Uses for Hydrogen Peroxide

Though hydrogen peroxide is a cheap and common household chemical, the uses for hydrogen peroxide are many.  Hydrogen peroxide is an acid, and don't let the gentle bubbles fool you, hydrogen peroxide is actually a very powerful acid.  The reason why it doesn't seem very powerful is because bottles of hydrogen peroxide you buy at the store contain only 3% hydrogen peroxide.  The rest is just water.  So you can imagine what a bottle of 50% hydrogen peroxide would be like.  Hydrogen peroxide is a very clean and effective chemical because its molecular makeup is so similar to water.  Water, as everyone knows, is H2O.  Hydrogen peroxide is H2O2.  When hydrogen peroxide reacts with things, it produces water and oxygen gas.  That's what makes it such a clean, efficient chemical.  There are many different uses for hydrogen peroxide, some of which are detailed below.

Here are some more specific uses for hydrogen peroxide.

1. On Garden Plants

• Hydrogen peroxide is perfect for the garden. Hydrogen peroxide not only helps eliminate certain pests, it also oxygenates the environment. Spraying hydrogen peroxide on the leaves of plants also helps support good health and strong growth by acting as an oxygen supplement. When used on the soil, it oxygenates it as well, which helps plant roots expand and grow.

2. Stain Remover

• Hydrogen peroxide works as a great stain remover. If you spray it quickly on the stained area, hydrogen peroxide will take out even things like blood and wine. On clothing, spray hydrogen peroxide on the effected area and rub it together gently. Then wash as normal.

3. Fungus Remover

• Fungus likes to build up in different places, especially the bathroom. Cleaning bathroom surfaces with hydrogen peroxide will help eliminate fungus. You can also soak feet in hydrogen peroxide to help eliminate foot fungus.

4. Bleach Replacement

• Hydrogen peroxide helps to bleach things. That's why it's used in teeth whitening gels. Using hydrogen peroxide in your laundry instead of bleach is a cheap, safer alternative. It will help whiten clothing.

5. Spray on Fruits and Vegetables to Break Down Pesticides

• Before you wash your fruits and vegetables, spray hydrogen peroxide on them to help break down the pesticides so they'll wash off easier.

6. As Mouthwash

• For whiter teeth, swish a mouthful of hydrogen peroxide around for a few minutes every night. This will help kill bacteria and also naturally whiten teeth.

Hydrogen peroxide comes in different strengths. Food grade hydrogen peroxide comes at 35% instead of the standard 3%. It's used extensively for medical applications, and has many exciting experimental health benefits. Because of the high levels of oxygen hydrogen peroxide gives off, it's used to treat diseases and conditions that live in an anaerobic state within the body. Things like cancer cells, even the aids virus, can't grow with large levels of oxygen present, and injecting hydrogen peroxide into affected areas can cause these diseases to die. This research is preliminary and hasn't yet been substantiated, but many people have very high praise for hydrogen peroxide therapy, also known as oxygen therapy. Other than medicinally, food grade hydrogen peroxide is used in similar ways as household hydrogen peroxide, though is generally diluted. It is great for oxygenating and cleaning. But BE VERY CAREFUL if you're going to use 35% hydrogen peroxide. It can be very harmful if it contacts your skin or eyes, or fatal if ingested without diluting it.

So before you go reaching for those expensive and often harmful chemical sprays and products from the grocery store, why not try a more natural effective chemical instead. Using chemicals like this and vinegar instead of the store bought varieties is a great way to save some money and have a safe and effective multipurpose chemical around the house. Home remedies aren't used as much as they once were, and it would be nice to see some effective safe chemicals back in wide use again.