Keep reading to be surprised by these 32 hydrogen peroxide uses that can make your life a lot easier and fuss-free.
What Is Hydrogen Peroxide?
Hydrogen peroxide is a transparent fluid, famous for its mild antiseptic properties. It shows vigorous anti-bacterial activity against yeast, fungi, mold spores, and bacteria. Hydrogen peroxide is a fantastic disinfectant for your kitchen surfaces, countertops, and sinks as well. Furthermore, it’s also used in laundry detergents, bleaching, and cosmetic products.
Amazing Hydrogen Peroxide Uses
Below are some fantastic uses of hydrogen peroxide that might surprise you.
1. Grow Mushrooms in Your Refrigerator
It sounds weird, but hydrogen peroxide helps you to grow mushrooms in the refrigerator. Follow this step-by-step instructional video to get lots of free and fresh mushrooms from your fridge.
2. For Elephant’s Toothpaste
Everyone loves to do science experiments like the ‘Elephant’s toothpaste,’ especially the kids. Use this fun-filled and time bonding activity to spend time with your little ones. However, make sure you wear face masks and hand gloves.
3. Get Rid of Skunk Smell
Skunks are notorious animals infamous for their obnoxious scented spray. If your dog gets sprayed by a skunk, no worries, hydrogen peroxide does the trick. Make a mixture of 2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda, and 1 tsp of liquid dishwashing soap. Now, clean your dog’s fur thoroughly with this solution. Then, rinse it with lots of water.
4. To Clean Lawn Furniture
To get lawn furniture gunk and grime-free, without using any harmful chemicals or power washing, use hydrogen peroxide. Mix 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide, a gallon of water, and 3-5 drops of dish soap into a sprayer. Now, spritz it on the metal chairs and tables, leaving it for 10-15 minutes. At last, scrub them with a brush and rinse with plenty of water.
5. Refinish Metal Items
If you love to have a vintage, rustic look on your metals, then you can achieve it instantly with the help of hydrogen peroxide. The only thing you’ve to do is to follow this instructional guide to transform the ordinary into vintage.
6. Eliminates Spider Mites
Spider mites are not harmful to human beings but are a severe threat to the life of plants. When they attack, brown or yellow spots appear on the plant’s leaves. Read on this step by step article to know how to fight against these pesky little creatures.
7. Burnt Pot Cleaner
If you accidentally burn the pot while cooking, then hydrogen peroxide will have your back. As it’s a potent disinfectant and an excellent cleanser, it wipes out the burn residuals from the pot without any hassle. Simply follow this step-by-step tutorial to do the trick.
8. Dirty Grout Cleaner
Grout is used to filling the gaps between the joints of floor tiles. When this grout becomes dirty, it not only becomes the house of bacteria and fungi but also spoils the appearance as well. In that case, hydrogen peroxide is an on-the-go solution that eliminates the discolored grout without any fuss.
9. Slime Stains Remover
Everyone loves to play with slime, especially the kids. But what you do if slime leaves stains on your favorite carpet? Hydrogen peroxide is the solution; its bleaching properties help you to take off that ugly stain without any hassle. However, don’t use this hydrogen peroxide solution on light-colored carpets.
10. Shower Caulk Mold Remover
Caulk is a sealant product that is used to seal the gaps and joints of shower, tubs, windows, and doors to prevent the entrance of water, air, and bugs. However, caulk is prone to mold and mildews. Try hydrogen peroxide as an all-natural remedy that eliminates mold & mildews, thanks to its anti-bacterial activity.
11. Hydrogen Peroxide for Plants
Besides its different home uses, hydrogen peroxide is an excellent tool for gardeners. If mold and mildew are causing a threat to your vegetation, then hydrogen peroxide is for you. This colorless liquid works because of its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal qualities.
12. Using Hydrogen Peroxide to Clean Vegetables
If you want to sanitize your store-bought veggies and then use a food-grade quality, 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Combine 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide along with 1 gallon of water. Now, soak the fruits & veggies for 25-30 minutes. After that, rinse and dry them thoroughly.
13. Disinfects Counters and Cutting Boards
As per this authoritative source, hydrogen peroxide is an effective disinfectant for counters and cutting boards. Simply, pour 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle. Spritz it on the desired area & leave it for 8-10 minutes. Then, wipe it with a microfiber towel.
14. Eliminates Garbage Can Germs
As the hydrogen peroxide has anti-bacterial property, it sanitizes the garbage can efficiently. Just like it disinfects your kitchen stuff, it’ll do the same with a trash can as well. After cleaning your garbage can with soapy water, spritz 1:1 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water into it. Keep it under sunlight for a few hours.
15. Toilet Cleaner
According to a study, hydrogen Peroxide can eradicate several germs, bacteria, and fungi, making it an efficient toilet bowl cleaner. Simply, empty 1/2 cup of undiluted 3% hydrogen peroxide into the toilet bowl and let it sit for 25-30 minutes. Once it’s done, flush it.
16. Clean Mirror & Glass Surfaces
Try hydrogen peroxide as an on-the-go solution to clean glass and mirror surfaces. Make a combination of equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and water into an empty spray bottle. Then, spritz it on the mirror surfaces and wipe with a paper towel.
17. Remove Clothes Stains
According to this source, hydrogen peroxide is an excellent product to get rid of fruit, juice, blood, and grass stains from your favorite garments. It works because of its mild bleaching properties. Before using this liquid substance, try it on an inconspicuous spot of a cloth.
18. Litter Box Cleaner
If you want to clean your cat’s litter box along with eliminating its strong odor, then hydrogen peroxide is the solution for the purpose. First, wash the litter box with soapy water. Then, spritz undiluted bleach on it. Leave it for 25-30 minutes and then rinse it with water.
19. Sprout Healthy Seeds
This study shows that hydrogen peroxide not only improves the seeds’ germination process but also lessens the infestation of seed-borne fungi. Before planting, soak the seeds into a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and leave it for 15-20 minutes.
20. Clear Algae From Pond Water
If you have a little pond in your garden, then you know what green fungi can do. It degrades the look of your beautiful lake and is harmful to the fish as well. To eliminate this issue, hydrogen peroxide is the potent solution that you need.
21. Appliances Cleaner
Either it’s your dishwasher or the refrigerator, hydrogen peroxide is the one thing that you need for disinfecting these appliances. Make a solution of 1:1 of water and hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle. Then, spray it on the devices and wait for 15-20 minutes before wiping it out with a microfiber towel.
22. Toothbrush Sanitizer
An untidy toothbrush can harbor bacteria, that’s why its proper sanitization is necessary. As per this well-reputed study, soaking toothbrush head into a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution dramatically reduces both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.
23. Whitens Old Porcelain Fixtures
Hydrogen peroxide is your best bet to brighten up the old yellowed porcelain sink. First, wet down the whole sink, then sprinkle a sufficient amount of baking soda on a sponge & scrub the sink properly. Once it’s done, saturate the sponge with hydrogen peroxide & rub the porcelain sink adequately. Leave it for 15-20 minutes and then wash it off with water.
24. Disinfects Sloppy Sponges
People often overlook the importance of clean sponges in their bathroom and kitchen. Dirty sponges may contain various bacteria and germs. To avoid these bacteria and germs, you can disinfect the sponge with a 1:1 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water.
25. Clean Reusable Grocery Bags
The reusable grocery bags are beneficial for the environment, but it’s not good for your health if you don’t clean them properly. Simply pour half a cup of hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle and spritz it inside and outside of the grocery bags thoroughly.
26. To Clean Humidifier & Dehumidifier
Untidy humidifiers and dehumidifiers are prone to bacteria or molds. That’s why it’s vital to clean them every three days. For this job, hydrogen peroxide is an excellent candidate. First, wash the devices with soapy water. Then, pour 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide with 1/2 cup warm water into the tank and run it.
27. Disinfect Makeup Brushes
Clean your dirty makeup brushes by soaking them into a mixture of 1/2 cup of each hydrogen peroxide and water. Wait for 10-15 minutes & then rinse it with lukewarm water. Repeat this process after every time you use the brushes.
28. Disinfect Kids Lunchboxes
To make your kid’s lunchboxes bacteria and germ-free, use hydrogen peroxide every weekend. Pour 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide with 1 cup of water into a spray bottle and shake it well. Spritz it all over the lunchbox and wait for 5-10 minutes. After that, wash it off with warm water.
29. Removes Carpet Odor
Hydrogen peroxide is the best solution to get rid of the musty smell from the carpets. Combine 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide, 3-5 drops of dish soap, and 1/2 cup of water into a spray bottle. Spritz it on the problematic carpet area and wait for a few minutes & then vacuum it properly.
30. Multipurpose Pet Supplies Cleaner
To sanitize fish bowls, bird-baths, and animal cages or to remove bird droppings from the floor, hydrogen peroxide is the right solution. Make a 1:1 mixture of lukewarm water and hydrogen peroxide and spray it on empty bird baths or fish bowls and rinse with water
31. Make Old Baking Sheets New
If you’ve been looking for a potent baking sheet cleaner, then try the combination of 1/2 cup of each 3% hydrogen peroxide and water. Empty the mix into a spray bottle and spritz on the baking pan. Keep it for one hour and then scrub with a scrubber and rinse with water.
32. Disinfect Gardening Tools
To inhibit the transmission of plant pests and disease, it’s necessary to disinfect the gardening tools often. First, clean the tools to remove dirt and debris. Then, soak your tools in a solution of 1 gallon of water with 3 cups of hydrogen peroxide and wait for half an hour before rinsing it with water.
A Word of Caution
Many websites claim that hydrogen peroxide can be used for wound cleaning, as a mouthwash, teeth whitener, earwax remover, and to cure athlete’s foot. But, there is no scientific or clinical evidence to support these claims. Any kind of internal and external use of hydrogen peroxide on the human body can cause some severe side effects.
Final Thoughts
Hydrogen peroxide is a versatile household chemical with numerous uses. Before using hydrogen peroxide, it’s highly recommended to wear good quality hand gloves to avoid any mishaps. Always use food grade 3% hydrogen peroxide solution for any of the above purposes. Don’t use it on wounds, cuts, skin, and avoid swallowing it. Now that you know all these surprising and hydrogen peroxide uses, get going, and try them today.