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Hydrogen peroxide is something that most people keep on hand at home. The bottled solution can usually be found in the medicine cabinet or stored under bathroom sinks and lasts for years. While people tend to only use it when they need to clean small cuts or scrapes, there are many other ways it can be utilized that go beyond first-aid.
The health and beauty, cleaning, and disinfecting tips that follow below are resourceful ways to save money and clean up around your house. All you need is the standard 3% hydrogen peroxide concentration, which can be found in any pharmacy or store. Depending on what you wish to do, you may also need a few other basic things, like a spray bottle, baking soda or water. Either way, these are all very simple and effective:
Clean stains on tile or stone counters- In a bowl combine hydrogen peroxide with flour until a thick, pasty consistency is achieved. Apply the paste over the stains so they are completely covered and then place a layer of plastic wrap atop it. Allow it to sit overnight while it works its magic, then remove and clean away the paste. The stains should be gone or vastly improved.
Remove wine stains from carpet- Mix together equal parts hydrogen peroxide and liquid soap. Apply it to the stained area and let it soak in for at least one minute. Using a towel, carefully blot it up while trying your best to avoid rubbing it in, before washing the spot with warm water.
Clean windows- Simply spray peroxide on the glass and wipe it off with a clean cloth. This works for other types of glass beyond windows that you may wish to clean. Clean humidifier- Pour a little bit of peroxide in with the water and run it through as normal. Any mold and bacteria that may have been present in the machine will be killed. Clean shower curtains- If your shower curtain and liner are safe to put in the wash you can treat them prior to washing by spraying hydrogen peroxide on them liberally. It will help to remove any mold, mildew, and soap scum more effectively.
Hydrogen peroxide in ear- To clean your ears and remove wax build up, soak a cotton ball with peroxide. Tilt your head to the side and gently squeeze the cotton ball to apply it into your ear. Wait a few minutes while gravity does the work for you before tilting your head the other way and draining it out.
Clean makeup brushes- In a cup mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water together. Place the brushes in the solution for at least five minutes, remove and rinse. Do this weekly to keep your makeup brushes clean and free of bacteria. Disinfect sponges- Soak dirty, smelly sponges or rags in peroxide for 20-30 minutes, then rinse and dry them off. Disinfect cutting boards- Spray on a layer of peroxide and wipe them clean.
Brighten whites- Instead of bleaching white clothing, soak them in hydrogen peroxide for about 30 minutes to remove stains and yellow discolored spots. Wash immediately after soaking and only use this on white clothes because peroxide will remove color!
Toothache relief- Mix equal parts water and hydrogen peroxide before applying it to the infected area. Try your best to hold the solution in place for at least a minute, then rinse your mouth out. This also works for canker sores, simply swish the solution around for a minute or so and then rinse.
Clean and disinfect toothbrushes- Soak the bristle end of the brush in hydrogen peroxide for a few minutes, then rinse it off thoroughly under hot water.
Whiten nails- Mix together peroxide and baking soda into a paste and then cover your nails. Keep it on for three minutes before rinsing nails clean with warm water.
In addition to the above uses, hydrogen peroxide is also an excellent, non-toxic, and cost effective way to get rid of mold. Mold is one of the most stubborn things to effectively remove. The nasty spores can infect and spread rapidly through an otherwise clean home and it thrives in damp, dark, wet places.
Some types of mold are extremely unhealthy, and potentially deadly, to breathe in or be around. The accompanying video shows the best way to deal with mold removal using hydrogen peroxide, so if you’re dealing with the tricky stuff you’ll definitely want to check it out.
Here’s how to do it; Pour some hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle, apply it directly onto the moldy spots, wait at least 10 minutes, then wipe it off. This should work well on a variety of surfaces, and since it’s an antibacterial and anti-fungal solution it works fast to kill the mold spores.
These lesser known uses for hydrogen peroxide are handy resources to keep in mind because you never know when you may need to use them. Hopefully they will end up saving you time and money now or in the long run!
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