Hydrogen peroxide is perhaps best known for its ability to clean up wounds. But, as this article will attest to, peroxide can be used in a variety of different ways.
In fact, peroxide is a great cleaning tool that can also be used for hygiene and general health. When it comes to hydrogen peroxide uses, you’re limited only by your imagination.
50 Hydrogen Peroxide Uses
Please keep in mind that these uses call for the diluted and food grade 3% hydrogen peroxide (HP). Using a more concentrated liquid can have devastating effects, especially if you’re using it on your body.
1. Fight Viruses
To prevent the cold and flu, fill the cap of your hydrogen peroxide bottle with the liquid and pour it in your left ear. Lay down with your right ear on a pillow and let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes. Cover your left ear with a tissue and roll over with your left ear to the pillow to drain out the peroxide. Repeat on the other ear (1).
2. Veggie Wash
To remove pesticide residue from your produce, combine ¼ cup of HP in a large bowl with 3 cups of water. Soak your veggies for 30 minutes, rinse well, and store them in your fridge.
Please note: don’t use this trick for porous produce or veggies with holes and other imperfections.
3. Kill Airborne Germs
Clean the air in your home by adding 1 1/4 cups of food grade peroxide to 1 gallon of distilled water and pouring the mixture into a cool mist humidifier (2).
4. Whiten Teeth
Whiten your teeth after brushing them by gargling a mixture of 2 teaspoons of water and 1 teaspoon of HP. Do not swallow. Spit out the mixture and rinse well with clean water. Repeat 3 times weekly (3).
5. Lighten Your Nails
To whiten yellow fingernails, coat them with a paste made of 1 tablespoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide and 2 1/2 tablespoons of baking soda. Let it sit for 3 minutes and rinse away with warm water. Repeat every 6-8 weeks (4).
6. Bleach Your Hair
To bleach your hair, wash, condition, and air dry it until it’s damp but not wet. Section your hair and apply the peroxide evenly using a spray bottle. Let it sit for 30 minutes and rinse with cold water. Repeat the process every week until you get your desired shade (5).
7. Instant Highlights
To make your own highlights, dip a toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide and comb it trough damp hair. Heat your hair with a blow dryer to speed up the process. Once your hair gets to the shade of your choice, rinse away the HP with cold water and style as usual (6).
8. Healthy Detox
Detoxify your system by taking a warm bath with 1 cup of 3 percent HP. Do not use any soap, salts or oils. Enjoy for 30 minutes and shower as usual.
9. Clear Your Sinuses
Remedy a sinus infection by combining 1 cup of water with 1 capful of HP. Use the solution to irrigate your sinuses. You can also use a saline solution instead.
10. Relieve Toothaches
To fix a tooth infection, gargle a spoonful of coconut oil with a few drops of HP for 2-5 minutes. Spit and rinse well.
11. First Aid
Clean small cuts, scratches, and surface wounds with a capful of HP to prevent infection and promote healing. Use every day or during every bandage change until your wound heals.
12. Mouth Rinse
To kill the bacteria that cause bad breath, swish 1 cup of water mixed with 1 capful of HP. Spit and rinse well with water. Don’t swallow the mixture and don’t use it alongside mouthwash.
13. Skin Cleanser
Get glowing skin by applying HP with a cotton pad directly to problem areas. Let it sit for 5 minutes and rinse well with cold water.
14. Treat Boils
Skip the antibiotics and tackle your boil by soaking the affected area in a tub full of cold water and one cup of HP. Repeat daily until the boil heals up.
15. Soften Calluses And Corns
Soften calluses and corns by mixing equal parts of HP and warm water. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes and soak your hands or feet in it for 15 minutes.
Rinse once with cold water, dry, and apply tea tree oil. Repeat every day for 3 weeks (7).
16. Control Earwax
Clear away earwax by softening it with 2 drops of HP in each ear. Tackle one ear at a time and add a few drops of high-quality olive oil too.
Let the mixture sit for a few minutes and drain the liquid. Your hearing will clear up in no time!
17. Prevent Swimmer’s Ear
To stop swimmer’s ear in its tracks, combine 1 cap of HP with a little vinegar and use a few drops of the solution in each ear after swimming. This will kill bacteria before it has a chance to multiply in your ear canal. Do not use this trick if you have a punctured ear drum.
18. Cure Ear Infections
Heal an infected ear by applying a few drops of HP in it. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes and drain. Wait two days and add a few drops of warm saline solution to your ear. Wait 5 minutes and let it drain. Repeat as needed. Never use this remedy (or put anything else in your ear) if you have a punctured eardrum (8).
19. Fight Skin Mites
Kill mites by spraying HP directly to affected skin every few hours until symptoms subside.
20. Kill Foot Fungus
Use a cotton swab to apply equal parts water and HP directly to your fungus to kill it. Dry your foot completely and repeat daily until your foot heals up.
21. Clean Your Meat
Kill salmonella, E.coli, and other harmful pathogens by covering meat, poultry, or fish with equal parts water and HP. Refrigerate the meat and the mixture for 30 minutes, rinse well, and cook!
22. Grow Your Own Mushrooms
You can grow your own oyster mushrooms in your fridge thanks to a little hydrogen peroxide. Find out how to do it here.
23. Clean Your Toothbrush
Keep your toothbrush squeaky clean by soaking it in HP for a few minutes and rinsing it with warm water before use. Repeat every week for best results.
24. Stain Remover
Eliminate tough stains by applying HP directly to blood and other natural stains. Let it sit for one minute and rinse well with cold water. Repeat as needed and wash as usual.
25. Clean Your Aquarium
To kill algae, use 60ml of 3% HP per 250 liters of water. Deliver the mixture directly into a clump of algae slowly (it can take up to 5 minutes) using a syringe. Wait 48 hours before repeating. Note that the solution may harm aquatic plants in the process (9).
26. Keeps Your Pets Healthy
If your pet is vomiting, soothe their tummies by adding HP to their drinking water. This will help them throw up the remainder of the food or swallowed object that’s irritating their digestive tract. Before doing so, call your vet to find out how much HP is suitable for your pet’s weight and age.
27. Wash Dishes
To fight baked on crud, combine hydrogen peroxide with baking soda and make a paste. Rub the paste onto the dirty pan or casserole and let it sit for a while. Wipe away the mess and rinse with warm water (10).
28. Household Cleaner
Keep hydrogen peroxide in a dark spray bottle and use it on nearly any surface to disinfect and clean. Just google it and you’ll find hundreds of ways to use it!
29. Contact Lens Cleaner
If you run out of contact lens cleaning solution, you can actually use diluted HP. Just ask your optometrist how to use it.
30. Clean Your Whites
Keep your whites fresh and clean by adding 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide to your washing and let it soak for 30 minutes. Wash clothes as per usual.
31. Clean Organic Stains
Fight sweat, blood, wine, and coffee stains by mixing 1 part detergent with two parts HP and apply directly onto stains. Wait a few minutes and rinse. This trick is safe to use on clothes and linens, but keep in mind that it may lighten dark fabrics.
32. Neutralize Odors
Fight foul-smelling clothes and gym bags by soaking them in equal parts white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. Wash as usual and enjoy their fresh scent.
33. Carpet and Rug Cleaner
Spray diluted HP directly on stains, let them sit, and wash as per usual. Do not use on dark-colored rugs.
34. Disinfect Lunchboxes
Wipe lunchboxes with HP to kill bacteria and fight strong smells. You can also use this tip it to clean plastic school bags and toys.
35. Refresh Reusable Bags
Give new life to well-used bags by spraying a bit of HP onto them and wiping them clean. This trick will fight bacteria, fungi, and bad odors.
36. Keep Your Seeds
Keep your seeds fungus-free by soaking them in HP for a few minutes and drying them before planting. This will also improve their germination process.
37. Clean Your Humidifier
After using your humidifier, dump out any remaining water from the unit and wipe it down with a cloth wet with hydrogen peroxide to fight mold and mildew.
38. Clean Tiles
Clean your bathroom by spraying HP directly on tiles, letting it sit for 5 minutes, and wiping away the dirt and grime. They’ll shine like new!
39. Toilet Cleaner
To give your toilet a deep clean, pour 1/2 cup of HP into the toilet bowl and leave it be for 30 minutes. Scrub and flush and you’re done!
40. Whitening Grout
To clean white grout, mix HP and flour into a paste and apply it to the grout. Let it sit overnight, keeping it away from pets and children. The next day, rinse the affected area with water and dry.
41. Bath Tub Cleaner
Fight soap scum by spraying your bathtub with hydrogen peroxide and letting the liquid act for half an hour. Wipe it away and that’s it!
42. Fight Mold
Spray HP directly onto your moldy wall or tiles and let it act for 10 minutes. Wipe away with a clean sponge. Try not to breathe deeply around the mold to keep it out of your lungs.
43. Glass Cleaner
Clean glass furniture and windows by spraying HP on the surface, letting it sit for a few minutes and wiping it clean for a streak-free finish.
44. Counter Cleaner
Mix equal parts water and HP and spray on bathroom and kitchen counters. Wipe away and enjoy your disinfected surfaces.
45. Wash Sponges
Soak dishcloths and sponges in HP for 30 minutes to fight bacteria and dirt.
Let them air dry and enjoy!
46. Disinfect Cutting Boards
Keep your cutting boards germ-free by spraying HP on your board and letting it sit for 5 minutes or so.
Rinse with cold water and dry completely before use.
47. Fruit Wash
Clear away dirt and wax from fruits and veggies by spraying them with HP and rinsing with cold water after 10 minutes.
48. Clean Your Fridge
Empty your refrigerator, spray it down with HP and leave it be for 10 minutes.
Clean with a damp clean towel, dry, and fill it back up!
49. Dishwasher Boost
Give your dishes an extra shine by adding a capful of HP to your natural liquid detergent before running your dishwasher.
50. Salad Booster
Keep your lettuce fresh by spraying it down with 1 tablespoon of HP diluted in half a cup of water.
Let it sit for 5 minutes and wipe down with paper towel.
After that, just rinse your leaves well with cold water before eating.
source: dailyhealthpost
Do you know other household hydrogen peroxide uses that aren’t on this list?