10 Fantastic Uses for Hydrogen Peroxide

This post is by Bernie Carr, apartmentprepper.com

I had stocked several bottles of 3% hydrogen peroxide and a couple of them were about to expire. So I brought them out of storage and started using them.

What is hydrogen peroxide?

Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound H₂O₂ which is water (H₂O) with added oxygen. It works by releasing oxygen when applied.

Wound care

Originally, I only used hydrogen peroxide for cleaning wounds. However, recent information indicates that it is not necessarily the best care for wounds as it can slow healing times. According to WebMD, cool soap and running water is best for cleaning minor wounds, and larger wounds need professional treatment. However, if you have no running water, such as in a disaster situation, hydrogen peroxide can come in handy according to Consumer Reports.

I’d still keep a couple of bottles of hydrogen peroxide just in case.

Cleaning

I recently found out how effective hydrogen peroxide can be for cleaning purposes. We had a severely stained toilet bowl – nothing worked, not even bleach. One of my relatives told me to try hydrogen peroxide. It actually worked! I poured about half a cup of hydrogen peroxide after flushing, left it to soak for about 10 minutes. I then scrubbed the bowl with the toilet brush. The dirt came right off and now it is shiny and clean. The great thing is, unlike bleach, it does not give off fumes.

Disinfect surfaces

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) hydrogen peroxide  is effective against microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, yeasts, fungi, and spores.

Mix equal parts water and hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and wipe down countertops.

Sooth a sore throat

You know that sore throat pain you experience right when you are catch a cold? Hydrogen peroxide can help. Mix 3/4 cup warm water with 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide. Gargle and spit it out – do not swallow.

Mouth care

Hydrogen peroxide can help soothe a canker sore or blister. Mix a couple of tablespoons with some water and swish around your mouth. Do not swallow the mixture – spit it out and repeat a couple of times.

Get rid of occasional bad breath by rinsing your mouth with water with hydrogen peroxide. Swish around your mouth and spit it out. Repeat with fresh water.

To disinfect your toothbrush, soak it in hydrogen peroxide for an hour or so and rinse before use.

Treat athlete’s foot

Hydrogen peroxide is said to be effective for treating athlete’s foot. Combine water and hydrogen peroxide and apply on the area. Dry well.

Insect bite reliever

Stop an annoying itch from insect bites by applying a bit of hydrogen peroxide to the affected area.

Gardening

Hydrogen peroxide is also useful for gardening.

Fertilizer: Add one teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide per cup of water and use to water plants at the roots.

Rooting agent: Use the same mixture (one teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide with one cup of water) as a rooting agent when trying to grow cuttings. For germinating seeds, use the same mixture and soak the seeds for 30 minutes before planting. Rinse the seeds then plant as normal.

Eliminate mold

After making sure the area was well-ventilated, I sprayed hydrogen peroxide on a small moldy area in the bathroom and it immediately started fizzing. Upon rinsing, the mold disappeared.

Laundry aid

Whiten your white clothing by adding a cup of hydrogen peroxide to the wash instead of bleach.

Remove blood stains from clothes by applying hydrogen peroxide on the stain and allow it to sit for 20 minutes. Rinse right away. Be careful with dark colors though, hydrogen peroxide can have a bleaching effect, so this tip works best on light clothing.

Remove stains by applying hydrogen peroxide on the stain and adding blue Dawn dishwashing liquid.

The final word

Hydrogen peroxide is very inexpensive (just $0.88 for a bottle at Walmart) and has multiple uses. It deserves a spot in your stockpile.