I think it’s safe to say that pretty much everyone has hydrogen peroxide in their first aid kit. A while back, we wrote about the many uses for rubbing alcohol, and as it turns out, hydrogen peroxide is just as valuable! It’s wonderful for cleaning, it is essential in your beauty routine (goodbye, cracked feet!), and it’s handy in the kitchen, too. Not to mention, it saves you money on other products that you would normally go out of your way to buy. Read our hydrogen peroxide uses to see what all this miracle solution can do!
What Exactly Is Hydrogen Peroxide?
Before you use something, it’s always a good idea to know what exactly you’re going to deal with. So, let’s answer the question “What is hydrogen peroxide”?
Hydrogen peroxide is a mild antiseptic used on the skin to prevent infection of minor cuts, scrapes, and burns… This product works by releasing oxygen molecules when it is applied to the affected area. The release of oxygen causes foaming, which helps to remove dead skin and clean the area. This chemical product should not be used to treat deep wounds, animal bites, or serious burns.
via WebMD
What Are The Health Benefits Of Using Hydrogen Peroxide?
There are a lot of hydrogen peroxide uses you can benefit from both for your personal health and beauty and for your household.
Except for being a go-to in your first aid kit, this bubbly liquid can do a lot for your bathroom, kitchen, and even your store-bought fruit.
In personal care products, such as colorants and different kinds of toothpaste, hydrogen peroxide works as an oxidizing agent, offering a lightening/whitening effect on teeth.
Are there any side effects of using Hydrogen Peroxide?
Like all other solutions with medical benefits, hydrogen peroxide can cause some side effects, too.
More common
- Redness, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
- skin burning, itching, pain, rash, stinging, or swelling skin ulcers
Less common
- Cracking or scarring of the skin
- thinning, weakness, or wasting away of the skin
Rare
- Eyelid swelling
- painful blisters on the trunk of the body
via Drugs
If any of these unwanted effects occur while using peroxide, contact your doctor or nurse immediately.
Hydrogen Peroxide Uses You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner
Now that we know what hydrogen peroxide is and how it works, it’s time to dive into the different ways we can use it.
1. Video: Awesome Hydrogen Peroxide Hacks For The Home
Hydrogen peroxide can be used for so many things! Check out this short video that shows some pretty amazing hacks.
2. Fill A Spray Bottle With Hydrogen Peroxide To Use For Cleaning
Turn your peroxide bottle into a spray bottle for quick cleaning. Just unscrew the cap and add a spray nozzle.
It’s my favorite way to do a quick clean of a window, mirror, or those hard-to-reach places on the toilet bowl.
3. Brilliant Hydrogen Peroxide Uses: Make Your Own Carpet Stains Cleaner
This 2-ingredient carpet cleaner will get even tough stains out of your carpet. With pets and kids, it has been a lifesaver!
You need:
- a cup of hydrogen peroxide
- dark-colored bottle
- lemon essential oil (optional)
The peroxide helps to break down those stubborn stains and the lemon oil helps release sticky particles. Plus, it leaves a wonderful fresh smell around the house.
4. Get The Cleanest Ears With Hydrogen Peroxide
Clean out your ears with a peroxide treatment. It’s an easy and safe* way to get rid of ear wax, hair, bugs, sand, & bacteria.
It’s a good idea to place a towel under your head and keep a paper towel to use during the cleaning process.
*Note: Do not try this if you have an ear infection or an existing ear condition.
5. Hydrogen Peroxide Uses Video You’ll Love
Hydrogen peroxide – you can clean makeup brushes, clean grout, get scoured spots off of pots. These recipes couldn’t be any easier (click the image to watch a video).
6. Sparkling Clean Makeup Brushes With A Simple DIY Solution
Keeping your makeup brushes and supplies clean is very important. It should be a part of your beauty routine.
Promote healthier skin by making sure you clean your makeup brushes regularly with a mixture of Castile soap, part hydrogen peroxide, and warm water.
It takes just a few minutes, and it will prolong the life of your makeup brushes.
7. No More Yellow Armpit Stains With Hydrogen Peroxide
Get yellow armpit stains out of white clothing.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup liquid dish soap, like Dawn
- 2 cups hydrogen peroxide
- Baking soda
- Mixing bowl
- Scrub brush, old toothbrush or other short-bristled brush
Instructions:
- Combine dish soap and hydrogen peroxide in a mixing bowl.
- Apply the mixture to the yellow stain.
- Sprinkle some baking soda over the stained area.
- Let the shirt sit for one hour.
- Use the brush to gently scrub in baking soda.
- Rinse, then machine wash in cold water for one cycle and dry as usual.
Pro tip: For even brighter results, dry your shirt in the sun instead of the dryer. Let “nature’s bleach” work its magic on your newly-clean white shirt!
via ThompsonTee.com
8. Save Your Burned Pot With 3 Simple Ingredients
Clean a burnt pot with baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and aluminum foil. It works so well the pot looks almost brand new.
Goodbye, burnt residue!
9. Fun Kids Science Experiment – Make Elephant Toothpaste
Conduct a science experiment: kids love making “elephant toothpaste“.
Try this fun activity and teach kids how catalysts speed up a reaction. Also, it’s very cool!
10. The Ultimate Cracked Heels Remedy
Get your feet ready for summer. No more dry cracked heels here! You will have to soak your feet for about 35 minutes, so have that in mind when you’re planning your next in-home spa session.
11. Revive Your Old Cookie Sheets With Hydrogen Peroxide-Based Cleaner
Bring new life to old cookie sheets with this peroxide-based miracle cleaner. I never would have thought it possible to remove years of baked-on gunk!
12. Remove Dirt And Pesticide Residue From Fruits And Vegetables With Hydrogen Peroxide
Soak your fruits and veggies in water and food-grade hydrogen peroxide (3%) for 30 minutes to remove dirt and pesticide residue.
This will clean and disinfect your groceries. It also helps to prolong freshness. What a great hack!
13. The All-Natural Bleach Alternative That Will Blow Your Mind
Combine lemon juice, peroxide, and baking soda to make an all-natural bleach alternative. Perfect for families with sensitive skin.
If you’re looking for a laundry detergent alternative, we also have a list of amazing homemade laundry recipes you’ve gotta try.
14. Make Your Glass Top Stove Shiny Again
Remove icky residue from glass stovetops with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda.
What do you need?
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Baking Soda
- Rag or Sponge
Instructions:
- In a small bowl combine baking soda and equal parts hydrogen peroxide until you make a paste.
- Work paste around in a circle, concentrating on soiled areas.
- Baking soda absorbs grease and hydrogen peroxide helps to lift the residue.
- Gather up your baking soda in a pile and dispose of it.
- Wet a cloth with water to remove any remaining baking soda.
- Clean with a dry rag.
And you’re done! Such good results with such simple ingredients! Don’t you just love it? You may also try it on your countertops!
15. Take Care Of Your Toothbrush With Hydrogen Peroxide
Clean and sanitize your toothbrush. It’s super easy to do! Just soak your toothbrush in a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution for 15 min. According to a 2011 study, this kills 100% of germs.
Oh, and Peroxide also works as a mouthwash in a pinch.
16. An Easy Way To Achieve An Antique Look For The Metal Items In Your Garden
If you have the itch to add a vintage look to your garden, you’re going to love this tip!
Give copper an antique look by spraying it with peroxide, vinegar, and salt. This technique works on galvanized metal, copper, or brass, too.
17. Take Care Of Your Toothbrush With Hydrogen Peroxide
Make your own all-natural tub, tile, and grout cleaner! It uses hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and dish soap.
18. Must-Try Hydrogen Peroxide Uses: Clean And Disinfect Your Toilet
This is one of my favorite ways to use hydrogen peroxide: It helps get the toilet sparkling white and disinfected.
19. Clean And Sanitize Your Retainer
Peroxide, baking soda, and peppermint essential oil make an excellent retainer or Invisalign braces cleaner, and you’ll have super fresh breath, too.
Hydrogen Peroxide is Used for So Many Reasons
Hydrogen peroxide is such a versatile product to use. It helps cleaning and disinfecting the house, fight stubborn stains, and even heal cracked heels!
So before you run out to buy another cleaning or beauty product, try using peroxide in your place. You may be pleasantly surprised by the results.
Did you like these hydrogen peroxide uses? Then don’t miss out on these other hacks we have:
- 18 Things You Didn’t Know Rubbing Alcohol Could Do
- 17 Things to Do with Pill Bottles
- 10 Carpet Cleaning Hacks
- 17 Uses for Vaseline That Are Borderline Genius
- 17 Genius Uses for Dawn Dish Soap Every Mom Needs
Which hydrogen peroxide hack you will try first?
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