Since having my daughter, I’ve become fascinated with using products in my home that have as few chemicals as possible. Even though I do a good job of keeping all cleaning products out of her reach, I love knowing that she can practically lick a surface after I’m doing cleaning and be free from harm. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I actually enjoy cleaning more now than I ever have! Another thing I’ve come to appreciate are products that pull double duty, and can be used for more than one purpose. Today’s product of choice is hydrogen peroxide, and its uses are endless! It’s definitely not just a medicine cabinet main staple for treating cuts and scrapes. There are many reasons I love hydrogen peroxide and one of the best is that it is so inexpensive! So if I’ve piqued your interest, then read on to see some great uses for this handy product.
1. Stain Remover
I’ve never kept bleach in my house for the purpose of laundry, probably because I’m mostly just scared that I will ruin a huge batch of clothes. A great alternative to such a potent product for treating stains is actually hydrogen peroxide. You can apply directly to your stained garment (although I always recommend doing a spot test to make sure it won’t bleach your fabric), you can dump a cup into your washer, or mix 2 parts hydrogen peroxide, 1 part baking soda and 1 part dish soap together to apply to set in stains. Peroxide also cleans blood stains fairly well by mixing 1 part with hydrogen peroxide, 1 part baking soda and ½ part water then applying.
2. Nasal Spray
Hydrogen peroxide should always be a welcome addition to your medicine cabinet, but it doesn’t only treat external wounds. It’s also great for your sinuses. You can mix 1 tablespoon of a 3% hydrogen peroxide with 1 cup of water (non-chlorinated) and dump into a nasal sprayer (you can buy them here on Amazon).
3. Sponge Disinfectant
Sponges are a bit of a necessary evil in that we need them for cleaning, but they are also magnets for bacteria. It’s too expensive to buy sponges often, but with hydrogen peroxide, you don’t need to! All you need is to fill your sink with warm to hot water, and pour in a ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide. Then throw in your sponges and let them sit for at least 30 minutes. Then just squeeze and let them air dry. This is a double duty chore, because you will also now have a clean sink!