By: Courtney Craig originally posted on houselogic.com
Published: April 19, 2012
Is hydrogen peroxide a non-toxic weapon in your green cleaning arsenal? It should be!
In Your Kitchen
1. Clean your cutting board and countertop. Hydrogen peroxide bubbles away any nasties left after preparing meat or fish for dinner. Add hydrogen peroxide to an opaque spray bottle – exposure to light kills its effectiveness – and spray on your surfaces. Let everything bubble for a few minutes, then scrub and rinse clean.
2. Wipe out your refrigerator and dishwasher. Because it’s non-toxic, hydrogen peroxide is great for cleaning places that store food and dishes. Just spray the appliance outside and in, let the solution sit for a few minutes, then wipe clean. Though the result might not be as fine as with branded refrigerators or Dishwasher Cleaner, it is worth the try.
3. Clean your sponges. Soak them for 10 minutes in a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and warm water in a shallow dish. Rinse the sponges thoroughly afterward.
4. Remove baked-on crud from pots and pans. Combine hydrogen peroxide with enough baking soda to make a paste, then rub onto the dirty pan and let it sit for a while. Come back later with a scrubby sponge and some warm water, and the baked-on stains will lift right off.
In Your Bathroom
5. Whiten bathtub grout. If excess moisture has left your tub grout dingy, first dry the tub thoroughly, then spray it liberally with hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit – it may bubble slightly – for a little while, then come back and scrub the grout with an old toothbrush. You may have to repeat the process a few times, depending on how much mildew you have, but eventually your grout will be white again.
6. Clean the toilet bowl. Pour half a cup of hydrogen peroxide into the toilet bowl, let stand for 20 minutes, then scrub clean.
In Your Laundry Room
7. Remove stains from clothing, curtains, and tablecloths. Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a pre-treater for stains – just soak the stain for a little while in 3% hydrogen peroxide before tossing into the laundry. You can also add a cup of peroxide to a regular load of whites to boost brightness. It’s a green alternative to bleach, and works just as well. Of course, if you have delicate fabrics, you will need to find out whether or not you will be able to use this for them. Resources like this post about what you need to know about cupro could be helpful in this case, as you will be able to learn how to clean them in order to preserve the fabric so that you will be able to wear the pieces for as long as possible.
Anywhere in Your House
8. Brighten dingy floors. Combine half a cup of hydrogen peroxide with one gallon of hot water, then go to town on your flooring. Because it’s so mild, it’s safe for any floor type, and there’s no need to rinse.
9. Clean kids’ toys and play areas. Hydrogen peroxide is a safe cleaner to use around kids, or anyone with respiratory problems because it’s not a lung irritant. And, if you do happen to face any irritation, it might not be because of this particular chemical. If the problem persists, you can get in touch with a lung doctor (like the ones at Gwinnett Pulmonary Group) who can do the necessary tests and find the solution for you. Coming back to hydrogen peroxide, fill an opaque spray bottle with it and spray toys, toy boxes, doorknobs, and anything else your kids touch on a regular basis. You could also soak a rag in peroxide to make a wipe.
Outside
10. Help out your plants. To ward off fungus, add a little hydrogen peroxide to your spray bottle the next time you’re spritzing plants. Use 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide added to one gallon of water for your plants. Be careful though, hydrogen peroxide can be pretty dangerous if stored incorrectly outside. Make sure to follow the guidance of companies like Storemasta to keep yourself self when using it.
Another underutilized cleaner and problem-solver: The humble onion