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Monday, May 10, 2010

Tricks with Hydrogen Peroxide

I hope that everyone had a great Mother's Day.
My mother-in-law recently sent me a list of uses for 3% hydrogen peroxide, plus I added a few more that I thought were helpful. It's amazing what can be done with a bottle that costs less than a dollar. Everything I listed I have either tried, know someone who has tried or I have found enough research to support it, unless otherwise indicated. The ones we haven't tried aren't going to do any harm. It seems that hydrogen peroxide is safe and helpful, but if swallowed undiluted it can make you very sick.

  1. To get rid of canker sores and whiten teeth- Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 1 minute daily, then spit it out... (Small print says mouthwash and gargle right on the bottle.) However, you should not use this as a mouthwash long term, if used extensively it can soften teeth and damage gums.
  2. If a dog has swallowed a harmful substance (e.g., rat poison), small amounts of hydrogen peroxide can be given to induce vomiting.  (About 2 tablespoons) Haven't had a reason to try this, but I have read this in several places.
  3. If a dog has been sprayed by a skunk, mix a large bottle of hydrogen peroxide, a 1/4 cup of baking soda and a teaspoon of dish soap. Thoroughly scrub skunk victim with solution, several times. Do not add water because that activates the skunk smell.
  4. Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of H202 to keep them free of germs. 
  5. Clean your counters, table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dish rag when you wipe, or spray it on the counters. 
  6. After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria. 
  7. Spray a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water on feet (especially the toes) every night and let dry to get rid of athletes foot and other foot fungus.   
  8. Soak any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for five to ten minutes several times a day. Reportedly it can effectively treat gangrene. Although recent research has shown that wounds treated with hydrogen peroxide are more likely to scar.
  9. 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. 
  10. If you like a natural looking highlights in 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.    
  11. Put half a bottle of peroxide in your bath to help rid boils, fungus, or other skin infections. (This one I haven't tried, but I don't think it will hurt.)
  12. You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites in your laundry to whiten them. It is effective in getting out grass stains and grape juice. Oxiclean is essentially hydrogen peroxide.
  13. Use peroxide to clean mirrors without smearing or streaking. 
  14. It is used to whiten bones that are put on display (who besides paleontologists are putting bones on display? That's kind of creepy.) 
  15. Some horticulturalists advocate the use of weak hydrogen peroxide solution ("Spanish water") in watering solutions. Its chemical action releases oxygen that enhances a plant's root development and helps to treat root rot and a variety of other pests. 
  16. Use as a vegetable wash or soak to kill bacteria and neutralize chemicals.
  17. Clean with hydrogen peroxide when your house becomes a biohazard after its invaded by toxic mold, such as those with water damage. Careful as it can lighten the colors of most things it comes in contact with.
  18. And of course hydrogen peroxide is great for cleaning up blood. If applied immediately and rinsed, it can take it out of clothing and carpets without staining. However, it does make said item wear out faster and can lighten the color. But better that than blood-stains.  

9 comments:

  1. These are awesome! I've only ever used it to clean cuts and scrapes but everything else makes sense that it would work!

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  2. Thanks for the tips! I'm going to try it on my teeth!

    I found you over at MMB and subscribed! I'll be back!

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  3. These are fantastic tips! Found you on MMB!

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  4. (stopping by from MMB)
    Thanks for sharing these tips- I'll have to try some!

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  5. i use it to clean up pet stains. scrape up the stain as best you can (don't scrub) then sprinkle with salt and put a damp light-colored towel over and let sit for 2 hours. pour peroxide on the stain and blot clean. it works better than any cleaner i've tried!

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  6. Thanks Katie, I'll have to remember that one.

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  7. Grandma used to apply hydrogen peroxide to clean our little Persian cat’s stain on our upholsteries. No wonder how she learned it because she was a former Chemical Science professor in Winston-Salem. Carpet cleaning seemed part of our daily chores because she had 18 kittens inside our house.

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  8. I didn't see this but if you put three drops of it in your ear with an eye dropper while tilting your head. Then put a cotton ball in your ear, all the ear wax build up will disinigrate and come out with the peroxide when you tilt your head the other way. This will make a bubbling sound in your ear but works great and my doctor taught it to me !

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  9. Your Content is very useful for people thanks for sharing.
    please keep it up.

    Hydrogen Peroxide

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