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11 things you can clean with hydrogen peroxide

February 16, 2024 - 9.58pm

Once used as a disinfectant for cuts and scratches, hydrogen peroxide is now more known for its effectiveness as a household cleaner.

There is basically something in every room for the house it can clean or treat, including disinfecting and stain removal

Houseplants, indoor plant — Hydrogen peroxide can help treat fungus gnats and clean garden tools. Getty Images/iStockphoto

What to know before you start using hydrogen peroxide

Though there are various strengths of hydrogen peroxide available, for cleaning you only need the three per cent strength solution.

Make sure to adhere to instructions on the packaging for proper storage and keep it in that brown bottle or use another opaque brown bottle to prevent light from decomposing the hydrogen peroxide.

When cleaning with hydrogen peroxide make sure to wear gloves and open windows and doors so that the space is well ventilated.

Take care when using hydrogen peroxide near fabric surfaces, including the clothes you're wearing, as it will bleach if it splashes or drips.

And never ever mix hydrogen peroxide with vinegar as it creates peracetic acid, a toxic gas which is highly dangerous for your lungs, eyes and skin.

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Things you can clean with hydrogen peroxide

Wooden chopping boards

With all the handling and raw meat that comes into contact with chopping boards there can be plenty of bacteria left on it, no matter how well you think you've hand washed it (remember, they can't go in the dishwasher).

Hydrogen peroxide will disinfect your chopping board and all you need to do is pour it over the board, or spray onto the surface and let it sit for about five minutes before rinsing off with hot water.

Fridge

As another surface that comes into contact with food, it's a good idea to disinfect the inside of your fridge every now and then. Spray hydrogen peroxide on the surface, leave to sit for about 10 minutes and then wipe off. Alternatively you can pour a little onto a cloth and wipe the interior that way.

Benches

Just like your fridge interior, hydrogen peroxide can be used to disinfect and remove stains from your benchtop. For stains, spray the area and leave for a few minutes before a light scrub and finish with a rinse.

Grout

A perennial problem in the kitchen and bathroom, hydrogen peroxide not only cleans grout but also whitens discolouration. The preferred way to use it is by adding to baking soda to make a paste, apply it to the grout and leave it to sit for 10 minutes. Then you can scrub lightly with a toothbrush before wiping off with a damp cloth.

Toilet

For a powerful germ buster and stain remover in the toilet bowl, pour about half a cup of hydrogen peroxide onto the toilet bowl and leave it to sit for 20 minutes before scrubbing with a toilet brush.

You can also clean the rest of the toilet with hydrogen peroxide by spraying it on the surface or pouring a little on a cloth and wiping it over the seat and lid.

Mirrors and windows

Use a spray made of half water and half hydrogen peroxide and spray on mirrors or windows. Then either wipe with a cloth, or squeegee straight off.

Mattress

To easily freshen your mattress, you can spray a mix of hydrogen peroxide and water on the mattress and let it sit for 20 minutes. If you have stains you can give them a light scrub with a toothbrush, otherwise just wipe off with a cloth.

White clothing, sheets and towels

Simply add half to one cup to your washing machine drum and run your usual cycle to boost whites.

White clothes hung out to dry on a washing line — There's nothing better than white sheets looking bright white. Getty Images/iStockphoto

Stain removal

Hydrogen peroxide is particularly effective at removing blood and sweat stains and there are a few ways to use it. Hydrogen peroxide can be sprayed straight onto the fabric, or dabbed on by applying it first to a cloth and then dabbing it on the stain.

For stubborn stains you can also mix with baking soda to make a paste, apply to the stains, leave for 10 minutes and then scrub and wash as normal.

Clean garden tools

Sterilising garden tools is important to prevent things like fungal diseases being transferred between plants. To use hydrogen peroxide for this spray a mix of water and hydrogen peroxide on your tools, leave for 10 minutes and rinse with water.

Fungus gnats

To treat the most annoying plant pest known to houseplant collectors, mix one part hydrogen peroxide to four parts water and spray on leaves and stems. You can also water the plant with this solution.