Although it’s not as commonly used as vinegar or baking soda, hydrogen peroxide is a wonderful natural cleaner. There are several hydrogen peroxide uses in your home that will save you a ton of money on cleaning supplies!
20 Uses of Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is fairly cheap (especially if you buy it in bulk), and you can find it at most stores. Even though it’s a natural cleaner, be sure to follow safety precautions and avoid contact with your eyes or skin.
Clean the Bathroom
Use hydrogen peroxide to clean your toothbrushes and even your loofah or bath puff. Simply dip your toothbrush in a cup of undiluted hydrogen peroxide and let sit for 5 minutes. Then rinse.
To clean a loofah or bath puff, spray with undiluted hydrogen peroxide. There’s no need to rinse.
Clean Your Cleaning Supplies
Your cleaning supplies like mops, brushes, sponges, and toilet brush can get bacteria and other germs on them. Spray them with undiluted hydrogen peroxide and let sit for 5 minutes. You do not need to rinse them off.
For very dirty items, you can let them soak in undiluted hydrogen peroxide longer.
Clean Makeup and Beauty Items
To disinfect makeup sponges and brushes, spray with undiluted hydrogen peroxide. Let sit for 5 minutes. Rinse well and let air dry before putting them away.
Clean Toys
Your kids’ toys can collect bacteria, viruses, and other germs. You don’t want to use a toxic cleaner, especially for younger kids. Simply spray them with hydrogen peroxide and let sit for 5 minutes. Then rinse well.
Note that the peroxide may discolor some fabrics, so do not use on fabric toys.
Clean Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
To clean your fresh fruits and vegetables, fill your sink with cold water and add ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide. Wash your food and rinse. This kills bacteria and gets rid of pesticides.
Dishes
For stubborn food stains, sprinkle baking soda on the dish. Spray with undiluted hydrogen peroxide and scrub. Rinse well.
You can also add ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide to your dish water. This will help remove stuck on food.
Whiten Dishes
If your white dishes are no longer white and look dingy, clean them with a paste made from baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Use a dish rag to scrub and rinse well.
Clean Your Refrigerator
For a natural way to disinfect your fridge, spray with undiluted hydrogen peroxide and wipe clean. Rinse after cleaning.
Clean Cutting Boards
When you use a knife on a cutting board, it creates a small scratch that can trap bacteria and other germs. Disinfect your cutting boards easily by spraying them with hydrogen peroxide.
Rinse well.
Disinfect Kitchen Sponges
Kitchen sponges can harbor bacteria and other germs because they are often wet and create an ideal environment for bacteria to grow. Dip them in a bowl with half water and half hydrogen peroxide. Let them soak for 5 minutes and then remove.
Shower Mold and Mildew
To kill mold and mildew, spray undiluted hydrogen peroxide on the spots. You can let it sit for 5 minutes to kill the spores. There’s no need to rinse.
You can also spray hydrogen peroxide on the shower daily to prevent mold and mildew growth.
Cleaning Grout
To get your grout white again, use a small brush or an old toothbrush dipped in hydrogen peroxide. Then use it to scrub your grout.
Laundry
Use hydrogen peroxide in the washing machine to get your whites looking bright again. Add 1 cup of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide to your washer while it’s filling up.
Note that peroxide can cause spots on dark clothes or lighten them. Do not use it for darker colored clothes or other fabrics.
Remove Sweat Stains
To remove sweat stains from light colored clothes, mix equal parts water, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide in a bowl. Use a brush to scrub the stain. Let sit for 30 minutes, scrub again, and wash as usual.
Clean Your Washing Machine
Your washer can get dirty and start to smell musty from mold and mildew that grows on detergent residue. To clean your washing machine, add 2 cups of hydrogen peroxide to an empty washer. Then run a short cycle with the hottest water setting.
Do this once a month to prevent mold and mildew in your washing machine.
Get Musty Smell Out of Carpet
It’s simple to get rid of the musty smell from your carpet using hydrogen peroxide. Just mix 5 parts water with 1 part of hydrogen peroxide. Place the mixture inside a spray bottle.
Apply the solution by spraying it over the smelly areas of your carpet, ensuring that it does not oversaturate. Be sure to spray the areas under or at the back of the carpet if the carpet isn’t fixed to your floor.
Let the carpet air dry.
Clean Reusable Shopping Bags
Your shopping bags are taken from store to store, so they are exposed to a lot. Give them a quick spray with undiluted hydrogen peroxide to disinfect them.
Note that peroxide may discolor light fabrics, so you may want to just spray the inside of the bag.
Clean Mirrors
Most homemade window and glass cleaners leave streaks. Spray hydrogen peroxide on a window or mirror and use a microfiber cloth to wipe away dirt. You’ll get fewer streaks than using vinegar.
Humidifiers and Diffusers
Both humidifiers and diffusers can harbor bacteria and even mold. To clean and disinfect, run half water and half hydrogen peroxide through your humidifier once a month. You can also use this in an essential oil diffuser.
Clean Your Mattress
Hydrogen peroxide won’t remove all stains, but it can disinfect your mattress and kill dust mites. Spray your mattress with undiluted hydrogen peroxide. Let dry completely and then make your bed.
Garden Tools
Your gardening tools can get fungus or bacteria from the soil. Those germs can harm your plants. Spray your tools with hydrogen peroxide after each use to kill germs.
Notes About Cleaning With Peroxide
An opened bottle of hydrogen peroxide lasts about 6 months. If it doesn’t fizz when you use it, then it’s time to replace it.
Do not get undiluted hydrogen peroxide on your skin or in your eyes. Wear gloves when you can.
Do not mix hydrogen peroxide with bleach or vinegar. It can create fumes that cause lung and skin irritation.
Although you don’t need to rinse hydrogen peroxide off after cleaning, it is recommended that you rinse off kids toys and anything that will be put in the mouth or be near food surfaces.
Hydrogen peroxide can be used for a variety of cleaning applications in your home. It naturally kills bacteria and other microbes, so it’s a great natural disinfectant. Although it is a natural product, do be careful to use it responsibly and avoid contact with your skin or eyes.
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