Hello all! We’re back this week to tell you all about the wonderful world of hydrogen peroxide and its many uses. You probably already know that the bubbly stuff works great on cleaning wounds, but you probably didn’t know how much fun was contained in that little plastic bottle. (Remember to always store it in a dark, usually brown or solid colored bottle because light breaks it down and makes it ineffective.) So get ready to take the cap off and have an instant party! Ok, maybe I’m playing this up just a bit…
Anyway…here are a few great uses that you maybe don’t know about:
1. Fruit & Veggie Wash
All the produce we use for Sy’s juices, soup, etc. are all washed with 3% food grade hydrogen peroxide. Especially when people are trying to heal, it’s important that you are not eating stuff that can make you sicker. Fill up your sink and add 1-2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide. Soak your fruit and veggies for a minute or two, give them a little scrubbing, and then take them out to dry. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
2. Clean Cutting Boards & Countertops
After using your cutting boards, hydrogen peroxide is a great way to kill off any nasty bacteria. Wash and rinse as you usually would, but after pour/spray peroxide directly on the board to remove any left over germy germs and then wipe with a clean cloth. The same goes for cleaning your counters and any other eating/prepping surfaces.
3. Immunity Booster
Whenever you’ve been out and about where you’ve been exposed to a lot of other people with sicknesses, hydrogen peroxide can help you out. In fact, did you know that hydrogen peroxide is produced by some of your white blood cells? It’s often best right after a shower, but you can just grab a cotton pad and wipe the peroxide all over your body. What the heck does that do, you ask? Parasites, viruses, and bacteria hate oxygenation, which is what happens on your wounds. Rubbing it on your skin allows some of this oxygenation to enter your pores and bloodstream, so it can make an impact on the inside as well.
4. Whiten Your Laundry
Add 1-2 cups of hydrogen peroxide to your laundry to give your whites a little extra bling. If you can, let them soak for a bit so it can get the full effect. Rinse in cold water and enjoy a healthier, greener alternative to bleach.
5. Stain Remover
This stuff is great for removing blood off of clothes and carpet. Jordan often has to use this on the job when that little old lady’s nosebleed got way out of control before he gets there (a side effect of blood thinners). Blot on the clothes/carpet and then rinse with cold water immediately to make sure you don’t bleach it.
6. To Sanitize
To sanitize your home in a chemical free way, fill a spray bottle with diluted peroxide (50/50 mixture with water) and spray down the sinks, tubs, and toilet areas and then wipe clean.
7. Keep Your Nose Clean, Kid
Mix one tablespoon of peroxide to one cup of water and fill a nasal spray bottle. When those pesky allergies bug you or you have a full-blown nasal infection, take a few hits of this throughout the day and give those annoyances a punch in the face.
8. Toothbrush Soak
Ever hear about how nasty your toothbrush heads get when they just sit around on your bathroom counter? It’s always fun to insert a stick with a science experiment on the end into your mouth, right? If you decide to pass on this, just keep a little cup by your sink and keep your toothbrush head soaking when you’re not using it (no sharing cups, yuck). Change the water frequently so you don’t create your own cesspool of muckiness.
9. Sun-In (remember that?) For Poor Folks
I know we are going into winter here in the states, but you can have those natural highlights that make it look like you just came back from the beach. Mix half peroxide, half water and fill a spray bottle. Once you hop out of the shower, give your head a light spray and comb that goodness in. It’s gradual and makes subtle changes, but you may not want that Lady Gaga look right off the bat. Give it time, sista, and you’ll look like a million bucks. Rumor is that the heat from a hair dryer will speed up the process if you don’t have the time to lay out in the sun. Don’t hold me to it though–try at your own risk. I should clarify too that it’s pretty drying for your hair.
10. To Clear Skin
Ever have a case of the blackheads? (And here I thought that was only for the teenage years!) Anyway, pour a little peroxide on a cotton ball and dab away on your face. See what kind of results you get!
If you do some of your own research, you’ll find many, many more uses. Here’s a link to the kind we use. Also keep in mind that you can buy big jugs of 35% food grade hydrogen peroxide and dilute it down to 3% if you are good at math. Cost saver!
Hope you enjoy your bottle! Let us know how it goes.
Today’s No Muck Motto:
I will look for and take pleasure in the simple things today.
