Learn About the 40 AmazingUses for Hydrogen Peroxide — For Home, Body, and Bombs! A true do-it-all, this solution tackles laundry brightening, surface disinfecting, dirt and grime cleaning—and even flower freshening. Each hack gives you a few easy steps for common uses, and soon hydrogen peroxide will be your go-to household tool. Check out this guide and you can get your home to sparkle, smell neutral, and be naturally fresh in no time!
Disinfect Cutting Boards
Cutting boards that have been in touch with raw meat or shellfish are the perfect growing conditions for bacteria. If you use a wooden cutting board, spritz the bamboo with hydrogen peroxide and let it sit for 5-10 minutes to kill any bacteria from handling meat or fresh produce that may have been tainted. The powerful formula works quickly to clean and deodorize, going deep below the surface so you can cook safely again.
Whiten Tile Grout
Grout can get dirty and yellow over time. Mix hydrogen peroxide and baking soda together to make a paste, and then put it on the grout lines. Allow the solution to remain in place for 10-15 minutes, scrub with a brush and rinse. The combination loosens tough dirt so your grout comes out as good as new without any harsh toxic chemicals.
Freshen Up Tile Floors
A mix of hydrogen peroxide and warm water is lovely for mopping tile floors. We also have a blend of baking soda and vinegar that not only works at getting up the dirt but kills germs as well so you always leave with your floors looking nice. Your floors will be cleaned in a natural way safe for pets and kind to your children, unlike some floor cleaners that have harsh chemicals.
Clean Bathroom Surfaces
Because of the running water, bathrooms see a lot of bacteria and mildew. Spray sinks, tubs, and counters with hydrogen peroxide before leaving for at least 10 minutes. These are a disinfectant all-purpose surface scrub that is super beneficial for soap scum in the shower and leaves your bathroom smelling nice without those toxic, cheap fragrance oils.
Sparkling Mirrors
To avoid streaks, combine identical sections of hydrogen peroxide and water in a spray bottle then spritz your mirrors to clean them with microfiber! This formulation cuts through dirt and smudges, putting the final touch on mirrors that appear clean with a purposeful finish.
Trash Can Sanitizer
Even if you’ve disposed of everything in the trash cans, they may still have bacteria and odors. Spray hydrogen peroxide all over the inside of your can, focusing on the bottom and corners this time let it set for about 15 minutes before rinsing. This hack ensures that your trash can stays smelling fresh, making foul smells a thing of the past.
Revive Moldy Shower Curtains
Shower curtains tend to go moldy over time if not properly cleaned. Dip The Curtain: Get rid of the curtain and dip it in Hydrogen peroxide plus water mixture, keep it this way for 20 minutes or so then rinse off thoroughly. This trick kills mold and deodorizes the fabric making it more than ideal for a cleaner bathroom.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
If you want to freshen the bowl quickly, add half a cup of hydrogen peroxide directly into your toilet and let it sit for twenty minutes before scrubbing it with a brush. It kills bacteria and removes stains and odors, so your toilet bowl looks fresh without harsh toilet cleaners.
Disinfect Makeup Brushes
If you use dirty makeup brushes, it can lead to skin breakouts because bacteria build up. Dip them in a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water for 5 minutes to whiten bristles, then rinse well. This trick also works to destroy bacteria and can help keep your skin healthy by making sure that any brush or sponge you use when applying makeup is not constantly introducing new germs onto your face.
Sanitize Toothbrushes
Especially after an illness, our toothbrushes can host bacteria. Since toothbrushes can get dirty, soak them in hydrogen peroxide for a couple of minutes to eliminate bacteria. This tip to keep our toothbrush fresh is one of those basic steps in oral hygiene.
Brighten Laundry Whites
Pour a cup of hydrogen peroxide in with some white clothes and it will brighten fabrics, and get rid of yellow stains. Hydrogen peroxide is a gentler alternative to bleach that does not damage the fibers and can keep clothing bright without damaging fabric.
Remove Blood Stains
While blood stains can be persistent with fabrics, hydrogen peroxide will come to the rescue. Soak the stain with hydrogen peroxide and allow it to fizz; then blot with a cloth before laundering. This reaction assists in raising the blood, collapsing it, and allowing for a complete washout in the machine.
Stain Remover for Carpets
Hydrogen peroxide + a splash of dish soap = the carpet stain remover solution of dreams. Apply the be-setting solution to the stained area, and allow it to settle for five minutes before soaking up along with a wet cloth. Use this hack to remove coffee, wine, and pet stains from your carpet while saving on expensive cleaners.
Eliminate Odors in the Fridge
A paper towel soaked in hydrogen peroxide can be used as a sort of sponge to soak up odors, and by simply putting one on the shelves of your fridge you will get rid of any lingering smells. This hack will stop those strong smells from foods like onions, garlic, and fish from carrying over so that other foods in your fridge do not absorb the scents.
Dishwasher Cleaner
Over time, a dishwasher can build up the remains of food and bacteria. Add half a cup of hydrogen peroxide to the dishwasher’s bottom and run it through a cycle for disinfecting and deodorizing. This ensures your dishwasher stays clean (and your dishes, too).
Glass Cleaner
A solution of half hydrogen peroxide and half water is an ideal glass cleaner that can easily take away grease or fingerprints. For streak-free and crystal-clear shine on glass surfaces, windows, and mirrors, spray this cleaner at the surface and wipe it down.
Freshen Musty Towels
Sprinkle some hydrogen peroxide for a musty towel odor after washing cycle, Paul says. That unique pairing wards off bacteria that cause bad smells, so your towels feel fluffy and fresh — just the way you want them to be when you reach for one on a morning.
Stain-Free Countertops
Hydrogen peroxide can be used to remove grease stains on a kitchen countertop and also disinfect it. Simply spray on the counter and wipe with a rag to remove stains and eliminate bacteria, creating a more hygienic kitchen for cooking.
Clean Sponges
Bacteria survive even after the sponge is rinsed, so kitchen sponges harbor a lot of bacteria. Soak your sponges in hydrogen peroxide for several minutes and rinse them out, then squeeze until dry. This is a great way to kill germs and extend the lifespan of your sponges, which in turn decreases the waste.
Remove Wine Stains
For red wine stains that are still fresh on clothing or fabric, combine hydrogen peroxide with some dish soap and apply it to the stained area. Allow 10 minutes of dwell time then blot with a white towel prior to washing. The enzymes from the white wine degrade some of the red pigments, so it is more easily removed.
Freshen Rugs and Upholstery
In a spray bottle, combine hydrogen peroxide and water, and spritz on rugs and upholstery for a quick refresh. Works to eliminate odors and to lift light stains, but be sure to test on a hidden area first as it can damage the fabric.
De-germ Kids’ Toys
Plastic toys collect germs after play (especially if played with peers). Place them in hydrogen peroxide for a couple of minutes, rinse and dry. This sterilizes toys in a safe way for kids without using hard chemicals.
Whitening Toothpaste Booster
Social media users have also suggested mixing a little hydrogen peroxide with baking soda to make an at-home whitening paste. This can be used occasionally to lighten teeth but should not be used regularly due to enamel health.
Clean Glass Cookware
An excellent idea: to soak your glass cookware in a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, both for stubborn residue grease on the glass. Leave to sit for an hour and scrub for a greasy-clean slate that shines the glassware sparkles!
Freshen Cat Litter Boxes
After cleaning litter boxes, pet odors may still persist. Inside the litter box, spray it with hydrogen peroxide, dry and refill it with new litter. It disinfects the box to ensure that it is fresh and clean for your furry ones.
Clean Fruits and Vegetables
Soak fruits and vegetables in a mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide for several minutes before storing or partaking. This kills the bacteria and gets rid of pesticides, which makes your vegetables safe to eat. After soaking, it will need rinsing well to get rid of any residue.
Mold and Mildew Remover
Mold and mildew get easily transmitted in humid areas such as bathrooms. Apply hydrogen peroxide to affected areas and allow 10 minutes to pass. Scrub with a brush and rinse. The solution kills mold spores, making it easier to maintain clean surfaces with little risk of returning.
Whiten Fingernails
Soak nails in diluted hydrogen peroxide for a few minutes if your nails are stained from polish or other substances. It helps whiten the nails and remove stains, making them look rejuvenated.
Air Humidifier Disinfectant
Add a little hydrogen peroxide to the water tank: Adding some drops of Hydrogen peroxide not only helps you keep your humidifier clean and serves as a natural disinfectant but also prevents bacteria from growing in the first place. This not only kills the bacteria but also makes sure that the mist is free of germs when it goes in the air, which can be very beneficial for people with respiratory problems.
Prolong Freshness of Flowers
Enhance the longevity of cut flowers with a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide added to the vase water. That halts bacterial growth and keeps flowers fresher longer while reducing the slimy sediment that can occur in the water.
Shine Silverware
Soak in hydrogen peroxide to remove tarnished silverware, or clean with a cloth soaked in hydrogen peroxide and water. This will remove tarnish gently without any strong chemicals, and leave the silverware ready for the next meal.
Hair Lightening Treatment
Prepare natural hair bleach with hydrogen peroxide Combine with water, spritz onto the hair, and soak in the sun for a low-key, seasonal boosting of highlights. But do not use it much, as high usage damages your skin. A homespun, a more gentle approach for sunlit streaks.
Remove Skunk Odor on Pets
For skunk sprays on pets, you mix hydrogen peroxide with baking soda and a little dish soap in it. Well, use something that will kill the fleas — rub it into their fur (but don’t get in the eyes) and rinse. This helps to dissolve the oils of the skunk and actually gets rid of the nasty smell.
Clean the range hoods and stovetops
Grease from cooking can also be built upon stovetops and range hoods. Hydrogen peroxide can be used by spraying on greasy places, leaving it for a few minutes, and cleaning it. Grease is something we all have to deal with every day in the kitchen, so this hack removes grease from everything resulting in your surfaces sparkling clean.
Hide soap Scum from shower doors
You can get soap scum buildup on your shower doors, a hazy-looking film. Apply a spray of hydrogen peroxide diluted with water on the doors, let it sit, and wipe it off using a sponge. This gets rid of the scum and makes glass shower doors clean and clear.
Brighten Patio Furniture
Just remember that outdoor furniture can get dirty and moldy after a while. To clean plastic or metal patio furniture, spray with some hydrogen peroxide and give it a good scrub with a brush. This is the hack to restore the original color of your furniture and make your outdoor place anew!
Clean Outdoor Tools
Soil and bacteria can travel on gardening tools. Soak your instruments in a dip of hydrogen peroxide and water before putting them away. This keeps tools free of potential disease-causing bacteria, which could endanger the plants and transmit illnesses around your garden.
Freshen Sneakers
Even after washing, athletic shoes may retain traces of smell. Spray some hydrogen peroxide into the inside of your sneakers and let them air dry. It kills bacteria and takes away smells, leaving your shoes fresh for your next workout.
Freshen Up Animal Cages
Hydrogen peroxide is an effective cleaner you can use to clean cages for small pets, such as hamsters or rabbits. Just spray inside the cage, and let it rest for a couple of minutes before rinsing and drying. This deodorizes and disinfects the space, making it a safer place for your pets.
Brighten and Clean Pillows
Pillows can also get sweat stains and bacteria build up over time. When washing pillows, add a cup of hydrogen peroxide with the load in a hot wash cycle. They disinfect and whiten the pillows, so they are rebuilt for a good night’s sleep.
Final Thoughts:
Hydrogen peroxide is quite the powerhouse in a household, with many safe and clean solutions to cleaning home and personal care. It is versatile, inexpensive, and a natural disinfectant that every household needs. These hacks could have the most stubborn stains and germs under control, freshen up virtually anything in your home, or even help you bright white grout again. Use several of these suggestions in your daily routine to live and work surrounded by cleaner air. Oh, and be cautious with hydrogen peroxide (some people do water it down), always patch-test any new hack in a small area first. Happy cleaning!