In 1818, hydrogen peroxide was first recognized as a chemical compound. It is the simplest member of the class of peroxides. Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂O₂), a colour less liquid having a viscosity little more than water. Usually hydrogen peroxide is used to bleach or as a cleaning agent. However, due to it amazing properties, hydrogen peroxide uses for so much other purpose also. You can buy hydrogen peroxide solutions of various strengths. Solution having 8% hydrogen peroxide or more are corrosive to the skin.
Hydrogen peroxide is known as world safest and natural sanitizer. It can oxidized micro-organisms & then kills them. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down into oxygen and water, when it reacts with organic material.
Some other Properties of Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂O₂)
Melting Point: -0.4°C
Boiling Point: 150-152°C
Density: 1.4425 g/cm3
Vapour Pressure: 3 hPa
Few Amazing Facts About Hydrogen Peroxide Before Hydrogen Peroxide Uses
- Hydrogen Peroxide is found in almost all living material.
- White blood cells in our body naturally produce hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) to fight against infections and bacteria.
- Fruit and vegetables also naturally produce hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). That’s why it is always recommended to eat fresh vegetables and fruits.
- Hydrogen peroxide found in massive amount in the mother’s first milk and called as colostrum. It is transferred to the newborn baby to boost their immunity.
- Sometimes it can also be found in rain water. H₂O in the atmosphere can receive some additional oxygen atom from the ozone (O3) and form H₂O₂, which help plants to grow faster.
Hydrogen Peroxide Uses: 42 Uses of Hydrogen Peroxide for Health Care, Oral Care, Personal Care, Cleaning/Sanitizing/Disinfectant and food processing.
Hydrogen Peroxide Uses for Health Care
1. Use Hydrogen Peroxide for Detoxifying Bath
Use the hydrogen peroxide in the lukewarm water carefully. First thing, We recommend to use ½ cup of food grade (35%) hydrogen peroxide in a full tub of water. If you are using low concentration, then you have to use more. Now soak it for about 30 minutes. If you feel unpleasant, then come out of water & take a bath with regular water. You can also add some salts & essential oils in the bath tub with hydrogen peroxide. Remember, depending on the time you stay in bathing tub, it can change the color of your body hair.
2. Use for Whiten the Clothes (Alternative to Bleach)
You can add ½ cup peroxide with your normal detergent to use with white clothes to whiten them. You can directly use it to remove the stains from clothes, carpets, curtains & etc. Just pour peroxide directly on the spot and leave it for 5-7 minutes. Now rub the area and rinse with the cold water.
3. Hydrogen Peroxide Uses as Defence System
Hydrogen peroxide helps our body fight against infection. It also provides help for our immune system to function correctly. White blood cells in our body are known as Leukocytes. Neutrophils is a sub-class of Leukocytes, which produce the hydrogen peroxide as the first line of defence against parasites, toxins, viruses, bacteria and yeast.
4. Hydrogen Peroxide Uses For Foot Fungus
It can help to cure a foot fungus. Make a mixture of 50% hydrogen peroxide and 50% of water. Take a piece of cloth or cotton. Dip it in the mixture and then clean the foot and let it dry also before you sleep or wear socks/shoes.
5. Yeast Infection
It can help to even remove chronic yeast infection. To use, just add 2 cap-full (table spoon) of 3% hydrogen peroxide in lukewarm distilled water 1-2 times in a week.
6. Colonic or Enema
For a colonic, you can add 1 cup (approx. 8 Oz) of 3% H₂O₂ to approx. 5 gallons of lukewarm water.
For an Enema, you can add 1 tablespoon of 3% H₂O₂ to a quart of lukewarm distilled water. Do not exceed with amount without any consultation.
7. Hydrogen Peroxide Uses Against Infections
You can soak any infections or cuts in a solution of 3% H₂O₂ for 5-10 minutes and can repeat several times a day. You can even heal gangrene by soaking it in H₂O₂ solution, usually gangrene would not heal with the help of many medicines. Use a suitable amount of hydrogen peroxide in your bath to get rid of boils, fungus or other type of skin infections.
8. Bird Mites Infections
There is history of patients which are infected by tiny mites. They reported that hydrogen peroxide effectively kills the mites on their skins. To get it done, they spray 3% H₂O₂ on their skin for a couple of times (With interval between the uses) and get amazing results.
9. Hydrogen Peroxide for Sinus
You can make a home made nasal spray a adding 1 tablespoon of 3% Hydrogen peroxide to 1 cup of non-chlorinated water. You have to adjust the amount of hydrogen peroxide used in mixture, depending on the degree of sinus.
10. Hydrogen Peroxide Use for Wound Care
3% H₂O₂ is used medically for removing dead tissue, cleaning wounds and as an oral debriding agent. Some sources recommend soaking of infections or cuts for 3 to 5 minutes several times a day. However, washing and the rinsing action are sufficient. It is not recommended that you leave the solution on an open tissue for extended periods. Doing this may like many oxidative antiseptics and hydrogen peroxide may cause mild damage to tissue.
Hydrogen Peroxide Uses for Oral Care
11. Preventing Canker Sores
H₂O₂ is very good healing properties. You can take 1 capful of H₂O₂ and try to hold in your mouth for 2-5 minutes for 3-4 times in a week, then split it out. After splitting wash your mouth with cold water. This thing will prevent canker sores and now your teeth will be whiter than ever.
12. Hydrogen Peroxide Uses as Mouthwash
May be you did not realize that hydrogen peroxide can act as an effective and inexpensive mouthwash for you. You can use 3% of H₂O₂ as mouth wash. If you want to add some flavor to your mouthwash, you can use dash of liquid chlorophyll.
13. Toothpaste with Use of Hydrogen Peroxide
You can use H₂O₂ for making your toothpaste. For this, You have to take baking soda and then add 3% of H₂O₂. Mix it well, apply to your tooth brush ad use it as toothpaste.
14. Cleaning Toothbrush
You can use H₂O₂ for cleaning your toothbrush also. Before brushing, Just dip your brush in 3% H₂O₂ solution and then brush. Every time before brushing, soak your toothbrush in Hydrogen peroxide solution for a few seconds to keep the germs away.
15. Hydrogen Peroxide Use for Tooth Ache
You cannot use hydrogen peroxide as a pain killer. However, it is an anti-viral, anti-fungal and antibacterial agent. Hydrogen peroxide is very effective to treat pathogen that is the main cause of the infection.
If you have a toothache and you don’t have time to visit a dentist, you can use H₂O₂ as home remedy for toothache. Put a small cap of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide into your mouth and hold it for 5-10 minutes, repeat it 3-4 times a day to get rid of toothache.
16. Hydrogen Peroxide Uses for Tooth Whitening
If you had used 3% Hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash, you may be amazed to see that your teeth had been whitened then ever. You can start H₂O₂ as mouthwash to see the change in tooth whitening.
NOTE: Do not swallow any amount of peroxide. When the split the H₂O₂, make sure that you wash your mouth with water.
Uses of Hydrogen Peroxide as Personal Care
17. Hydrogen Peroxide Uses for Hair Lightening
Hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent and you can use it for lightened your hair. For this, you can use 3% Hydrogen peroxide and make a mixture 50-50 with water. Wet your hair & then spray the mixture on your wet hair and comb them throughout so that solution reach to every hair. After applying the H₂O₂ solution with water, you will not get the hair like the hair dye packages. It will only give you natural highlights. It will highlight gradually so you will not see a drastic change.
18. Use Hydrogen Peroxide for Contact Lenses
Usually hydrogen peroxide is used as a no rub cleaning solution for contact lens. It has the ability to break down the protein layer that has built into the contact lens from the eye’s immune response. Cleaning with peroxide will result in increase of comfort level for people with sensitive eyes.
19. Hydrogen Peroxide Uses for Acne
You can use hydrogen peroxide for acne also. make a mixture of 50-50 with water & 3% hydrogen peroxide. You check any reaction of solution with your skin, you can first try on some other part of your body. If you feel no problem, then take a cotton ball and dip it in the solution and apply on acne or infected area. Do this 2-3 times a day, this will dry the acne and kill the bacteria in no time. This will also prevent acne to leave scars.
20. Hydrogen Peroxide Uses for Ear
Hydrogen peroxide is best for cleaning wax in your ears. To clean the wax make a 50-50 solution with water & 3% hydrogen peroxide. Now put 2-3 drops of olive oil in your ears. Before applying solution with cotton tilt you head and then apply. Then wash it with warm water.
21. Hydrogen Peroxide Uses for Nails
You can use same 50-50% peroxide solution while doing manicure and pedicure. Dip cotton in the solution and rub it on your nails for smooth & shine. It will give extra whiteness to your nails also.
Hydrogen Peroxide Uses for Cleaning / Sanitizing / Disinfectant
22. Straight or Diluted Hydrogen Peroxide
You can use H₂O₂ to clean your desk or kitchen counters and table tops to kill germs. It will also give a fresh smell. To do this, put a small amount on your dishrag when wiping or directly spray it on the kitchen / table counters. You can also use the hydrogen peroxide to clean the window glass and mirrors with no smearing. Clean your refrigerator or Kid’s lunch boxes with a spray bottle of 3% H₂O₂ to disinfect.
23. In the Dishwasher
To use hydrogen peroxide in the dishwasher, add 2 Oz. of 3% Hydrogen peroxide in your regular washing method. You can also fill a spray bottle with a 50-50 mixture of 3% Hydrogen peroxide and water. You can keep this spray bottle in the kitchen.
The similar spray bottle can be prepared for every bathroom also to disinfect without harming your septic system. For more effective result, every time after rinsing off the wooden cutting board, Spray the hydrogen peroxide and some vinegar on peroxide to kill salmonella, Shigella ,E.coil and other harmful bacteria.
NOTE: Light destroys the hydrogen peroxide. It’s always best to leave it in its original bottle. You can put in a spray head in original bottle. Don’t mix vinegar while preparing the solution, only pour it after spraying hydrogen peroxide.
24. Mold Cleaning
You can also use the Hydrogen peroxide to clean your house when it becomes a Biohazard after its invaded by toxic mold, can be happen with damage of water pipeline.
25. Humidifiers/Steamers
To use hydrogen peroxide as Humidifiers/Steamers, you can add 1 pint 3% H₂O₂ to 1 gallon of water.
26. Stain Removing
Use Hydrogen Peroxide as a stain remover. Hydrogen peroxide of 3% can be proved as best stain lifter if used earliest possible. We had seen the blood stains of approx. 2 days old have been successfully removed with hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide may bleach or discolour some fabrics. You only have to pour a little peroxide onto the stain and it will bubble up in the area. After a few minutes, you can use cloth or paper towel to wipe up excess liquid. Now you can use the cold water with soap to remove the peroxide treated blood.
27. Washing/Laundry
You can also use hydrogen peroxide instead of bleach for white clothes in your laundry. Add ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide with detergent to your filled washing machine. For blood or other stain on clothes, direct pour it on the spot. Leave it for a minute or two, then gently rub it and wash with cold water.
Hydrogen Peroxide Uses for Food Preparation
28. Vegetable Soaking
You can use hydrogen peroxide to wash or soak vegetables in order to kill bacteria and neutralize other chemicals. You need to add ¼ cup 3% peroxide to a full sink with cold water. Now you can soak the vegetable for 5 to 30 minutes, depending on the vegetable or fruit type.
If you feel that this is a time consuming process, then you can spray a solution of 3% hydrogen peroxide directly on fruits & vegetable. After spray washes them & dry them before eating.
29. Meat Sanitizing
You can use hydrogen peroxide for meat sanitizing also. To use, rinse off your meat before cooking it.
30. Leftover tossed salad
To use, spray with a solution of ½ cup water and 1 tablespoon of 3% peroxide. After spraying, drain the solution, cover it and then refrigerate.
31. Marinade
Place meat, poultry or fish in a casserole (avoid the use of aluminium pans). Cover them with a dilute solution of 50-50 of water and 3% hydrogen peroxide. You can now place it with loosely covered in refrigerator for approx. 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, rinse it and you are ready to cook.
32. Sprouting Seeds
For sprouting seeds, you have to add 1 Oz of 3% Hydrogen peroxide into 1 pint of water. Now put seeds in the solution overnight for soaking.
Grades of Hydrogen Peroxide
A) 3% to 5% (Pharmaceutical Grade):
This is the most common grade of hydrogen peroxide mostly sold at local drugstore or supermarket. Internal use of this grade is not recommended. This Grade contains an assortment of stabilizers, which should not be ingested. In this grade various stabilizers are phenol, acetanilide, tertrasodium phosphate and sodium stanate.
B) 6% (Beautician Grade):
This grade is mostly used in beauty shops to color hair and this grade is also not recommended for internal use.
C) 30% (Reagent Grade):
This grade is used for various scientific experimentation by scientist and also have stabilizers. This grade also not recommended for any internal use.
D) 30% to 32% (Electronic Grade):
This grade is commonly used for cleaning the electronic parts and same not used for any internal purpose.
E) 35% (Technical Grade):
This grade is more concentrated grade than the Reagent grade. This grade has slight differences, that the phosphorus is added in order to help the neutralization of any chlorine from the water used for diluting.
F) 35% (Food Grade):
As the name suggested, this grade is used for foods like eggs, cheese and whey-containing products. This is the grade, which usually sprayed on the foil lining of aseptic packages containing the milk product or fruit juices. This is the only grade, which can be used for internal use with lot of precaution.
G) 90%: This grade is used as an oxygen source for the rocket fuel.
Some Notes Before You Use Hydrogen Peroxide
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- There is only 35% (Food Grade) hydrogen peroxide is recommended for internal use with lot of precaution. So, Handle with care (direct contact with skin, may burn the skin. In this case, immediate flushing with water is required).
- Dilute it properly, before use. At this concentration, hydrogen peroxide still very strong oxidizer and can be extremely dangerous or even fatal.
- Any concentrations of hydrogen peroxide over 10% can cause some neurological reactions and damage to the upper gastrointestinal tract.
- Stored safely and use it properly. After making any dilution, keep the remainder stored with tightly sealed. Store it in a refrigerator or cool place.
- Do not use the chlorinated tap water to dilute the peroxide.
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