Hydrogen Peroxide for Cleaning: 10 Ways to Use it in the Home

Hydrogen peroxide is a budget antiseptic. The most common concentration found in pharmacies is 3 to 10%. You can use hydrogen peroxide not only for disinfecting wounds and cuts, but also when cleaning your home. Take into account that the antiseptic is stored for a short time – after opening the package, it is better to use up the bottle within 1 month.

Hydrogen peroxide for cleaning

Rags and sponges for dishes

With prolonged use of such “kitchen helpers”, they accumulate unpleasant odors and germs. Particularly in need of disinfection are iron sponges with which you clean pots and pans. They often leave bits of food behind, which is a great environment for bacteria.

Make a 1:1 solution of peroxide and water, soak the rags and sponges in it for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly and dry naturally.

Cutting Boards

Wooden and plastic cutting or chopping boards crack over time. Germs get into these cracks and multiply, enjoying life and infecting your food.

To avoid this situation, wipe the board with peroxide every time you use it, leave it for 5-10 minutes, and then rinse it with water.

Frying pan or stove soot

If you want to get rid of stale grease or encrusted cookware, make a solution: mix half a cup of baking soda, a few drops of dishwashing detergent, and 2 tablespoons of peroxide.

All the ingredients should be whipped until foamy, then apply to the problem areas. Leave for 10 minutes, then rub with a metal sponge and rinse with water.

The same method is suitable if you need to restore the attractive appearance of ceramic dishes.

Carpets and furniture

You can remove embedded dirt on your carpet or furniture upholstery with a 3% solution of peroxide. You can even get rid of tea and coffee stains, as well as paint stains with this remedy.

Mix 3 tbsp. of baking soda, 2 tbsp. of peroxide and pour it into a sprayer. Apply the solution to the stain, rub it with a sponge, and leave for 20 minutes. Then blot the problem area with a cotton cloth and dry it with a hair dryer. To remove the unpleasant odor, pour a few grams of baking soda and vacuum.

Floors and baseboards

Hydrogen peroxide is an effective surface cleaner. You must dilute 1 cup of peroxide in 4 liters of water and heat it to 40-50°C. If you clean floors and baseboards and wipe joints in the kitchen and bathroom with such a solution, you will get rid of bacteria. Ideally, apply the solution to problem areas, wait 10-15 minutes, and then rinse with water.

Fungus and mold

In order to get rid of such a problem, only 33% hydrogen peroxide will work for you. Mix it with water in a 1:1 ratio, and pour it into a sprayer. Apply the liquid to the surface where the mold has formed and wait for 10-15 minutes. Then scrub with a sponge and rinse off with water.

Food containers

Lunchboxes, in which food is constantly stored, cannot be cleaned well with dishwashing detergent – they need to be disinfected periodically. The reason is that plastic absorbs odors and food particles, which promotes the growth of bacteria.

Mix 1:1 water and peroxide, rinse the container with the solution, and then rinse thoroughly under running water. Allow drying naturally.

Aquarium

Often owners of pet fish complain that algae or other contaminants appear on the walls of the aquarium. Remove all inhabitants and decoration elements that could be affected by the peroxide before disinfecting.

The necessary amount of peroxide depends on the volume of the aquarium, 60 ml of antiseptic is usually used per 250 ml of water. You need to fill the peroxide in a syringe and apply it to the areas where the dirt has formed. The dirt will disappear, and you will need to wipe the walls with a clean rag.

IMPORTANT: do not use too much peroxide – the aquarium inhabitants can die.

Toothbrushes

The bristles of toothbrushes harbor bacteria that can destroy tooth enamel and speed up the development of tooth decay. Don’t wait for this to happen – sanitize your toothbrushes once a week. The best option is 3% peroxide, which should be poured into a glass and then drop the bristles down into it. Wait 5-10 minutes and then rinse with water. If desired, you can add baking soda and apply such a mess to the toothbrush.

By analogy, you will be able to disinfect and brushes for carpets, clothes, combs your own, or pets.

Bleach your clothes

If your snow-white clothing has lost its luster and has acquired an unpleasant yellow hue, soak it in a solution of peroxide. Use 4 tbsp peroxide per 10 liters of water, leave the clothes in the peroxide solution for 30 minutes and then machine wash and dry naturally.