12 Ways You Can Use Hydrogen Peroxide In The Home
That little bottle of hydrogen peroxide in your first-aid kit can do more than just prevent wound infections
If you have a first-aid kit in your home, chances are that one of its contents is a bottle of hydrogen peroxide, which is known to be able to prevent infection on small cuts and burns.
But hydrogen peroxide, also known as H2O2, is not only good as a mild antiseptic but also for home care, from getting rid of stains and mold to helping boost the growth of your beloved plants.
You can use your H2O2 to:
1. Erase scratch marks on your mirrors
Are there annoying scratch marks on your mirrors? Mix together equal parts of water and hydrogen peroxide then spray it on your mirror to get rid of those marks and achieve a clean finish.
2. Remove tile stains and whiten grout
Due to a variety of different home activities, getting your tiles stained is unavoidable. To eliminate those stains, mix hydrogen peroxide with flour to create a paste, apply the paste onto the stains, then cover the area with plastic wrap overnight. The next morning, rinse the paste off and the stains should come off easily. Meanwhile, to clean tile grout, combine H2O2 with baking soda, spread the paste on the grout, then leave it for 5 minutes. Later, wipe the paste away with water.
3. Disinfect your kitchen and bathroom countertops
Keep your countertops clean and germ-free by combining together equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and water and spraying the mixture on the surfaces, then scrubbing it with a sponge.
4. Clean your kitchen sponge
Because sponges are used to clean dirty dishes on a daily basis, it is inevitable that these become hotbeds for potentially harmful bacteria. One way to clean a kitchen sponge is by soaking it in a mixture of 50 percent hydrogen peroxide and 50 percent water. This method can help add to the life of your sponge, but if it doesn’t work (if the sponge starts to smell), it would be better to buy a new sponge.
READ: Is Your Kitchen Sponge Dirtier Than Your Toilet?
5. Remove leftover food residue
Got any pots or pans with food residue that just won’t come off no matter how much you try to scrub it away? Applying a paste made of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda on that problematic spot will do the trick. Just leave the paste there for a few minutes, then scrub it away with warm water.
READ: 3 Powerful Gunk Removal Hacks For Pots And Pans
6. Keep your cutting board germ-free
See those scratch marks on the surface of your cutting board? Those can help trap bacteria, making the board harmful to use. Fortunately, it’s not too difficult to clean your cutting board: Simply wipe it first with vinegar (to disinfect), then with hydrogen peroxide (to kill bacteria).
7. Sanitize your refrigerator
If you don’t regularly clean your fridge, chances are that harmful germs will spread faster in its contents. Aside from proper storage and taking out spoiled food, it is also important to sanitize your refrigerator. Empty it first, then spray its insides with hydrogen peroxide to kill any lingering bacteria. Leave it for a few minutes, then wipe with water.
READ: How-To: Cleaning the Refrigerator
8. Eliminate mold
Mold growth in the home is inevitable, but one way to combat this is by treating mold with full-strength hydrogen peroxide, then letting it sit for half an hour before cleaning. Make sure to also get rid of mold on your dehumidifier by running a hydrogen-peroxide-and-water solution through it monthly.
9. Get rid of grime in the bathroom
If your bathtub has any stains or dirt build-up on it, clean these by spraying them with hydrogen peroxide, letting it sit for 30 minutes, then rinsing. Shower curtain grime can also be cleaned by simply wiping them with H2O2.
10. Clean your toilet bowl
No need to buy a fancy toilet cleaning solution. Simply pour half a cup of hydrogen peroxide into the bowl, allow it to sit for 30 minutes, then scrub away with a toilet brush, and your toilet will be as good as new.
11. Kill dust mites
We like to think that we can relax in our bedrooms without being worried about anything, but unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Often, bedrooms, particularly beds, can be a breeding ground for pests such as dust mites, which can cause allergies. One way to keep these microscopic organisms at bay is by spraying your mattress with hydrogen peroxide before dressing it in new, clean sheets.
12. Fertilize your garden
Hydrogen peroxide can actually help improve a plant’s ability to absorb nutrients from the soil. All you need to do is to mist your indoor and outdoor plants with a solution of a gallon of room-temperature water and a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide. H2O2 can also be used to sanitize garden tools and containers after usage.
Source: The Spruce
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