Hydrogen peroxide is amazing stuff. You know you can use it to help cuts and scrapes heal faster and to bleach your hair to an unhealthy shade of green, but hydrogen peroxide is good for so much more. From personal care to household sanitizing, hydrogen peroxide is an incredibly versatile weapon to have on hand. (Note: there is a difference between food-grade hydrogen peroxide and your usual drugstore variety. The hydrogen peroxide in the brown bottle at the grocery store is not food-grade, and is not safe when ingested — however, the peroxide in the brown bottle can be used for topical skin infections and household cleaning.)
Mouthwash and gargle
Rinsing with 1% to 3% hydrogen peroxide will kill germs in the mouth that cause bad breath and gingivitis. It may taste a little funny, but it is as effective (if not more so) than any commercial mouthwash. Hydrogen peroxide can also be used as a gargle to help relieve a sore throat or to help prevent the onset of certain illnesses such as colds and the flu. By killing some of the cold and flu germs present in the throat, you decrease the likelihood of getting sick. If the idea of swishing hydrogen peroxide around in your mouth doesn’t appeal to you, you can also soak toothbrushes in it to kill any germs left behind in the bristles. This will result in fewer germs being put back into your mouth, which means a healthier mouth in general.
For canker sores and toothaches, simply swish a little 3% hydrogen peroxide in your mouth once a day, or as often as desired, to kill germs and allow the sore to heal.
Soak the affected area in hydrogen peroxide and watch the fizzing as germs are killed. This may take a while to work, especially if the infection is more severe, so give it time. Repeat as desired. Be warned though: soaking a cut or scrape in hydrogen peroxide may sting, so be prepared. For athlete’s foot and other fungal infections, the treatment will need to be repeated once or twice each day until the fungus is killed.
Acne
After cleansing, use a cotton ball to apply 3% hydrogen peroxide to the skin. Apply to the entire face to help heal existing acne, and to freshen and kill the germs that can cause new acne breakouts.
Mix one tablespoon of 3% food-grade hydrogen peroxide with one cup of distilled water for use as a sinus spray to kill and prevent sinus infection. Some people require a stronger solution, while some people can tolerate only a very weak solution — use what is comfortable for you. ( http://www.dancingalgae.com/hydrogenperoxide.html)
Fruit/veggie wash
Soak fruits and vegetables in 3% food-grade hydrogen peroxide, rinse, and refrigerate to preserve freshness and kill germs on the skin. A faster method is to spray fruits and veggies with hydrogen peroxide, let stand for a few minutes, and rinse. (http://h2o2hydrogenperoxide.com/addition.html)
For most common stains, apply a little hydrogen peroxide to a stain and allow to dry. Repeat if necessary. For some more stubborn stains, mix a teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide with a bit of cream of tartar and rub into the stain, then rinse (http://www.rd.com/content/extraordinaryuses/extraordinary-uses-for-hydrogen-peroxide/). Use caution when using hydrogen peroxide as a stain remover, as some fabrics may turn yellow. Try it on a small test area first.
Hydrogen peroxide leaves a streak-free shine on glass surfaces in your home. Simply use a spray bottle to wet the surface with 3% hydrogen peroxide, and wipe with a clean, lint-free cloth. This can also help disinfect, which is important in homes with little ones who like to put their mouths on the glass.
Household disinfectant
Hydrogen peroxide can be used to disinfect almost any household surface, including cutting boards, countertops, toilets, and floors. Simply wet the surface to be cleaned with hydrogen peroxide, then leave it sit for a few minutes. If germs are present, you will see fizzing and foaming as the peroxide does its job. After a few minutes, rinse and repeat if desired. Hydrogen peroxide can also be used in the shower to kill mildew and mold.
Cancer
That’s right — cancer. Food-grade hydrogen peroxide has been clinically proven to help slow the growth of and kill cancer cells. According to CancerTutor.com, “It has been clinically demonstrated that the spread or metastatis of cancer is directly proportional to the amount of oxygen around the cancer cells. The more oxygen, the slower the cancer spreads. The less oxygen, the faster the cancer spreads. If cancer cells get enough oxygen, they will die (cancer cells are anaerobic). Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) provides extra oxygen atoms that not only slow down the spread of cancer, but also kills cancer cells (http://www.cancertutor.com/Cancer/HydrogenPeroxide.html).” Many doctors administer hydrogen peroxide via intravenous drip, as drinking hydrogen peroxide, even food-grade, may corrode the stomach and intestines and is thus ill-advised. Some patients find that soaking in a bath with hydrogen peroxide may also help (for more specific instructions, please refer to http://www.cancertutor.com/Cancer/HydrogenPeroxide.html).
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