Uses Of Hydrogen Peroxide You Didn’t Know About

Written by Rachana C  • 

Did you ever enjoy that fuzz that appeared on the wound when your mother dumped some colorless liquid on it that had come from that glass bottle? That was the best part of hurting myself while playing. Well, it was much later that I realized this funny looking liquid was called hydrogen peroxide, and those free oxygen atoms from hydrogen peroxide were causing that fuzz. As if that realization wasn’t enough, I now know where all this liquid is used apart from being used by moms on their children’s little wounds. Read on to know why a bottle of hydrogen peroxide is a must in every home.

1. Treats Acne

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Hydrogen peroxide is a disinfectant and helps cease the bacterial growth on your acne (1). Dip a cotton ball in it and apply the solution on the affected areas. Just see to it that you don’t overdo this treatment because repeatedly stripping off bacteria from the skin might lead to the removal of good bacteria, which spoils the balance of flora of your facial skin.

2. Brightens And Whitens Laundry

Hydrogen peroxide is an excellent oxidizing agent. This is exactly why it does such a good job of bleaching your clothes to make them look bright and fresh. However, unlike chlorine, hydrogen peroxide is much milder and doesn’t rip the color off your clothes. Add one cup of the solution in the washing machine to whiten the white clothes and brighten the rest of them. If you want to clean specific stains like blood or wine stains on clothes, pour some hydrogen peroxide directly on these stains and wash as usual.

3. Replaces Store-Bought Contact Lens Solution

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If you flip the bottle and look for the components, most contact lens cleaning solutions primarily consist of hydrogen peroxide. Under some circumstances, if you don’t have this solution handy, use hydrogen peroxide instead.

4. Deodorizes Foul-Smelling Clothes

If you have tots at home who bring back home smelly shoes and socks, or have a husband who loves to dump wet towels on the floor, I know you have to deal with all that stink. You have hydrogen peroxide to the rescue again! Also, if your washer continues to be smelly, add a cup or two of hydrogen peroxide and run a cycle of hot water wash.

5. Eliminates Stains On Teeth And Whitens Them

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To use hydrogen peroxide as a teeth whitener, dilute it in water and swish it before rinsing with plain water. You can also dip a cotton swab and apply it on the stained area and then wash with regular water. This is an inexpensive way to bleach the yellow stains from your teeth.

6. Safer And Non-Toxic Version Of Pesticides

If you love having plants at home but are finding it difficult to tackle the pests and insects that these plants attract, spray some hydrogen peroxide on them. Dilute a cup of hydrogen peroxide in a liter of water and use a bottle with the spray nozzle. Spray it generously on all the plants to repel pests and insects naturally. This way, you can avoid using artificial, harmful, and strong pesticides that can prove toxic and dangerous, particularly if you have little kids and pets at home who invariably stuff everything in their mouth.

7. For Those Bleached Tresses

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Ran out of hair color? Or looking for a trendy DIY method to flaunt blonde tresses? Hydrogen peroxide it is. Take a comb and part your hair evenly. Spray hydrogen peroxide using a spray bottle on those strands that you wish to lighten. Allow the solution to work on your tresses for about 15 minutes. As an alternative, you could also use a cotton ball to apply the solution. Wash and condition your hair immediately after the treatment. Also, blow dry your hair to see visible changes. However, this DIY is not a replacement for the salon treatments but can be done to satisfy your whims once in a while, specifically, if you are looking for a last minute fix or on a temporary cost-cutting mood.

8. Treats Athlete’s Foot

Apart from just killing bacteria, hydrogen peroxide also eliminates fungal infections (2). If you are being bothered by that painful nail fungus, mix a cup or two of hydrogen peroxide in lukewarm water and soak your feet in it at least thrice a week to relieve your foot of fungus. Also, if you tend to work or spend long hours in damp areas or have an issue with smelly feet, this soak will help you deodorize and remove the pathogens causing that smell.

9. Sanitizes Children’s Toys

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As I was saying, children love to explore everything, their toys being one of them, and inevitably, sooner or later, everything is going to end up in their mouth. All you mothers, I know that obsession of yours to try and keep everything bacteria-free just so that your kid can safely put everything in his mouth. This is exactly why you should wipe all the toys occasionally with hydrogen peroxide solution. Remember to thoroughly clean them with regular water several times after wiping them with the hydrogen peroxide solution because it is not safe for children to consume it even in small quantities. You can also soak reusable diapers and other napkins that you use to clean their pee and poop in a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water to keep them germ-free and odor-free.

Always make sure you use hydrogen peroxide with low concentration (preferably 3%), specifically when you are using it directly. If you are diluting it in water, you could go for higher concentrations, but always ask the pharmacist before buying. Make sure you buy food grade hydrogen peroxide if you are using it on sensitive parts of your body or if it is going into your mouth. Thankfully, this is an easy-to-find, over-the-counter solution that you can find in the nearest drugstore.

I assume that most houses have hydrogen peroxide in some corner or the other. What do you use hydrogen peroxide for? For any of the above-listed reasons? Comment below to let me know.

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