Tips & Hacks

Amazing Uses For Hydrogen Peroxide

Did you know that you can use hydrogen peroxide around the home for cleaning and disinfecting? There are tons of uses for it and I’m sharing my list of amazing uses for hydrogen peroxide with you.

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Hydrogen peroxide has been known to be a super cleanser for many years. It breaks down quickly and easily when it comes into contact with water or air, so it’s deemed safer than chlorine chemicals.

According to the CDC, hydrogen peroxide kills mold spores, bacteria, viruses, and yeasts. The CDC has a list of specific concentrations you need and how long you need to let them sit to be effective at killing different organisms.

Here’s a list of amazing uses for hydrogen peroxide that you can use in your own home.

See more home hacks here!

Amazing Uses for Hydrogen Peroxide

In the kitchen

  • Wipe down appliances: Hydrogen peroxide is great for cleaning places that store food because it is non-toxic. Just add some to an opaque spray bottle and spray appliances inside and out, wait a few minutes, then wipe clean. Why an opaque bottle? Exposure to light kills the effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide.
  • Clean sponges: Soak sponges for 10 minutes in 1 cup warm water mixed with 1 cup hydrogen peroxide for a thorough cleaning, then rinse.
  • Remove baked-on stains: Combine baking soda with hydrogen peroxide to make a paste and rub onto the dirty pans and let soak. Later, use a sponge and some warm water to lift the baked-on food right off.
  • Clean cutting boards and surfaces: After preparing meat for dinner, spray cutting boards and surfaces with hydrogen peroxide. Let it bubble for a few minutes, then rinse clean.
  • Dishwashing booster: Add 2 ounces of hydrogen peroxide to your regular dishwashing detergent for a sanitizing boost.
  • Wash fruits and veggies: Add ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide to a sink full of cold water. Wash fruits and vegetables in the mixture to remove pesticides and any dirt. Rinse with cool water.

In the bathroom

  • Toilet cleaner: Pour half a cup of hydrogen peroxide into the toilet bowl, wait about 20-30 minutes, then scrub clean.
  • Whiten bathtub grout: Make sure the bathtub is completely dry, then spray the grout generously with hydrogen peroxide. It may bubble a little, but let it sit for a while, then come back and scrub the grout with an old toothbrush. (See what else you can do with an old toothbrush here!)
  • Clean shower curtains: Place shower curtain in the washing machine with a bath towel and your regular detergent, then add 1 cup hydrogen peroxide to the rinse cycle. This will remove any soap scum and mildew left on the shower curtain.
  • Shower spray: Hydrogen peroxide kills bacteria and viruses, so use it to spray down your shower for a sanitized cleaning.
  • Bathroom cleaner: Spray down the surfaces in your bathroom that is affected by mold or mildew and allow it to soak for about 10 minutes, then wipe clean. Hydrogen peroxide is a great mold and mildew cleaner and also disinfects!
  • Make toothpaste: Mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to make a paste for brushing teeth. This kills bacteria and helps with the early stages of gingivitis. Add a little salt for a whitening toothpaste. (Check out some other great uses for baking soda here!)
  • Mouthwash: To freshen breath and kill bacteria, use equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water to rinse your mouth out with.
  • Sanitize toothbrushes: Soak your toothbrushes in hydrogen peroxide in between uses to keep it clean and sanitize. This is very helpful if someone in your family has the flu or a cold.

In the laundry room

  • Remove stains: Hydrogen peroxide can remove stains from clothing, curtains, and tablecloths. Soak the stain for a little while in hydrogen peroxide, then wash as normal. This also works wonders on getting blood out of clothing.
  • Whiten whites: Boost the brightness of whites by adding a cup of hydrogen peroxide to a regular load of whites.
  • Whiten linens: Remove that yellow coloring from lace curtains or tablecloths by soaking them in a sink filled with cold water mixed with 2 cups hydrogen peroxide. Let them soak for about an hour, then rinse with cold water and let air dry.
  • Freshen towels: For musty smelling towels, add ½ cup hydrogen peroxide and ½ cup vinegar to the washing machine. Let them soak for 15 minutes, then wash as normal.

In the whole house

  • Brighten floors: Hydrogen peroxide is safe for any floor because it’s so mild. And there’s no need to rinse! Mix a half a cup of hydrogen peroxide with one gallon of hot water, then mop.
  • Toy cleaner: Spray toys, toy boxes, doorknobs or anything else that gets used by kids a lot with hydrogen peroxide. Since it’s not a lung irritant, it’s safe to use around anyone, even kids or people with respiratory problems.
  • Clean humidifiers: To clean humidifiers and steamers, use 1 pint of hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of water.
  • Glass cleaner: Spray glass with hydrogen peroxide and wipe clean for a streak-free shine!
  • Clean coolers: Spray the inside of coolers and ice chests with hydrogen peroxide to clean and disinfect them. Works great for lunch boxes, too.

Whew! That’s quite an amazing list of uses for hydrogen peroxide!

What do you use hydrogen peroxide for?

Before you go, make sure to check out these great home hacks, too!

Thank you for sharing!
Michelle

Michelle is a stay-at-home homeschool mom who loves DIYs and living a frugal lifestyle.

View Comments

  • Which would you rather spend for a good dental rinse? $32.00 or $1.50? For years I had to buy it at the dentist’s office because there was no alternative available. Now in another state and the hygienist said hydrogen peroxide would do the same thing!

  • I honestly never thought about using hydrogen peroxide, Michelle!! Always been a vinegar gal myself but I’m definitely going to try some of these! Thanks for sharing!!?

  • I had absolutely no idea hydrogen peroxide could do all of this! You've taught me quite a bit today and I love that :)

    Not sure why but I never considered using peroxide as a shower cleaner. Brilliant idea. The bubbles are a bonus. I do know it's an excellent disinfectant because I use diluted hydrogen peroxide to kill fungus and bacteria on orchid roots and leaves. It works like a charm! Most likely it would work for other plants too.

    I've never added it to my towel loads, but you know what? I will now! All that bubbly goodness makes magic happen to me it sounds like.

    I've pinned this and will definitely be using your tips. Thanks Michelle! You've knocked it out of the park again. ♥

    • I never realized you could use it on orchid roots and leaves. Thank you for sharing that tip! I'm sure it would be great for other plants, too. I have seen that people spray their plants with it when they're wiping the dust off. Maybe that's why?

      Thank you so much for sharing! :D I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

      • That's right, it is great for cleaning dust off of plant leaves :) Especially if you suspect that there might be little critters hanging around. A small dab of soap and water mixture is perfect for that purpose too. It shines the leaves right up and helps them photosynthesize better. (Good to check which plants can handle what though because some can't handle much more than plain water)

        Hope your week is beautifully blessed and restful, sweet Michelle. ?

        • Thank you for letting me know!! I hope you have a wonderful and blessed week, too! ❤️❤️

  • WOW! I never knew this, never thought if Hydrogen Peroxide as a cleaner, I've always used it as a disinfectant to clean a cut on my finger, and stuff like that. Great tips, I may consider using a couple of your tips here. Thank you

    • When I was little and we got cut we'd always run to mom for the hydrogen peroxide. :D I guess if it can disinfect a cut it can disinfect your home, too. Thank you for reading! I hope you have a great weekend!!

  • Wow. So many things we can use it for. It sure comes in very useful!. Thanks for sharing this ma'am.

  • I didn’t know it would help remove stains!!! Also love the toothpaste idea!!!!!! I was thinking with that you could even add a drop of essential oils like peppermint or something to create a little flavor with it!!
    Great post as always!!

    • When I was in middle school we were in a really bad accident. My white shirt was covered in blood from where the windshield glass busted and cut up my arm and chin. My granny took the shirt and washed it with hydrogen peroxide and it looked new! I couldn't believe how white it was!

      I'm not sure about adding the essential oils for flavor. I've never tried that before, but it's worth a try. Thank you for sharing that!

      • Oh wow that’s interesting...my husband bought me a shirt recently and messy-me splattered cooling oil on it and I’ve not worn it since...I might give this a try for that spot...on the off chance it may work to remove the stain!!....does the shirt need to be white though or do you know?

        • Hmm...I'm not positive on that. The best thing to get oil out is dish soap that cuts grease. Put it on the stain with warm water and let it sit for a while, then wash. It's best to do it as soon as possible, so hopefully it'll still help.

          • Oh yes okay that make sense!! Never even thought about that!!! It had dried before I ever noticed?but I will give that a try!!! Thanks Michelle!! Happy Sunday!

  • Appropriate timing, friend. Thanks for the rescue! My husband and I were both wondering about some alternatives. We have lots of bar soap, too ;)

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