Hydrogen peroxide, commonly found next to the bandages in many families' cupboards, is most often used to disinfect cuts and scrapes, but its unique disinfecting and bleaching properties are handy in many places around the home.
1. Toothbrush disinfectant
Soaking your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide (chemically known as H2O2) will disinfect the bristles and leave you with a very clean brush.
Soaking your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide (chemically known as H2O2) will disinfect the bristles and leave you with a very clean brush.
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2. Mouth cleanser
While you're at the sink with your germ-free toothbrush, why not use the hydrogen peroxide as mouthwash and teeth whitener? Swishing with H2O2 for about 30 seconds will kill odor-causing bacteria and whiten teeth.
While you're at the sink with your germ-free toothbrush, why not use the hydrogen peroxide as mouthwash and teeth whitener? Swishing with H2O2 for about 30 seconds will kill odor-causing bacteria and whiten teeth.
3. Grout cleanser and whitener
Using an old toothbrush to scrub dingy white grout with hydrogen peroxide will make it gleam again, says Sarah Aguirre, housekeeping expert at about.com.
Using an old toothbrush to scrub dingy white grout with hydrogen peroxide will make it gleam again, says Sarah Aguirre, housekeeping expert at about.com.
4. Mold killer
"Hydrogen peroxide is an antifungal and antibacterial solution that can be used to eliminate mold on a wide variety of surfaces," notes the video below from The Savings Experiment. The video demonstrates by showing how undiluted H2O2 is sprayed onto a patch of mold and allowed to sit for ten minutes before the whole mess is simply wiped away.
"Hydrogen peroxide is an antifungal and antibacterial solution that can be used to eliminate mold on a wide variety of surfaces," notes the video below from The Savings Experiment. The video demonstrates by showing how undiluted H2O2 is sprayed onto a patch of mold and allowed to sit for ten minutes before the whole mess is simply wiped away.
5. Foot fungicide
Put those anti-fungal properties to work for your feet: a 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water, sprayed onto the feet every evening, should get rid of the fungus in a few days.
Put those anti-fungal properties to work for your feet: a 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water, sprayed onto the feet every evening, should get rid of the fungus in a few days.
6. Laundry whitener
Add a cup of hydrogen peroxide to a load of whites to use as a bleaching agent that won't wear out clothing like chlorine will. Be careful, though -- white clothing only!
Add a cup of hydrogen peroxide to a load of whites to use as a bleaching agent that won't wear out clothing like chlorine will. Be careful, though -- white clothing only!
7. Laundry stain remover
Hydrogen peroxide is particularly effective at removing stains from the human body: Wake Up World notes that H2O2 has been known to thoroughly clean blood stains two days old. Apply the liquid to the stain, rub gently and rinse with cold water until gone. For sweat stains, mix two parts of hydrogen peroxide with one part dishwashing liquid. Soak the affected area and let sit for 30 minutes before rinsing with cold water.
Hydrogen peroxide is particularly effective at removing stains from the human body: Wake Up World notes that H2O2 has been known to thoroughly clean blood stains two days old. Apply the liquid to the stain, rub gently and rinse with cold water until gone. For sweat stains, mix two parts of hydrogen peroxide with one part dishwashing liquid. Soak the affected area and let sit for 30 minutes before rinsing with cold water.
Keep in mind this essential fact when using hydrogen peroxide around the home: once its bottle is opened, it reacts with air and light and begins to lose potency -- that's why it comes in dark-colored bottles. According to Anne Marie Helmenstine, chemistry expert at about.com, once you open the bottle of H2O2, you have 30-45 days of peak effectiveness. After about six months, that open bottle of hydrogen peroxide is useless.
Please SHARE these tips for using H2O2 around the home, then tell us yours in the comments below.
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