The Many Helpful Uses of Hydrogen Peroxide
Some people haven’t ever even used hydrogen peroxide or know what it is. Well, it’s not dangerous and it’s almost unbelievably useful. It doesn’t cost very much considering how useful it is. Let’s have a look at what you can do with it!
The virtues of hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is H2O2. It’s available at most chemists, and many peeps have it in their first aid kits. It’s a colourless liquid, and looks like fizzy water whenever it’s getting to work on something dirty.
It’s oxidising, and reacts with any type of bacteria, spores or yeasts it comes into contact with, making it the perfect disinfectant. Since it contains no nasty chemicals, it’s also brilliant for anyone who’s interested in having safe, natural cleansers and disinfectants around the house, as the only things you’re left with once the H2O2 has done isn’t work is water and the oxygen that’s released during the reaction.
Disinfect minor wounds and cuts
This is what most people use hydrogen peroxide for. The 3% solution is what you need. Just put a little on a cotton wool ball and then gently wipe the wound.
Acne and boils
Infected acne has no chance if you apply hydrogen peroxide onto it. Don’t overdo wiping over your acne, though, or you’ll dry your skin out! Do it once in a while. The same applies for boils.
Clean your aquarium
When your fish can’t see out of their tank and you’ve been putting it off for a while, it’s time to discover hydrogen peroxide and make the little fellas happy more often! Use 60 ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide for every 250 litres of tank water. Work out how much you need very carefully! Slowly add it to the tank water with a dropper or a syringe over a period of five minutes. Time yourself. Try to direct it towards the algae. If you put too much in, you’ll kill your fish (or frogs, or snails, etc.)
Soften calluses and corns
Soak your feet in hydrogen peroxide and water, and watch your corns and calluses soften!
Disinfect your counters
This includes all surfaces, in fact. Just mix hydrogen peroxide with water in equal part and but it into a spray bottle. Spray the surface you want to clean, then wipe over it with a cloth.
Whiten your grout
Apply your 1:1 mix of HP and water onto dry grout, then leave it on for a couple of hours. When you come back, use a hard toothbrush (an old one, unless you’re looking to play a great prank on someone) and some soapy water to scrub the grout vigorously. Rinse, and be amazed at the results.
Mirrors
Streaky mirrors stand no chance when you spray on your HP spray and then towel them off. Goodbye streaks, germs and spots of toothpaste.
Kill mould
Mould can build up during our damp, cold winters, but HP is also a great mould killer! Use neat 3% HP and apply it to the area. Wipe it clean with another cloth, and rest assured that you’ve killed it for good.
Lighten your hair, or cover your roots
As mentioned earlier, HP is great for lightening hair gradually. For the roots, just dab on some hydrogen peroxide and let it work for around 30 minutes, then wash it out.
To lighten other areas of your hair, make a 1:1 HP and water solution, then spray this onto your hair and comb through. Just wait for it to dry, and do it regularly to enjoy some natural highlights!
White your nails
Soak a cotton ball in some HP, then dab it onto stained or yellowish nails.
Clean your contacts
Over time, grime can build up on your contacts, and one way to get rid of it is to use HP. Just use it the same way you would use lens cleaner.
Deodorise yourself
This is a bit of strange recipe, and you should make sure your washing up liquid is a natural one, but if you find yourself desperate and there’s a really good reason why you don’t want to be smelly, take some HP and make a 1:2 mix of it with some washing up liquid. Leave it on for an hour, then rinse. Easy.
