Hydrogen peroxide is a wonderful cleaning chemical that many people have never even heard of. It’s cheap, non-toxic, and most importantly of all — it works!
Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound that contains oxygen and hydrogen. This means it’s an effective but safe cleaning product that you can use around your home. And it works as a natural antiseptic and can clean almost any mess from your household.
So if you are looking for ways to effectively clean and disinfect your home without using harsh chemicals or spending a lot of money — follow this guide to see all the hydrogen peroxide uses for cleaning.
What is Hydrogen Peroxide?
Hydrogen Peroxide is a very powerful chemical that is often used for household chores. It is a colorless, transparent liquid and is generally very safe.
The chemical formula of this compound is H2O2, and it is a very pale blue liquid in its pure form. It is slightly more viscous than water, has a melting point of -0.43°C, and boils at 150.2°C.
Hydrogen peroxide is a universal cleanser that disinfects, deodorizes, and whitens at the same time. It is used in major medical centers worldwide to treat skin conditions, wounds, and infections. And it also has home applications like in the treatment of water stains, spots on lawns or clothing, and even in high-tech industries for cleaning purposes.
The chemical compound is often used after being diluted in water. The ratio of hydrogen peroxide & water varies on whether it is to be used for industrial purposes or household uses.
Now let’s see some of the uses of hydrogen peroxide for household cleaning, and you'll also find some helpful safety tips by the end of this guide.
Hydrogen Peroxide Uses for Cleaning
Here are the primary hydrogen peroxide uses for cleaning...
1. Remove Stains From Clothing
We often get left with dirty-looking white towels because our detergents often fail to get the shine back. If you have white towels that look dingy or don’t smell good, then you can trust hydrogen peroxide to fix that for you.
Take 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide & add it to the washing machine. Be sure to add 3% hydrogen peroxide, as that will do the job. Once added, put the clothes in the machine and add the water to it. This will ensure that your clothes come out stain-free & smell good.
You can substitute bleach with hydrogen peroxide & be sure only to use it for white clothes as it can stain dark-colored fabrics. Also, this chemical compound is better than bleach in terms of the environment.
Note: Don't try to mix hydrogen peroxide with bleach to clean your clothing, as it won't do any good, and it will turn hydrogen peroxide into water.
2. Deep Clean Carpets and Upholstery
Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a disinfectant for your house. The chemical compound makes an impeccable cleaner that will clean your rags, scrubbers, sponges, and brushes and work effectively to clean your upholstery & carpets. Not just that, you can also use hydrogen peroxide to clean bedpans and thermometers.
To do so, spray this liquid, wait for a while so that it bubbles up, and repeat the process. If you need to clean something very dirty, you should consider soaking it in hydrogen peroxide.
3. Disinfects Dishware and Countertops
If you have dishes & kitchen countertops that are extremely dirty, you can mix hydrogen peroxide in your dish detergent to boost your cleaning process. Hydrogen peroxide can also quickly get rid of baked-on grime. Just add it in your detergent, and scrub the dishes as you usually do. The chemical will handle the rest.
For cleaning the countertops, you can use undiluted hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit on the countertop for about 10 minutes, as it will allow the chemical to kill the germs & clean all the stains. Then, wipe it off properly.
4. Use as Garbage Disposal Cleaner
After you're done washing your garbage disposal using soap & water, take the container & spray it with a hydrogen peroxide solution and water in the ratio of 1:1. Then, let the container sun-dry for many hours. Hydrogen peroxide works to clean the container in the same way it cleans other hard surfaces.
5. Remove Stains From Walls and Floors
Watermarks can be highly annoying as they can easily make an appearance on walls, floors, and granite countertops. A small amount of hydrogen peroxide is enough to get rid of these marks in an instant.
Mix ½ cup of baking soda with a few drops of hydrogen peroxide (3%) in a small bowl. Mix them, and you'll have a paste with you. Use this paste to clean all the water stains as you spread it on them and let it rest for about 10 minutes. Once the clock ticks, take a damp cloth to wipe the paste off.
This should do the job. However, if you've got tough stains, you should consider covering the paste with plastic and tape it. Wait overnight, and then wash it the following day. You can dry the surface using a delicate piece of cloth.
6. Kill Mold and Mildew
Moisture in the environment can cause mildew and mold to build up. To kill mildew and mold, you don't have to go through the unpleasant experience of breathing bleach fumes. All you need to do is take 3% hydrogen peroxide and spray it all over the mold & mildew.
Let the chemical sit for a good 30 minutes, and then rinse it off. This will effectively kill mildew and mold. However, you may have to kill the stains that the mold & mildew leave behind separately.
7. Clean the Showers, Tubs, and Toilet
You can count on hydrogen peroxide to maintain the hygiene of your toilets, tubs, and showers. You can also clean your loofahs and toothbrushes using this excellent cleaner.
Not just that, hydrogen peroxide can also be used to clean your makeup brushes & blenders, shaving brushes, and all your other similar cleaning tools.
8. Clean Water Stains From the Sink
Are you having trouble cleaning those water stains from sinks? Here's a trick to get rid of those stains: wet the sink and then scrub it using baking soda. Use a sponge to scrub it. Once done, take 3% hydrogen peroxide and pour it all over the surface. You'll see how the chemical cleans the sink when you start rinsing it.
9. Pet Care: Clean Out the Cat Pan or the Pet Bedding
Is your cat's pan stinky? Don't you worry! Just empty the litter box and wash it using soap. Use hot water to rinse the soap and then spray it with hydrogen peroxide. Let the chemical sit on the litter box for around 15 minutes, and then rinse it off.
Don't forget to dry it properly, and you're done! We're sure that hydrogen peroxide will get rid of that unpleasant smell.
10. Clean Your Refrigerator
We use our refrigerator to store food, and to one's surprise, it can often be the place for bacteria and germs to take birth. However, it is not suggested to use chemicals to clean your refrigerator as we consume the food we keep inside it. Hence, to clean your refrigerator, you should take non-toxic hydrogen peroxide and put it on a sponge or a paper towel.
Then, clean the walls and the shelves of the refrigerator using the same. Doing this will ensure that the bacteria get killed and your food doesn't get harmed.
11. Clean Your Washing Machine
High-efficiency washing machines can often develop a very pesky smell over time. This smell gets generated due to the appearance of mold and mildew, and the only way to get rid of this smell is by adding 2 cups of our favorite cleaner, hydrogen peroxide, in the washing machine while it's empty.
After adding the chemical, run a hot water cycle in the machine. This should ensure that you're left with a pleasant-smelling washing machine. It would help if you went through this process once every month to ensure that your washing machine never smells bad.
12. Removes Germs from Beauty and Manicure Tools
If you use your own beauty and manicure tools at home, you should have a bottle of hydrogen peroxide ready at all times. Hydrogen peroxide is perfect for disinfecting these tools to make sure they're germ-free before they touch your skin or nails. Hydrogen peroxide can be used to disinfect tweezers, glass nail files, nail clippers, and other beauty tools you use on your face and body.
To disinfect these tools, simply pour some hydrogen peroxide on a clean washcloth then wipe your tools with it. Give extra care to wipe the tool's cutting edges. You can also soak a nail brush in a small bowl of hydrogen peroxide and let it soak for a few minutes before rinsing.
13. Make White Objects Whiter
Since hydrogen peroxide is also known as an industrial bleaching agent, it shouldn't come as a surprise that it makes white objects whiter, even in your home. These objects can range from white cotton shirts to shoes, to white tile grout.
To whiten canvas shoes, simply dip a toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide and scrub the areas you want to whiten. Then rinse and air dry.
For whitening yellowed white shoe soles, make a paste using equal parts baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Scrub the paste over the yellowed areas with a toothbrush then leave your shoes to soak in direct sunlight, sole side up. You can repeat this process for stubborn yellow stains.
To whiten and disinfect tile grout, mix ½ cup baking soda with ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide and a teaspoon of dish soap. Apply the mixture to the grout and let it sit for 10 minutes before gently scrubbing and wiping it clean.
We've talked about whitening white clothes in a previous post so you can check that one out for the full procedure.
14. Revitalizes Old Cutting Boards
One kitchen surface that deserves its own entry is the humble cutting board. You can clean your countertop all you want but you still risk disease if your cutting board is not as germ-free. After all, your cutting board is another surface that your food comes into contact with before it eventually winds up on your plate.
To revitalize your cutting board, simply pour enough hydrogen peroxide to cover all its surfaces. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes then rinse. You should now have a clean germ-free cutting board that should no longer smell like a dank cellar.
How to Get Hydrogen Peroxide for Cleaning?
You can try our 35% H2O2 Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide available in multiple sizes: quart, gallon, 2.5 gallons, and 5 gallons. The shelf life of this chemical compound is around six months after you open the bottle, and you should always store it in a cool and dark place.
You can use Pure 35% H2O2 to remove stains, deep clean carpets, wash & clean fresh fruits and vegetables, and clean all your whites.
Hydrogen Peroxide Safety Tips
Orthopedic surgeons & homemakers have been using hydrogen peroxide for cleaning purposes for ages now. However, doctors do not recommend using it directly on wounds now as it has been found out that the use of hydrogen peroxide on wounds can cause severe complications.
Other than that, here are a few points that you should keep in mind while using hydrogen peroxide:
- You have to be careful if you wish to mix hydrogen peroxide with other components. Keep in mind that you should never mix hydrogen peroxide with bleach in a container. Doing so can cause harmful reactions. However, if you clean something with vinegar and then use hydrogen peroxide, it will become highly effective as the duo becomes a very effective cleaning agent.
- If your countertops are made using granite or marble, you should occasionally clean them with hydrogen peroxide. Regular use of hydrogen peroxide on these countertops will have an impact on their finishing. Regular use can also lead to discoloration.
- Eye contact with hydrogen peroxide can cause irritation. It can also cause corneal burns. Hence, it would be best if you used goggles or safety glasses while using this compound.
- It would help if you also avoid skin contact with hydrogen peroxide. Don't forget to wear gloves and aprons made of polyvinyl chloride, acrylic fiber, polyethylene, or other such materials before you start working with concentrated hydrogen peroxide.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What can you clean with hydrogen peroxide?
Hydrogen peroxide has several uses when it comes to cleaning. With the use of hydrogen peroxide, you can remove clothing stains, deep clean upholstery & carpets, clean washrooms, kitchen sinks, & water stains, kill mildew & mold, and clean floors & walls. You can also remove tea stains and clean your washing machine, refrigerator, and microwave, among others.
Is hydrogen peroxide safe to clean with?
As hydrogen peroxide is not a lung irritant, you can use it as a cleaner without having to worry about anyone with respiratory issues or kids being around.
How do you make a cleaning solution with hydrogen peroxide?
To make a cleaning solution using hydrogen peroxide, take a bowl and add ¼th cup of water to it. Then, add a ¼th cup of hydrogen peroxide along with a ¼th cup of baking soda, and mix everything. And it's done! Your cleaning solution is ready.
What is the percentage of hydrogen peroxide used for cleaning?
Hydrogen peroxide is made using 2 atoms of oxygen & 2 atoms of hydrogen. In stores, you'll find hydrogen peroxide available in different concentrations varying between 3-10%. Use 3% hydrogen peroxide for disinfecting or household cleaning purposes.
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