Are you one of those who have hydrogen peroxide in your medicine cabinet or in your makeup bag? Have you ever tried to lighten your hair with this famous water? Do you know all the uses of hydrogen peroxide? And what are the precautions to take when using it?
Oxygenated water, whose scientific name is hydrogen peroxide with the chemical symbol H2O2, has been produced for more than 200 years. Less and less used, it is nevertheless a well-known solution, a bit like baking soda: like it, hydrogen peroxide is very effective, inexpensive and if it is correctly used has no side effects. Diluted hydrogen peroxide at three percent is very inexpensive in pharmacies or on the Net. You can save money by buying higher percentage solutions by diluting them with water yourself. In this specific case, use gloves and glasses to protect yourself. Avoid contact with the eyes, do not drink the solution or apply it to the body in this way.
Hydrogen peroxide as a cleaning agent
At home, you can use hydrogen peroxide to clean your utensils, certain surfaces and also food. Of course, it also works with white vinegar. Here are some examples :
- If you have a wooden cutting board, you can clean it with hydrogen peroxide
- You can dare to wash the vegetables by spraying a little 3% hydrogen peroxide and then rinsing them thoroughly. You are thus certain to remove all the bacteria.
- Before cleaning your toilet, you can pour hydrogen peroxide into the bowl and let it soak for twenty to thirty minutes.
- For your worktops in the kitchen, spray with hydrogen peroxide, leave to act for a few minutes then wipe.
- Clean the inside of your fridge with hydrogen peroxide. This keeps bacteria and bad odors away in addition to making your device clean.
- In case of mold in your bathroom, you can also use hydrogen peroxide.
- If you use a sponge or cloth for cleaning, you can wash it with hydrogen peroxide. Just soak it in half warm water and half hydrogen peroxide for about a quarter of an hour then rinse. This is the ultimate solution before you get rid of it!
Hydrogen peroxide effective against stains
Hydrogen peroxide bleaches not only hair, but also textiles. It is therefore particularly suitable for removing stains. Before making full use of it on an entire textile piece, remember to carry out a test on an inconspicuous area and observe the result. Here are some examples again:
- Did you just stain yourself with red wine? The best is still to make a mixture of dishwashing liquid and hydrogen peroxide in equal proportions and apply it to the stain. Leave to act for a few moments, rub with a clean cloth and wash with lukewarm water.
- Treat deodorant stains the same way, those yellow underarm stains, with two-thirds hydrogen peroxide and one-third dishwashing liquid. In this case, let it sit for an hour, then rinse it off with cold water.
- You can also apply undiluted hydrogen peroxide on the bloodstains and it is better to repeat the application two or three times. Be careful when doing this, as it is a bleaching agent and hydrogen peroxide can therefore bleach your fabrics, especially if they are colored.
- If you have a stain on a stone or tile floor, you can get rid of it by making a paste of flour and hydrogen peroxide. Cover the stain and let it sit overnight. For the maximum effect, ideally cover the paste at the spot of the stain with a plastic stretch film. The next day, carefully remove the paste.
Hydrogen peroxide for health and beauty
Again in this area, hydrogen peroxide can help you. Judge instead:
- To restore your nails to their natural color and shine, dip a cotton ball in a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and scrub it.
- Use hydrogen peroxide as a substitute for deodorant. Spray the 3% solution directly under your armpits. In hot weather, you can add baking soda to the solution or rub it under your armpits to increase the effect.
- For most skin diseases, treatment with up to 3% hydrogen peroxide solution has a soothing and healing effect. Acne, eczema, herpes, fungus, insect bites and most other inflammatory skin conditions can be effectively treated with the solution several times a day.
- If you want to have whiter teeth and avoid bad breath, mix equal parts 3% hydrogen peroxide and water and use it as a mouthwash. Warning: do not swallow! After a while, you will have visibly whiter teeth and the bacteria in your mouth that cause bad breath will be gently reduced.
- In the same way, you can soak your toothbrush between each brushing in hydrogen peroxide. This keeps bacteria away and thoroughly cleans the toothbrush.