitioners, adding half a bottle of hydrogen peroxide to a warm bath can help detoxify the body. Some are skeptical of this claim, but a bath is always a nice way to relax and the addition of hydrogen peroxide will leave you – and the tub – squeaky clean!
Salad Keeper
Spray a solution of 1/2 cup water and 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide on leftover salad, drain, cover and refrigerate. This will prevent wilting and better preserve your salad.
Skin Saver
Dab hydrogen peroxide on pimples or acne to help clear skin.
Seed Sprouter
Hydrogen peroxide helps to sprout seeds for new plantings. Use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution once a day and spritz the seed every time you re-moisten. You can also use a mixture of 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 32 parts water to improve your plants’ root system.
Whiten Linens
Remove yellowing from lace curtains or tablecloths. Fill a sink with cold water and a 2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Soak for at least an hour, rinse in cold water and air dry.
Ear Wax Remover
Use it to remove ear wax. Use a solution of 3% with olive or almond oil. Add a couple drops of oil first then H2O2. After a few minutes, tilt head to remove solution and wax.
Humidifier Cleaner
Use 1 pint of 3% hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of water to clean humidifiers and steamers.
Foot Helper
Helps with foot fungus. Spray a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry. Or try soaking your feet in a peroxide solution to help soften calluses and corns, and disinfect minor cuts.
Shower Curtain Cleaner
Wash shower curtains with hydrogen peroxide to remove mildew and soap scum. Place curtains in machine with a bath towel and your regular detergent. Add 1 cup full strength 3% hydrogen peroxide to the rinse cycle.
Shower Spray
Spray down the shower with hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria and viruses.
Fish Tank Treatment
Use hydrogen peroxide to control fungi present in aquariums. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt your fish. Use sparingly for this purpose.
Towel Treatment
Use for towels that have become musty smelling. Add 1/2 cup peroxide and 1/2 cup vinegar to washing machine, let soak for 15 minutes wash as normal. Gets rid of the smell.
De-Skunking Solution
Combine 1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon Dawn dish detergent, 2 quarts warm water. Work the mixture onto the affected animal (or human). Don’t let this mixture sit too long on animal fur, or the hydrogen peroxide could lighten the color of the fur!
Canker Sores
Use hydrogen peroxide to help heal painful canker sores. Swish a tablespoon or so of hydrogen peroxide around your mouth for about 10 minutes, to help disinfect the area and reduce inflammation.
Cleaning Glass
Screw a spray bottle top right onto your bottle of hydrogen peroxide, and use it like you would a bottle of Windex to clean glass and mirrors. It’s surprisingly effective, and streak-free!
Stain Remover
Treat stains from organic matter like blood, sweat, coffee, and wine. Spray hydrogen peroxide onto the stain and rub it in to help release the stain. This works best with fresh, wet stains, and may bleach some dark fabrics. Test in an inconspicuous spot beforehand to make sure.
Bathroom Cleaner
Hydrogen peroxide makes an effective and affordable mold and mildew cleaner! Spray down the surfaces in your bathroom that are affected by mold or mildew, and allow it to sit for several minutes. The gunk should be easy to remove, and the hydrogen peroxide leaves it disinfected as well!
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.
Pet Poison Control
We love our pets, but it often seems as though they are determined to eat things that are bad for them! If your dog has ingested a lot of chocolate, or any other food or substance that could be toxic, it may be necessary to induce vomiting, and you can do that with hydrogen peroxide. Measure out 1 milliliter (mL) of 3% hydrogen peroxide per pound of your animal’s weight, up to 45mL. Use a turkey baster to feed the peroxide to your pet.
This method works for dogs as well as cats, pigs, and even ferrets. However, it is NOT recommended for use on rodents, horses, rabbits, or birds.
Clean Contact Lenses
Hydrogen peroxide-based cleaning solutions for contact lenses, such as Clear Care, are actually more effective a cleaning your contact lenses than traditional multi-purpose solutions. Hydrogen peroxide effectively dissolves lipids and proteins, leaving your contact lenses super clean!
However, the reason these products come with special cases or tablets to add is that the hydrogen peroxide needs to be neutralized through a chemical reaction before you can wear the contacts again. Otherwise you’ll be in for some very unpleasant eye sensations! So make sure to follow all of the directions that come with your hydrogen peroxide-based contact cleaner!
Cooler Cleaner
Pop a spray top on your bottle of hydrogen peroxide, and use it to clean and disinfect the inside of your coolers and ice chests.
Shopping Bag Saver
You can also use your spray bottle of hydrogen peroxide to clean your reusable shopping bags! You’ll feel a lot better bringing home fresh produce in a disinfected bag. Collect all your nonporous reusable bags (usually the ones made of recycled plastics), spray them down, and wipe them clean. Reusable bags that are more fabric-y can be thrown right into your washing machine.
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.
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.
Dishwashing 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.
Sponge Sanitizer
Clean your sponges. Soak them for 10 minutes in a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and warm water in a shallow dish. Rinse the sponges thoroughly afterward.
Toothbrush Sanitizer
Soak your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide between uses to keep it clean and prevent the transfer of germs. This is particularly helpful when you or someone in your family has a cold or the flu.
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. (I’ve been using it for this a LOT lately!)
Grout Whitener
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.
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.
Stain Remover
Remove stains from clothing, curtains, and tablecloths. Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a pre-treater 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
Help out your plants. To ward off fungus, add a little hydrogen peroxide to your spray bottle the next time you’re spritzing plants.
Lunch Box Sanitizer
Sanitize your kids’ lunch boxes/bags.
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.
Bath Soak
According to alternative therapy practitioners, adding half a bottle of hydrogen peroxide to a warm bath can help detoxify the body. Some are skeptical of this claim, but a bath is always a nice way to relax and the addition of hydrogen peroxide will leave you – and the tub – squeaky clean!
Salad Keeper
Spray a solution of 1/2 cup water and 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide on leftover salad, drain, cover and refrigerate. This will prevent wilting and better preserve your salad.
Skin Saver
Dab hydrogen peroxide on pimples or acne to help clear skin.
Seed Sprouter
Hydrogen peroxide helps to sprout seeds for new plantings. Use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution once a day and spritz the seed every time you re-moisten. You can also use a mixture of 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 32 parts water to improve your plants’ root system.
Whiten Linens
Remove yellowing from lace curtains or tablecloths. Fill a sink with cold water and a 2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Soak for at least an hour, rinse in cold water and air dry.
Ear Wax Remover
Use it to remove ear wax. Use a solution of 3% with olive or almond oil. Add a couple drops of oil first then H2O2. After a few minutes, tilt head to remove solution and wax.
Humidifier Cleaner
Use 1 pint of 3% hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of water to clean humidifiers and steamers.
Foot Helper
Helps with foot fungus. Spray a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry. Or try soaking your feet in a peroxide solution to help soften calluses and corns, and disinfect minor cuts.
Shower Curtain Cleaner
Wash shower curtains with hydrogen peroxide to remove mildew and soap scum. Place curtains in machine with a bath towel and your regular detergent. Add 1 cup full strength 3% hydrogen peroxide to the rinse cycle.
Shower Spray
Spray down the shower with hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria and viruses.
Fish Tank Treatment
Use hydrogen peroxide to control fungi present in aquariums. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt your fish. Use sparingly for this purpose.
Towel Treatment
Use for towels that have become musty smelling. Add 1/2 cup peroxide and 1/2 cup vinegar to washing machine, let soak for 15 minutes wash as normal. Gets rid of the smell.
De-Skunking Solution
Combine 1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon Dawn dish detergent, 2 quarts warm water. Work the mixture onto the affected animal (or human). Don’t let this mixture sit too long on animal fur, or the hydrogen peroxide could lighten the color of the fur!
Canker Sores
Use hydrogen peroxide to help heal painful canker sores. Swish a tablespoon or so of hydrogen peroxide around your mouth for about 10 minutes, to help disinfect the area and reduce inflammation.
Cleaning Glass
Screw a spray bottle top right onto your bottle of hydrogen peroxide, and use it like you would a bottle of Windex to clean glass and mirrors. It’s surprisingly effective, and streak-free!
Stain Remover
Treat stains from organic matter like blood, sweat, coffee, and wine. Spray hydrogen peroxide onto the stain and rub it in to help release the stain. This works best with fresh, wet stains, and may bleach some dark fabrics. Test in an inconspicuous spot beforehand to make sure.
Bathroom Cleaner
Hydrogen peroxide makes an effective and affordable mold and mildew cleaner! Spray down the surfaces in your bathroom that are affected by mold or mildew, and allow it to sit for several minutes. The gunk should be easy to remove, and the hydrogen peroxide leaves it disinfected as well!
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.
Pet Poison Control
We love our pets, but it often seems as though they are determined to eat things that are bad for them! If your dog has ingested a lot of chocolate, or any other food or substance that could be toxic, it may be necessary to induce vomiting, and you can do that with hydrogen peroxide. Measure out 1 milliliter (mL) of 3% hydrogen peroxide per pound of your animal’s weight, up to 45mL. Use a turkey baster to feed the peroxide to your pet.
This method works for dogs as well as cats, pigs, and even ferrets. However, it is NOT recommended for use on rodents, horses, rabbits, or birds.
Clean Contact Lenses
Hydrogen peroxide-based cleaning solutions for contact lenses, such as Clear Care, are actually more effective a cleaning your contact lenses than traditional multi-purpose solutions. Hydrogen peroxide effectively dissolves lipids and proteins, leaving your contact lenses super clean!
However, the reason these products come with special cases or tablets to add is that the hydrogen peroxide needs to be neutralized through a chemical reaction before you can wear the contacts again. Otherwise you’ll be in for some very unpleasant eye sensations! So make sure to follow all of the directions that come with your hydrogen peroxide-based contact cleaner!
Cooler Cleaner
Pop a spray top on your bottle of hydrogen peroxide, and use it to clean and disinfect the inside of your coolers and ice chests.
Shopping Bag Saver
You can also use your spray bottle of hydrogen peroxide to clean your reusable shopping bags! You’ll feel a lot better bringing home fresh produce in a disinfected bag. Collect all your nonporous reusable bags (usually the ones made of recycled plastics), spray them down, and wipe them clean. Reusable bags that are more fabric-y can be thrown right into your washing machine.