Break out the bubbly—this household staple (usually sold as a 3% concentration and used further diluted in water) has many uses around the home. You might be surprised to learn hydrogen peroxide is not recommended for use on cuts and scrapes by many doctors because it can actually inhibit healing, but this disinfecting, cheap and easy-to-find household staple has many other excellent uses. Note: Hydrogen peroxide becomes inert if exposed to light or air, so it’s important to store it in an opaque, dark-colored bottle with a lid.

1  Sponge Sterilizer

Combine half water and half hydrogen peroxide in a bowl, then soak a dirty sponge for 10 minutes before rinsing.

2  Neat Nails

First trim and file nails. Next, fill a bowl with warm water and add 15 drops of almond, avocado or olive oil; soak fingertips for 10 minutes. Dry hands, then wipe nails with a hydrogen peroxide-soaked cotton ball to whiten. Add a drop of oil to each cuticle and massage it in.

3  Sink Sparkler

Get a stained white sink sparkling again by spraying hydrogen peroxide in the sink, then allowing it to sit for 30 minutes or more. Scrub, then rinse.

4  Grout Cleaner

After cleaning your tub, whiten any dingy grout by spritzing it with hydrogen peroxide. After it has bubbled for 10 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush and rinse.

5  Make Your Bowl Glow

Pour hydrogen peroxide directly into the toilet bowl, and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes to disinfect and bleach stains. Scrub clean with a toilet brush.

6)  Air Purifier

Combine 1 pint hydrogen peroxide with 1 gallon water and pour it into your humidifier to clean the machine from the inside out.

7  Underarm-Stain Lifter

To erase underarm stains, combine one part castile soup and two parts hydrogen peroxide. Apply to the stains, then let sit for one hour. Rinse in cold water, then run through the washing machine.

8  Bleach Alternative

Replace chlorine bleach—its manufacture releases toxic dioxins into the environment—with hydrogen peroxide. Simply soak light-colored laundry in hydrogen peroxide, rinse in cold water, then run it through the washing machine.

9  Stain Breaker

Attack tough blood or red wine stains in clothing by pouring the hydrogen peroxide directly on the stain, then rinsing in cold water. Hydrogen peroxide is a mild bleaching agent, so use this trick on light-colored clothing and/or test on a small patch first.

10  Smile Enhancer

To whiten teeth, mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to form a paste. Brush normally and use daily for a brighter smile.

11  Mouthwash Magic

Dilute hydrogen peroxide in water (about half and half) and use as a mouthwash. Swish the mixture in your mouth to whiten teeth and kill bacteria, but be very careful not to swallow any. Essential Oxygen also makes a handy toothpaste-mouthwash.

12  Fresh and Clean

Bacteria can flourish on makeup brushes and sponges. To sterilize yours, add castile soap to warm water and soak brushes, tweezers and sharpeners. Rinse in cold water, then dunk in a half hydrogen peroxide/half water solution. Soak for 10 minutes, then immerse brushes in a cold water bath for 10 minutes. Remove and dry on a clean, dry cloth.

13  Cutting Board Cleaner 

To sanitize cutting boards, spray hydrogen peroxide (in an opaque spray bottle) onto boards, allow it to bubble for a few minutes, then rinse and wash with soap and water. 

Article Courtesy of Mother Earth Living Magazine. July/August 2015. pg. 17.