9 Surprising Uses for Hydrogen Peroxide

by BrightNest

Easy

Let’s play a word association game. When you hear “hydrogen peroxide,” what do you picture?
If it’s a first aid kit, you’re not alone. The vast majority of us keep hydrogen peroxide in the wings for scrape and bruise duty and kinda forget it exists 99% of the time. Tragedy! Hydrogen peroxide’s anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties make it one of the most valuable $2.00 purchases you can make at the drug store.

9 surprising uses for hydrogen peroxide, cleaning tips

Here are 9 of our favorite uses:

1. Remove Wine Stains

Or blood stains or pit stains or pretty much any other stains! It may not whiten as quickly as bleach, but unlike bleach, there’s very little risk of damaging fabric. To do this, combine equal parts hydrogen peroxide and mild detergent in a bowl. Sponge the mixture onto the stain and let it sit for one minute. Then, blot the solution into the stain until it’s completely absorbed, and then wash the garment as you normally would.

2. Keep Kitchen Surfaces Clean

Hydrogen peroxide comes in a brown bottle because it’s extremely light sensitive. So leave it in the original bottle! Instead of transferring the liquid to another spray bottle, simply put a nozzle on the brown bottle from the store. Hold your hydrogen peroxide bottle in one hand and bottle of vinegar bottle in the other. Mist the surface you’d like to disinfect with the hydrogen peroxide and then follow up with a mist of the vinegar. Important: Don’t combine the two liquids into one bottle – they will form a new chemical if they’re combine that doesn’t work as well.

3. Refresh Sponges

You’ve done the dishes and everything is clean – except for the nasty sponge. Steep it in a cup of hydrogen peroxide to kill any lingering bacteria. Tip: Be sure to rinse it out thoroughly afterwards.

4. Clean Your Septic Tank

One in five American homes has a septic system. If you’re one of the special few, flush an ounce of hydrogen peroxide through your system every six months to keep it in working order.

5. Remove Mold From Plants

To remove mold from houseplants, mix a pint of water with five tablespoons of 3% hydrogen peroxide or food grade peroxide. Spray your plants with the solution to remove any mildew or mold on the leaves.

6. Clean Your Toothbrush

Once a week, soak your toothbrush in a cup of hydrogen peroxide to kill germs. If you’re feeling especially icky, clean it this way after every use.

7. Disinfect Fruits and Veggies

To do away with pesticides, fill your sink with cold water and a quarter cup of hydrogen peroxide and wash your fruits and veggies.

8. Accelerate Plant Growth

To help your houseplants grow faster, soak seeds in a solution of 1 cup water and 1 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide before planting.

9. Brighten Your Hair

If your hair is already pretty light and and you’d like to make your hair blonder, fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water, and spray your wet hair with it after a shower. Over time, your locks will lighten.

Get more home hacks at BrightNest: http://bit.ly/HomeHacksAtBrightNest

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3 of 4 questions

Sandra on Dec 01, 2015
Is it safe to put on your hair every day? Do you rinse it out or leave it in?

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Gail Teel on Jul 28, 2019

How long do you soak the seeds before planting?

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Gail Teel on Jul 28, 2019

How long do you soak the seeds for in hydrogen peroxide and water?

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2 of 31 comments

Gloria on May 24, 2019

My son washed and dried the clothes. His blue tennis shoes got blue all over the clothes while they were in the dryer....HELP PLEASE!!

10 Reply
Terry Hogue on Oct 17, 2022

You can also pour a small amount 1/4-1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide to a plant that has been over ” loved” with water( remove drowning plant from excess watered soil - replant) . Water logged plants are starving for oxygen. Hydrogen peroxide revives a dying plant with oxygen to its roots.

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