101 Uses For Hydrogen Peroxide
September 18th, 2007 by Fiddledeedee(Updated to add that I have a follow-up to this post here.)
Okay, it’s not 101, I’m prone to exaggerate just a tad, but it’s more than you might have thought! Hydrogen Peroxide comes in a brown bottle and you can find it for less than a buck at most drug stores and grocery stores. Tucked
in-between the Barbie bandages, and epsom salts.
The chemical formula for you science nerds is H2O2. Just that little extra oxygen takes it a step above water.
You know that infomercial for Oxi Clean? Oxi Clean is simply 3% peroxide. A few years ago I spent 19.99 on a supply of Oxi Clean, when all I needed to do was purchase a .59 cent bottle of peroxide. And frankly, that makes me mad.
It just goes to show you that I should have listened to my mother. She preached the magnificence of hydrogen peroxide to me for YEARS! Right up there with her reverence for all cotton underdrawers, and cod liver oil. Not necessarily in that order.
Recently, my SIL sent me a list of uses for peroxide that she found on the internet. Some I will swear by, and some I’ve never tried. This list was compiled by an Indiana woman, who is married to someone who has been in the medical field for over 30 years.
1) “Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out (I do it when I bathe). No more canker sores and your teeth will be whiter without expensive pastes. Use it instead of mouthwash (Small print says ‘mouth wash and gargle’ right on the bottle).”
Personal note: I really have done this. So did my mom. But the holding it in your mouth for 10 minutes… in the bath….makes me nervous. I’m certain I’d swallow it by accident, as I sometimes hum uncontrollably while bathing.
2. “Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of “Peroxide” to keep them free of germs.”
Personal Note: Very doable. In fact, I soak my retainer in peroxide. While it doesn’t improve my lisp while wearing said retainer, I know that it is at least germ free. That’s gotta count for something.
3. “Clean your counters, table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dishrag when you wipe, or spray it on the counters.”
P.N.: This is brilliant. And so much better than harsh chemicals.
4. “After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria.”
5. “I had fungus on my feet for years – until I sprayed a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry.”
P.N.: While I will not publicly admit to having “foot fungus”, I will be giving this a whirl. You know, for the sake of medical science.
6. “Soak any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for five to ten minutes several times a day. My husband has seen gangrene that would not heal with any medicine, but was healed by soaking in peroxide.”
P.N.: While I’ve never seen a case of gangrene, and hope never to, I’ve got to trust her on this one.
7. “Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water and keep it in every bathroom to disinfect without harming your septic system like bleach or most other disinfectants will.”
8. “Tilt your head back and spray into nostrils with your 50/50 mixture whenever you have a cold, or plugged sinuses. It will bubble and help to kill the bacteria. Hold for a few minutes then blow your nose into a tissue.”
P.N.: Okay. If anyone gets brave enough to try this and it works, let me know. I’m fairly certain that it would end up in my eyes.
9. “If you have a terrible toothache and cannot get to a dentist right away, put a capful of 3% peroxide into your mouth and hold it for ten minutes several times a day. The pain will lessen greatly.”
P.N.: 4 Tylenol PMs work really well too. Just kidding. Sort of.
10. “And of course, if you like a natural look to your hair, spray the 50/50 solution on your wet hair after a shower and comb it through. You will not have the peroxide burnt blonde hair like the hair dye packages, but more natural highlights if your hair is a light brown, reddish, or dirty blonde. It also lightens gradually so it’s not a drastic change.”
P.N.: I’m a little scared of this one. Having suffered at the hands of “Sun In” during the 1970’s. I’m sure it’s for use on natural hair color. Something I no longer know anything about.
11. “Put half a bottle of peroxide in your bath to help rid boils, fungus, or other skin infections.”
P.N.: Should you have a boil on your butt, this would be the way to go. Just sayin’.
12. “You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites in your laundry to whiten them. If there is blood on clothing, pour directly on the soiled spot. Let it sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary.”
P.N.: Having acquired a boy, I expect that blood will enter the laundry fray more frequently. I’m keeping this tip handy.
13. “I use peroxide to clean my mirrors, and there is no smearing which is why I love it so much for this. I could go on and on.? It is a little brown bottle no home should be without! With prices of most necessities rising, I’m glad there’s a way to save tons of money in such a simple, healthy manner.”
Amen to that sister. I’m sold.
For more WFMW tips, head over to Shannon’s at Rocks In My Dryer!
Posted in Works For Me Wednesday | 35 Comments »
September 19th, 2007 at 4:46 am
I didn’t know most of those, I am adding a few bottles to my shopping list.
September 19th, 2007 at 5:03 am
Great tips! Wow. I never knew HP had that many useful ways to be used. Thanks.
September 19th, 2007 at 5:04 am
I actually came across something similar to this on the internet not all that long ago, but when I researched it further, I found another web site the debunked some of these uses and explained why. Of course, there were a few in addition to the ones that you listed above.
But everyone should have peroxide in their cabinets. It’s an awesome cleaning, sanitizing product. However, it cannot be kept in a clear or semi-clear bottle (for example, if you keep some mixed with water to clean your counters) because light breaks it down & changes something or other (I know, that’s real scientific) and it’s no longer useful. So either find a dark spray bottle or don’t mix it until you use it!
Sorry to go on so much, it’s just that there really are a LOT of uses for this very inexpensive item and I had to get my two cents in (okay, maybe a bit more!)
September 19th, 2007 at 6:05 am
My husband uses it as a rocket fuel. Seriously.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/question159.htm
(He’s an aerospace engineer, and it’s a lot more concentrated than what you find at the store!)
September 19th, 2007 at 6:09 am
Thanks for the great ideas. My mom taught me the one about removing blood years ago. I wonder if it works on red wine??? Not that I would ever spill any!
September 19th, 2007 at 6:46 am
Great tips and commentary. I’m going to try a couple out myself. Thanks!
September 19th, 2007 at 6:55 am
I keep peroxide handy. We use it to remove protein based stains (blood and oils)–dab it on as soon as you find the stain–it is amazing. Also I have found that it is a miracle worker on my eldest’s constant ear infections. A few drops in her ear a day keeps the ear infections at bay. (Um, that wasn’t supposed to rhyme. ) When her ears get bad a I use a syringe and spray a half warm water, half peroxide mixture into her ears instead of using a q-tip (trauma from a q-tip is what triggered the weird migraine that ended up getting me a spinal tap. Stupid q-tips.) It works very well on sore throats as well.
Be careful not to get straight peroxide on the skin of for a prolonged period of time–it can burn, My middle child has very delicate skin and if I leave any on the counter when I have been using it and she gets it on her we have to hurry to wipe it off.
September 19th, 2007 at 6:56 am
One note on the use of peroxide for sanitizing toothbrushes. Don’t leave the cup of peroxide out on the counter after you’ve cleaned your toothbrushes (or while you’re cleaning them for that matter). Lets just say that it won’t kill your kid, but it will give them a stomach ache and cause them to vomit. This is strictly at the word of the poison control center, not from personal experience mind you.
And if your oldest child does happen to ingest it, learn your lesson and don’t repeat for the second child. Ahem.
September 19th, 2007 at 7:08 am
Hmm, I’m thinking I need to try #10. Maybe all my new grey would be less noticeable if my hair was lighter. I have to admit that it does scare me a bit, too, but so did Sun-In, so it never worked like it was supposed to on me, anyway. I was too afraid my hair would end up looking all weird. That’s why I’ve colored my hair exactly twice in my whole life. The first time was a clear coat that was supposed to make my hair shiny. It didn’t work. The second time, the color I bought was so close to my original color that you couldn’t even tell the difference. Adventurous, I was.
September 19th, 2007 at 7:09 am
Excellent additional tips, y’all!
September 19th, 2007 at 7:14 am
Hydrogen peroxide is AWESOME for getting out blood, and it’s kind of fun to watch if you’re not squeamish about blood – it bubbles and foams. After it’s done, the blood washes right out. Very handy about once a month, IYKWIM.
I have read that they no longer recommend peroxide for basic wounds anymore, however. Something about killing off the beneficial bacteria as well as the bad ones, or something. Or necrotizing the skin, I don’t remember. But anyway, I don’t use it for wound care anymore.
September 19th, 2007 at 7:16 am
We use peroxide around here a lot.
Thanks for the reminder.
On a side note……I don’t think I could hold anything in my mouth for 10 minutes…….not even chocolate!
September 19th, 2007 at 7:28 am
Just a little warning for using it on wounds/areas of the skin: if you tend to have sensitive, dry skin use peroxide sparingly. It dries out the skin and the wound too much, and it won’t heal if it is too dry. I know this from personal experience – I couldn’t get a wound on my shin (from banging it into the corner of a desk drawer) to heal for 8 months and my doctor said that it was because it was too dry.
She asked if I put peroxide on it regularly (which I had) and she told me to stop. My skin is very sensitive to bandages & adhesives, so I had a hard time keeping it moisturized sufficiently for it to heal. It finally fully healed after a little over a year, having gotten additional sores created by the bandage to try to heal the one irritating my skin, and then finally having to go to a Wound Center, which ran up astronomical bills.
I have some (not so) lovely scars.
September 19th, 2007 at 7:47 am
I had no idea! Great tips! I have a wonderful wood cutting board that I won’t let anyone use because I didn’t know how to clean it and heard soap & water was the worst thing to use! Now I can use it!
September 19th, 2007 at 8:09 am
Great tips. I do use it for wound care, at least initially, not daily. I too-moist wound has trouble healing too. I guess too much of anything (except chocolate, of course) is not good. Thanks for posting these.
September 19th, 2007 at 8:13 am
Cool tips!! I’ll keep them in mind and it’ll save me some money! (I love the home remedy type stuff. I ran out of dishwasher liquid the other day and I needed some fast. So I researched it and found how to make some.)
September 19th, 2007 at 8:19 am
this is amazing… thanks for sharing…
our society, with all thats on the market, really does complicate things!
September 19th, 2007 at 9:08 am
Thanks for sharing this. I need to soak my retainer now. :O)
I can say that it also works well for acne. If you have one that is at a head and NEEDS to be drained do so CAREFULLY, then use a cottonball with HP to cleanse it, it will heal much quicker than doing anything else.
September 19th, 2007 at 9:25 am
Sisterlisa,
You say it so ladylike. Tell it like it is: MASH THE PUSTULE UNTIL YOU HEAR THE “POP” AND THEN USE THE PEROXIDE TO CLEAN IT OFF THE MIRROR!
(I have prior issues with pimples. Therapy has clearly not helped.)
September 19th, 2007 at 10:37 am
I am taking Microbiology, and I’m warning you that this is gross. But the best cure for a skin fungus (like athlete’s foot) is to pee on it. Yep, pee. The acid in urine will clear that fungal infection right up! And on skin, urine doesn’t stink like it does on cloth.
You can thank my professor for that handy little tip.
September 19th, 2007 at 10:59 am
It all sounds so easy and logical. Which would explain why I’ve never thought of any of it before. We take the complicated route here.
I’m sold, I have a mondo-bottle in the cabinet. Going to try some of this.
September 19th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Okay the cutting board thing is the first one I’m gonna try. Don’t worry about swallowing the peroxide cuz I don’t think the cap will go down your throat…or are you suppose to pour a capful into your mouth?
September 19th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
You mean to tell me I’ve been wasting my precious money on OxiClean all these years?! And I love all the other tips too. I’m going to copy and paste all the other great tips too!
What day is your Awana on? I can’t wait until I can go back and be involved!
September 19th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
I’ve used the peroxide to get blood out numerous times! It does work!!!!
I’m going to try a few of the others…
September 19th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
I’m sold too! I can’t wait to try cleaning my cutting board with it.
Thanks for sharing!
September 19th, 2007 at 10:30 pm
Wow! So many uses!!
September 20th, 2007 at 7:40 am
DeeDee, I couldn’t find my HP, but what I did do, was I put a small amount of baking soda in my retainer box and added warm water and let it sit for an hour or so, when I went back to rinse it out, it was prefectly clean. Just wanted to share.
September 20th, 2007 at 8:33 am
I have actually tried the squirt-mixture-up-the-nose-for-sinus-infections. My husband was just desperate enough for me to experiment on him. And…after the initial burning sensation whilst he was tilting his head backwards it did make him feel much better and also allowed him to, how do I say this nicely, get rid of a lot of the congestion. I love home remedies!!
September 20th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
If your dog eats something they shouldn’t, like chocolate or laxatives, you can get them to throw it up quickly by making them drink a tablespoon of HP, then some water. But do this outside, it works fast.
September 20th, 2007 at 10:54 pm
It DOES work wonders on blood – we’ve used it on whites, jerseys, denim, even socks.
Thanks for sharing ALL of the great uses!
September 21st, 2007 at 2:20 am
Thanks!
You mentioned some uses I didn’t know.
I have sensitive skin, so I’ll be careful with that.
Have a great weekend!
September 21st, 2007 at 7:25 am
Okay, not only do I love a natural and cheap alternative to other products, but I also loved your commentary.
Only you can take a helpful, if mundane, list and make us laugh about foot fungus and butt boils!
And I feel rather daring having now typed out the phrase “butt boils” right here for all to read on the Internet.
September 21st, 2007 at 10:44 am
First, you crack me up. Second, HP can also be used to clean just about anything. I have a friend who uses cloth diapers and swears by the power of HP. Second, it also eliminates scents – my lifetime lover hunts and just heard that HP can be used to block and eliminate scent on hunting clothes. Just in case any of you were hunters…. hee hee, maybe I’m on the wrong website!
September 21st, 2007 at 8:21 pm
Wow! I never knew! I’m going to try some of these hints.
September 22nd, 2007 at 7:55 pm
This is an incredible list and most of these are so do-able. Thanks for sharing!