6 Ways You Can Start Using Hydrogen Peroxide as a Cleaner in Your Home

Studies have been done to look into the efficiency of hydrogen peroxide in improving disinfection in rooms.[1] So, while this compound is more popularly used as an antiseptic for wounds, more people are keeping it in stock for use as an effective household sanitizer. Besides, it is an environment-friendly and non-toxic solution for killing viruses, bacteria, and even mold spores.

If you haven’t joined the bandwagon, this article will convince you to start using hydrogen peroxide as a cleaner in your home. We’ll share creative ways to use this chemical compound in sanitizing your kitchen, getting rid of tough stains, and more.

DIY Cleaning Solution: Homemade Recipe with Hydrogen Peroxide

There are different ways you can use hydrogen peroxide as a cleaner. However, we will share with you the most common DIY disinfectant recipe that you can use for your home. 

What to Prepare

• Hydrogen peroxide – 3% USP

• Spray bottle – solid-colored and not the transparent one

• Lemon juice 

• Distilled water

Instructions

1. Take your spray bottle.

2. Pour one cup of hydrogen peroxide into the bottle.

3. Add two cups of distilled water.

4. Squeeze about two tablespoons of lemon juice into the bottle.

5. Shake the bottle to mix the ingredients thoroughly.

Using distilled water is essential for ensuring that minerals and pollutants won’t affect the solution’s disinfectant power. Meanwhile, the lemon will give the cleaned area a fresh scent once you’re done. Moreover, the acid will effectively break down grime and dirt. 

However, don’t forget about shelf life when using hydrogen peroxide as a cleaner in your home. Usually, the solution will only last for about two months before its efficiency wanes. So, we recommend labeling the bottle with the date you created the solution.

6 Ways to Use Hydrogen Peroxide as a Cleaner in Your Home

Are you looking for a family-safe and eco-friendly cleaning solution? Here are some ways you can use hydrogen peroxide as a cleaner for your home:

1. Cleaning Greasy Surfaces

Are you struggling to remove the grease off your counter or baking tray? Well, we recommend creating a cleaning paste using baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. All you need to do is apply that paste to the affected area and let the solution sit for about eight hours. Once it’s ready, scrub away and you’ll see how easily the grease will come off.

2. Brightening Your Laundry

Some people are not fond of using bleach to get tough stains off their clothes. If that’s the case, you can use hydrogen peroxide to brighten your white clothes. Simply pour a cup of the compound into your washer before adding your clothes or water.

3. Disinfecting Kitchen Sponges

Learning how to clean kitchen sponges is a straightforward process. However, understanding how to disinfect them is a different ballpark. You must understand that without proper sanitation, sponges can become breeding grounds for harmful bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, and Staphylococcus.[2] So, you should disinfect your them daily with a solution of equal parts hydrogen peroxide and distilled water.

4. Removing Stains

There are many incidents in your day-to-day life that may end up with a stained surface. You may be eating a slice of watermelon, drinking coffee, or moving your plants around. So, it’s useful to know that hydrogen peroxide can also be a great stain remover. You can use the solution we shared at the beginning of this article. Simply spray on the affected area and let the solution sit on it for a few hours. Once you see the stain lifting off, you wipe it entirely with a clean microfiber cloth.

5. Cleaning Tile Grout

Domex Ultra Thick Bleach is effective in disinfecting tiles, removing grime, and preventing mold. However, if you want a milder alternative, you can use hydrogen peroxide. Remember that aside from collecting dirt, the grout between your kitchen and bathroom tiles can also become covered with mildew. The good news is that hydrogen peroxide can also kill fungus.

For this procedure, you’ll need to make a hydrogen peroxide cleaning paste—just as you did for removing grease. Simply mix hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, then apply the paste to the grout. Let the paste sit for about ten minutes, and use a stiff-bristled brush to clean the area.

6. Cleaning Toilet Bowls

When cleaning your bathroom, you probably have a preferred toilet cleaner. Even so, there are times when you’d want to take a different approach and try other cleaning solutions. As we’ve mentioned, hydrogen peroxide can be great at removing odors, mineral deposits, and stains from a toilet bowl. 

You can easily use this compound as a bathroom disinfectant. All you need to do is pour hydrogen peroxide into the bowl and let the chemical sit for about ten minutes. Use your toilet brush to scrub off the stain, then flush. Even without harsh chemical cleaners, you can still keep your toilet sparkling clean, fresh, and safe.

Make Your Eco-Friendly Household Cleaner Today

Indeed, hydrogen peroxide has many cleaning uses around the home. You can make a cleaning solution using the instructions we shared in this article. Meanwhile, for tougher stains, you can create a paste by mixing the chemical compound with baking soda. However, if you don’t have the time for DIY solutions, you can always get a bottle of Domex Ultra Thick Bleach.

For more household cleaning tips and hacks, keep reading Cleanipedia’s blog.

Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaning FAQs

Q: Can you use peroxide to clean your house?

Yes, using hydrogen peroxide as a cleaner in your home is a safe and eco-friendly way to keep things disinfected and dirt-free.

Q: What kind of hydrogen peroxide is best for cleaning?

The ideal hydrogen peroxide formulation for cleaning is one that has a 3% concentration.

Q: What are the uses of hydrogen peroxide?

Hydrogen peroxide is a mild antiseptic that is commonly used to prevent infection of burns, scrapes, and minor cuts.

Q: What happens if I mix hydrogen peroxide and vinegar?

While hydrogen peroxide and vinegar are effective disinfectants and cleaners, they shouldn’t be mixed together. Doing so will create a corrosive acid that can harm your skin, throat, nose, eyes, and lungs.

References:

1. Blazejewski, C., Wallet, F., Rouzé, A., Guern, R. L., Ponthieux, S., Salleron, J., & Nseir, S. (2015). Efficiency of hydrogen peroxide in improving disinfection of ICU rooms. Critical Care, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-015-0752-9

2. Bacteria survive on kitchen sponges and towel in restaurant and foodservice operations. (n.d.). ASM.org. https://asm.org/Press-Releases/2020/July/Bacteria-Survive-on-Kitchen-Sponges-and-Towel-in-R