Surprising Ways To Use Hydrogen Peroxide In Your Home

You can find hydrogen peroxide in most medicine cabinets, but have you ever considered how else it might be utilized around the house? While it's most commonly been dabbed on as an antiseptic for mild cuts or mouth sores, Healthline notes that medical professionals do not recommend using hydrogen peroxide on wounds any longer because it can slow down the healing process. But rather than trashing your little brown bottle of peroxide, consider its other uses. You'd be surprised where else it can come in handy.

Hydrogen peroxide has a similar chemical makeup to water (H2O), with one extra oxygen molecule (H2O2). In this chemical, two hydrogens are combined with two oxygen molecules. This slight difference makes it an effective oxidizer, which helps break down materials when cleaning. At the same time, its powerful oxidizing properties also give it a shorter shelf life as it's sensitive to light and other factors. So be sure to replace your opened bottle every six months (via Real Simple). Wear cleaning gloves when working with hydrogen peroxide to avoid irritating your skin, and you should never mix hydrogen peroxide with vinegar as a cleaning solution. Though they're terrific when used separately, the combo creates harmful fumes and form into corrosive acid (via Good Housekeeping). Instead, try out these other ways to use hydrogen peroxide safely around the house.

Have you noticed the grout looking grimy in the bathroom? This means it needs a good scrubbing, and with its mild bleaching properties, hydrogen peroxide can help. Real Simple recommends brushing the grout lines with hydrogen peroxide and a cleaning toothbrush, but there are other ways to tackle grout if you need a little more juice. Per Today, first spray tiles with hydrogen peroxide, wipe them down, and rinse. Then, get to work on the problem areas with a homemade paste of 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar mixed with some lemon juice.

Bob Vila has another solution if you don't have cream of tartar on hand. Combine 1/2 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide in a squeeze-top bottle. Mix in 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap, then shake the bottle. Soak the grout lines with the cleaner, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe clean and rinse. The hydrogen peroxide will brighten the grout while baking soda lifts stains and removes hard water buildup.

We clean our teeth regularly to remove germs and food buildup, but what about the toothbrushes we use to get the job done? The American Dental Association has guidelines on storing and caring for toothbrushes, and disinfecting them regularly is not on the list. But if you drop your toothbrush and need to clean it, they say using hydrogen peroxide will do the trick. In fact, per Insider, studies have shown that soaking them in peroxide will kill pretty much all of the germs lingering there. Just fill a small cup with as much hydrogen peroxide as needed to cover the bristles, then let it sit for no longer than 15 minutes (to avoid damaging the bristles).

While you're at it, you can clean some of the personal care items in your medicine cabinet with hydrogen peroxide. Makeup brushes and blending sponges need to be cleaned regularly, and Bustle says soaking them in peroxide for five minutes will work wonders. To clean a loofah or sponge, Homesteady recommends filling a large bowl with 2 parts warm water, 1 part peroxide, then soaking the loofah for at least 30 minutes. And for shaving instruments, a 10-second dunk into hydrogen peroxide after using will disinfect razors.