How to use hydrogen peroxide at Home

Hydrogen peroxide has become very popular for most natural enthusiastic homes.  So what is Hydrogen peroxide ? Hydrogen peroxide is (H₂O₂), a liquid that looks just like water---colorless. It is usually produced as aqueous solutions, used mainly for bleaching cotton and other textiles and wood pulp, in the manufacture of other chemicals used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes. Non-toxic hydrogen peroxide is an ideal cleaning tool. However, when using hydrogen peroxide for cleaning, for cosmetic or medicinal purpose, you should keep in mind that any hydrogen peroxide solution that is not diluted or more than 8 percent hydrogen peroxide is corrosive to the skin.

How can Hydrogen peroxide help you? Hydrogen peroxide can be used in many ways:

• You can use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda added to lukewarm water to wash vegetables and fruits immediately after it gets to your home from the grocery store. It will clean it and keep it safe from quick spoilage.

• Hydrogen peroxide as an all purpose cleaner to clean ceramic, glass or wood kitchen wares like cups, plates, spoons, cutting boards etc. It is the nontoxic way to clean out stains like wine stains, food stains, ink stains found on plates, clothing, counter tops, floors, carpet, in the fridge. It dissolves hard stains and makes cleaning easy.

• Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda added in a little bacterial fighting soap is also great for cleaning titled floors, toilets and even stinky armpits.

• Hydrogen peroxide as a Mouthwash will help reduce bacteria and whiten the teeth in your mouth.  Dilute in water (the mixture should be about half water-half hydrogen peroxide) and use as a mouthwash, but do not to swallow this solution. Once you put nontoxic hydrogen peroxide to rinse your mouth in the morning, it will foam inside your mouth and will prevent bad mouth odor. Some experts say it helps alleviate toothaches and stinky mouth caused by tartar or tooth decay. But with this said, i don't recommend dishing your dentist, consult with your dentist whenever you think you may have a tooth ache or tooth decay.

•  Cleaning and Healing Wounds – Most people know this, hydrogen peroxide solution helps clean wounds when applied directly, and it also removes dead skin tissue, stops bleeding in small blood vessels and prevents open wounds from oozing or bleeding. It also helps heal minor scrapes on skin.

Now, here is my favorite---Hydrogen peroxide used to get rid of cold and minor skin inflammation like Acne. When it comes to cold and minor acne, you should avoid taking over-the-counter medications like aspirins because it can affect your natural body immune defense and suppress your body's ability to produce antigens/antibodies that help fight pathogens such as a cold virus. Aspirin has been linked to lung complications including an abnormal build-up of fluid in your lungs, when taken in excess. You should only use these medications when absolutely necessary---an emergency when there is no other alternatives.
Hydrogen peroxide can help relieve colds and flu within 12 to 14 hours when a few drops of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is put into each ear. You may hear some bubbling once you put hydrogen peroxide in your ear and a slight stinging sensation, don't fret, it is normal. Wait until the bubbling and stinging subside (usually 5 to 10 minutes), then drain onto a tissue and repeat with the other ear.  

Also, from my experience, i find that you can use the 3% hydrogen peroxide(first aid antiseptic kind) as a quick fix astringent when you wake up in the morning and for getting rid of puss filled acne spot, reducing blemishes or for cleaning facial oil and dirt but you must wait at least 10 to 15 minutes before heading outdoors in the sun. You should protect yourself from skin damage by protecting your skin from the sun after you use hydrogen peroxide on your face or skin.

Using a solution of equal parts hydrogen peroxide has been effective in cleaning nails, eliminating stinky foot smell caused by fungus. In my experience you can use hydrogen peroxide as a Foot Soak to eliminate calluses and corns. You can damp some hydrogen peroxide on towel, then use it to wipe your armpit as an odor eliminating quick fix.

You can use hydrogen peroxide to lighten your hair color ---(bottle blonde). you’re probably aware that hydrogen peroxide has long been used as a quick and dirty hair dye and lightener.

Hydrogen peroxide can help you keep your toothbrushes, dentures, contact lens, cell phones, keys and silver earrings clean. Damp paper towel with hydrogen peroxide and then use it to wipe cell phone. you can soak keys in H2O2 to keep it clean.

From true experience, you can Clean the Fridge using hydrogen peroxide – To use on stain or mold in your fridge, apply hydrogen peroxide to a cleaning rag, let it soak, and then wipe everything down till its clean to your satisfaction to keep your refrigerator surface and handles pristine clean. You can put a small box of baking soda inside your refrigerator to eliminate annoying food odors.

Hydrogen peroxide as a Toilet Bowl Cleaner before you sit – Pour some hydrogen peroxide around the bowl, let it sit for 20 minutes or so, then scrub or wipe then flush. This is one easy way you can save yourself from having to buy an expensive toxic solution for this nasty job. With this said, don't forget regular weekly cleaning with nontoxic toilet anti-bacterial detergent is good way to keep the bathrooms cleaner.

The alternative way to clean your swimming pool without chlorine is to use hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine. 

 Bleach Alternative –  use hydrogen peroxide as a nontoxic solution to keep your whites white by adding a little when you do laundry.

 I use hydrogen peroxide to clean stains on my pet's coat by adding a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to a paper towel or tissue and then use it to wipe off the area on the fur (like stained dog buttocks). In my personal cleaning experience, it works as good as cleaning hygiene wipes whenever i use it to clean my pets fur or buttocks after he toilets.
 
If you have rabbits or gerbils that live in cages, hydrogen peroxide can be used to keep their cage area clean. You use 3% hydrogen peroxide to clean Aquarium but make sure it doesn't touch your pets, keep hydrogen peroxide away from pet when cleaning their home. Also, If you send your kids off to school with a lunch box, wiping the boxes down periodically with hydrogen peroxide is a great way to keep them sanitary.

What not to do with hydrogen peroxide:

• Don't swallow it and don't let your pet drink it.
• you can use it for cleaning minor cuts, scrapes to stop bleeding and keep the affected area clean, but do not use it on animal bites, or deep wounds. Because it will slow down the healing process.
• Don't cook with it.

Writer---
Onyinye A is a freelance writer who specializes in nontoxic self improvement, green-friendly living, whole health remedies, holistic pet care, nontoxic lifestyle (preventing cancer, illness and toxicity) and everything related to detox, Natural health and organic living. 
                                                       "Nontoxic Lifestyle"