24+ Amazing Hydrogen Peroxide Hacks To Save Money
Hydrogen peroxide is one of the most versatile chemical compounds. It can be used to treat multiple common health issues, it can be used as a domestic cleaner, and it can even be used to create homemade glow sticks!
Using hydrogen peroxide, particularly for your household cleaning, is a great way to save money, and instead of buying expensive cleaning products, you can use this versatile solution to keep your costs low.
In this article, we’ll show you 25 different ways to use hydrogen peroxide so you can start saving some extra money on your beauty, cleaning products, and household bills.
This post may contain affiliate links. You can read the full disclosure here.
What Is Hydrogen Peroxide Used For?
Hydrogen peroxide hacks traditionally refer to using the peroxide as a mild antiseptic on the skin to prevent minor grazes and cuts from getting infected.
As we’ve already mentioned, hydrogen peroxide hacks can also be used as a health and beauty product and as a domestic cleaning product around your home.
If you’re planning on using hydrogen peroxide for medical purposes, make sure you follow all of the directions labeled on the hydrogen peroxide solution you purchase and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or need some guidance on usage.
Awesome Hydrogen Peroxide Hacks for a Cleaner Home
Generally speaking, my favorite way to put this affordable and versatile compound to use is at home. It makes for a great cleaning agent and there are plenty of ways to make use of it:
Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfectant Recipe
To make a hydrogen peroxide spray, get an empty cleaning spray bottle and place ½ a cup of peroxide, 1 cup of water, and 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice. If you don’t have lemon juice, essential oils can also be used if you prefer your cleaning solution to have a different scent.
You can also use pure hydrogen peroxide directly from the bottle if you wish to, but often you’ll want to mix it with some lemon juice or another essential oil to improve the smell, or water to water down the peroxide.
#1 Disinfect Your Dishwasher
Hydrogen peroxide is the perfect solution for disinfecting those hard-to-reach and intricate parts of your dishwasher where moisture regularly stays present long after a cleaning cycle is complete. Particular areas to watch out for are the pleats of rubber seals, traps, and the crevices of the utensil basket. To clean these areas, spray your hydrogen peroxide solution onto the areas, leave the solution to stand for 2 minutes before wiping the areas clean with a kitchen cloth
#2 Sanitize Chopping Boards
Chopping boards can be a haven for germs, particularly if you’re using the same board to prepare multiple types of food. Washing your chopping boards with soap and water can be effective for getting the majority of food stains off your chopping boards, but over time hot soapy water can cause chopping boards to spoil, particularly if your boards are made of wood.
To effectively sanitize the chopping board, spray your peroxide solution on the board and leave it to rest for approximately 10 minutes. You can then rinse and dry the board, and it’ll be ready for use. You don’t need to worry about using peroxide every time you clean your boards, but you should aim to use your hydrogen peroxide solution to clean your chopping boards at least once a week.
#3 Keep Your Sink Clean
How many different kitchen utensils do you clean in your sink? Probably quite a few. Regularly cleaning all your kitchen equipment can lead to your sink becoming quite dirty over time.
Luckily cleaning your sink is relatively simple. Spray the surface of your sink with your hydrogen peroxide solution and let it sit for 5-10 minutes before scrubbing and rinsing clean. You may want to repeat this process several times if your sink is particularly dirty or if stubborn food stains are present.
Again, like with cleaning your chopping boards, you don’t need to use hydrogen peroxide every time you clean your sink. Using hydrogen peroxide once a week should be enough to keep your sink squeaky clean.
Quick Tip: You can avoid that awful build-up of utensils by doing some basic meal prep twice or thrice a week- here are some of my favorite ideas. You can also invest in something like the $5 meal plan to help get you started- this subscription sends meal plan ideas to your inbox every Friday which helps you get moving.
#4 Clean Your Toothbrushes
Cleaning your toothbrushes with hydrogen peroxide is nice and easy. Simply pour some hydrogen peroxide (3% hydrogen peroxide works best) into a glass and place your toothbrush inside so the peroxide is covering the bristles. Leave the toothbrush to soak for 5 to 10 minutes. After your toothbrush has soaked, make sure you rinse the brush thoroughly to get rid of any lingering peroxide taste and dry your toothbrush off.
Hydrogen Peroxide Foot Hacks
Most common foot problems can be solved with simple home ingredients instead of $100 creams. Here are some hydrogen peroxide hacks that are worth giving a try:
#5 Treat Bunions and Calluses
Bunions and calluses are commonly caused by wearing ill-fitting socks, tight shoes, manual labor, too much walking or running, and other everyday activities. While bunions and calluses aren’t usually that serious, they can be unsightly and sometimes quite painful. Luckily you can use hydrogen peroxide to soothe your bunions and calluses naturally. To do so, you’ll need:
- 3% hydrogen peroxide
- Hot water
- A small container or bowl.
Fill your small container or bowl with warm water that’s warm enough to put your bare feet in comfortably. Add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to the water and mix well. Soak your feet in the solution for 15 minutes, and then remove your feet from your bowl/container and rinse them with clean water. You can safely carry out this procedure every night to soften your bunions and calluses.
#6 Treat Toenail Fungus
The second use for hydrogen peroxide and foot health is in the treatment of toenail fungus. Often starting off as a yellow spot, toenail fungus grows and gradually covers the toenail. If left untreated, toenail fungus can thicken and eventually crack your toenail, which can cause pain and tenderness.
When hydrogen peroxide is applied to toenail fungus, its antifungal properties kill the fungus, which then lets your toenail grow out and repair itself. To start treating your toenail fungus, start by mixing warm water with 3% hydrogen peroxide and soak your feet in the solution for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes have elapsed, dry your nails with a tissue and dispose of the tissue after use.
You should repeat this process every day until the toenail fungus subsides.
#7 Treat Your Cracked Heels
Another useful foot problem that hydrogen peroxide can help solve is cracked heels. Soak your feet in a mixture of two cups of hydrogen peroxide and two cups of hot water for around 30 minutes. After 30 minutes:
- Take your feet out of the mix.
- Dry your feet off.
- Scrub your dead heel skin off with a foot file.
This process should help soften up your cracked heels, but to soften further, liberally apply some foot cream to the affected area. Like with the other foot treatments we’ve described, you can repeat this process every day until you’re happy that your cracked heels are soft enough.
Kerasal is an affordable option I have used in the past that I would recommend if you are looking for creams. It is about $8 on Amazon.
Surprising Hydrogen Peroxide Beauty Hacks
This may or may not come as a surprise but hydrogen peroxide has a few beauty hacks up its sleeve as well. Here are some good ones:
#8 Brighten Your Nails
While we’ve already looked at how hydrogen peroxide can help treat fungal infections in your toenails, it’s worth pointing out that hydrogen peroxide can be used as a treatment for your fingernails as well. Fungal infections aren’t the only cause of nail discoloration either. If you’ve ever used nail polish remover regularly, you may have ended up with yellow stains on your nails.
If you notice any discoloration on your nails, then the easiest way to improve the color is to apply a small amount of hydrogen peroxide onto a clean cloth, a cotton swab, or a toothbrush. You can then use the cloth, swab, or toothbrush to gently scrub and buff the surface of your nails. You may want to have a small bowl of clean, warm water available to regularly dip your cloth, swab, or toothbrush in to keep your cleaning utensil fresh.
#9 Heal Your Acne
Acne is a common skin condition that affects people of all ages and can be an annoying, sometimes embarrassing condition. Acne occurs when your skin creates too much sebum. There are plenty of acne treatments available, but hydrogen peroxide is an inexpensive, effective method of reducing acne.
The best way to apply hydrogen peroxide to your face is to gently wash your face with warm water and then apply a small amount to a cotton swab and rub the swab on the area you’re looking to treat. Leave the solution on your face for around 5 minutes, rinse your face with cold water, and apply a facial moisturizer. It’s recommended that you repeat this treatment one or two times a week for the best results.
#10 Make a Natural Deodorant
Hydrogen peroxide is perhaps the most natural and simple deodorant you can use. Simply wipe or spray some on your underarms and wipe it clear. The hydrogen peroxide should kill odor-causing bacteria and keep your armpits fresh. It’s important to remember that hydrogen peroxide is not an antiperspirant, so it won’t provide you with as much coverage against sweat as traditional deodorants.
If you want a natural deodorant that does not have all of that awful aluminum and fragrance, the only one that I can honestly recommend would be Kosas Sport Chemistry AHA Serum Deodorant. I have tried it once so far and it is pretty decent for a roll-on deo that you can take anywhere.
#11 Sanitize Your Beauty Tools
Each time you try to apply makeup to your face with dirty makeup brushes, you run the risk of applying dirt and bacteria to your face. To keep your brushes nice and clean, you should aim to disinfect them regularly. You can do this with an equal part mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water.
When you’ve made your solution, let your brushes soak in this solution for about 5 minutes before rinsing them clean. You can repeat this process as many times as you like until you’re happy with the condition of your beauty tools.
Medicinal Uses for Hydrogen Peroxide
Probably the most searched hydrogen peroxide question, here are some of the best medicinal hacks for hydrogen peroxide:
#12 Treat Your Insect Bites
Insect bites are a fact of life but can be frustrating to deal with, particularly in the summer. One way to treat insect bites is to soak some hydrogen peroxide onto some cotton buds and rub it over the bites. Leave the hydrogen peroxide on the bites for around 2 minutes.
The hydrogen peroxide should help the whaling process and stop the itching while also reducing the chances of the bites becoming infected.
#13 Remove Ear Wax
Applying hydrogen peroxide is an effective way of removing excessive ear wax from your ears, but before you go and dunk hydrogen peroxide into your ear, you need to be aware that hydrogen peroxide can cause an infection or dizziness in some people, particularly those who’ve had previous problems with their ears in the past. If you’re unsure about using hydrogen peroxide on your ears, contact a medical professional before doing so.
There are a couple of ways you can apply hydrogen peroxide to your ears. You can do this by placing some drops into your ear before you shower; alternatively, you can apply a few drops to a cotton bud and clean your ears as normal.
If you’re applying drops, lie down on your side with one ear facing up. Administer a couple of drops to your ear; after doing this, keep still for 5 minutes before sitting up and blot the outer ear with a tissue to absorb any liquid that comes out and has been dislodged. You can then repeat this process with your other ear.
Household Hydrogen Peroxide Hacks You Need to Know About
From baking sheets to lend cleaners, here are some cool household hacks you should try:
#14 Clean Your Baking Sheets
Hydrogen peroxide is great for cleaning baking sheets. Simply apply some hydrogen peroxide and hot water to a baking sheet and clean with a dishcloth or a metal scourer. After you’ve done this, rinse the tray, and any residue, stains, or sludge should come right off.
It’s unlikely you’ll need to use hydrogen peroxide every time you clean your baking sheets, so only use it when your baking sheets require a thorough, deep clean.
#15 Make Natural Bleach
Bleach can be a particularly harsh chemical to use around your home and to have present in your house. If you don’t want to use conventional bleach, you can make some homemade bleach with hydrogen peroxide.
Mix some hydrogen peroxide with some baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice. When you’ve created this solution, you can use it as a natural bleach alternative to clean your various household items, including your kitchen sink and bathroom toilet and sink.
#16 Disinfect Your Household Items
You can disinfect a ton of different household items using hydrogen peroxide hacks, and there are a few different solutions you can conjure up. If you want to, you can use pure hydrogen peroxide, simply pour a small amount of the solution onto a clean cloth, apply the hydrogen peroxide to the item and leave it to sit for around 30 seconds to 1 minute before wiping the item down and rinsing if you need to.
If you want to create a slightly more fruity mixture, mix some hydrogen peroxide with some lemon juice and apply the solution in the same way as stated above. This process will leave your household items smelling nice and fresh!
#17 Hydrogen Peroxide Lens Cleaner
Hydrogen peroxide can be found in many popular contact lens solutions. Peroxide plays an important role in cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses. Peroxide solutions are preservative-free, making them suitable for allergy sufferers who react to particular preservatives.
It’s important to note that extra care should be taken if you’re using peroxide-based lens solutions; the hydrogen peroxide in the solution must be neutralised before the lenses can be worn.
#18 Hydrogen Peroxide Spray Bottle Idea
One of the most versatile ways to keep your hydrogen peroxide within arms reach is to pour it into a spray bottle. As we mentioned earlier, you can mix your hydrogen peroxide with water, lemon juice or an essential oil to dilute the solution or change the aroma. If you’re pouring hydrogen peroxide straight into a spray bottle, make sure the whole bottle is a 50/50 split between the peroxide and the water.
Once you’ve done this, you have a cleaning solution on hand for your everyday household cleaning needs.
Fun Hydrogen Peroxide Experiments for Kids
There are not many fun things to do with hydrogen peroxide but there certainly are a few.
#19 Create Elephant’s Toothpaste
If you’re looking to create a giant foaming reaction to entertain your kids, then you should sit them down and create elephant toothpaste with them! To carry out this experiment, you’ll need:
- An empty plastic bottle.
- Dry yeast
- Warm water
- Liquid dish soap
- 3% hydrogen peroxide
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Safety glasses (for all participants)
- A large tub to catch the foam
- A durable, splash resistant surface
The first step you’ll need to take is to make sure everyone taking part in the experiment is wearing their safety goggles. Next, measure ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide, and carefully pour it into the empty plastic bottle, mix a squirt of dish soap into the bottle and gently swirl the hydrogen peroxide and dish soap together.
Then take a measuring cup and mix together one tablespoon of yeast with three tablespoons of warm water and stir for around 30 seconds. Pour the yeast mixture into the water bottle and step back and watch the reaction take place!
#20 DIY Hydrogen Glow Sticks
Before explaining how to make hydrogen glow sticks, it’s important to note that this experiment should be carried out without children present, as there are quite a few chemicals involved. To make the glow sticks, you’ll need:
- Two litres of distilled water
- 50ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide
- 0.5 grams of ammonium carbonate
- 0.2 grams of luminol
- 4 grams of sodium carbonate
- 0.4 grams of copper sulfate pentahydrate
- 2 glass bowls
- 4 test tubes
- 1 tablespoon
To make your glow sticks:
- Start by using one of your glass bowls to mix 1 liter of distilled water with 50 ml of hydrogen peroxide.
- Mix 4 grams of sodium carbonate, 0.2 grams of luminol, 04 grams of copper sulfate pentahydrate, 0.5 grams of ammonium carbonate, and your other 1 liter of water into the second glass bowl.
- Hold out one of your test tubes, pour 2 tablespoons of the mixture you have in your first glass bowl, pour another 2 tablespoons of the mixture from your second glass mixing bowl, and cap the test tube.
- Shake the test tube gently to mix the mixtures together, and you’ll see the mixture start to glow. The glow should last for a few minutes before fading.
Oral Care Hydrogen Peroxide Uses
Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful drug store product that some people claim can do everything from whitening teeth to healing gum inflammation. Here are some hydrogen peroxide hacks for oral care:
#21 Whiten Your Teeth
If you’ve ever used a whitening toothpaste or strip, you may well have seen hydrogen peroxide listed in the active ingredients in both products. Instead of purchasing whitening toothpaste or strips, you can go straight to the source; just try swishing hydrogen peroxide around in your mouth for 30 seconds once a week, and within a few weeks, you should start to notice your teeth giving off an extra shine.
#22 Soothe a Sore Throat
As hydrogen peroxide contains antibacterial properties, it can help soothe a sore throat. To do this:
- Mix one cup of warm water with ½ teaspoon of salt.
- Mix this solution around your mouth for 60 seconds and spit the solution out after gargling.
- After doing this, rinse your mouth out with fresh cold water.
- Make sure you don’t swallow any of the hydrogen peroxide solutions, as undiluted hydrogen peroxide can cause damage to your internal organs.
Other Hydrogen Peroxide Hacks
#23 Clean up Your Reusable Grocery Bags
If you’ve got a stash of reusable grocery bags, you can use hydrogen peroxide to keep them clean. If you’ve got a spray bottle full of your hydrogen peroxide solution, spray some of the solution inside, leave the solution in place for about 30 seconds to a minute and wipe clean.
#24 Kill Dust Mites and Keep Your Mattress Clean
Dust mites like to gather and breed on your mattress. Give your mattress a spray with your hydrogen peroxide solution to kill the mites. After you’ve done this, allow your mattress to dry before remaking your bed with clean bedding.
#25 Keep Your Plants Healthy
Over time it’s easy for your household plants to pick up various diseases and funguses, which can be transferred from plant to plant. One way to combat the spread of plant diseases is to water your plants with a hydrogen peroxide solution. To do this, simply add some hydrogen peroxide to some water and water your plants as normal.
Another hydrogen peroxide hack for your plants is to spray it onto the plants directly. Hydrogen peroxide not only helps to fight plant diseases and fungi but also helps to encourage healthy root growth in your plants because of the extra oxygen molecule it contains. This extra oxygen molecule enables the plant’s roots to absorb more nutrients, leading to healthier growth.
Wrapping It up the list of hydrogen peroxide hacks
As you can see from this guide, hydrogen peroxide is a versatile, cost-effective solution that you can use for a wide range of household and health issues. A good-sized bottle will set you back around $10, and you can find hydrogen peroxide in most stores.
Always make sure you consult a medical professional before using any hydrogen peroxide hacks for medical purposes and carry out thorough research if you’re using the peroxide for the first time.
FAQs About Hydrogen Peroxide
What Is a Good Hydrogen Peroxide Alternative?
Rubbing alcohol is a good alternative to hydrogen peroxide, particularly for application on your skin. Rubbing alcohol is less harsh than hydrogen peroxide, meaning it’s less likely to cause irritation. Rubbing alcohol can also be used effectively on hard surfaces such as doorknobs, countertops, porcelain, glass, and stainless steel.
How to Clean Ears With Hydrogen Peroxide and Water?
Using a hydrogen peroxide hack for dislodging ear wax in your ears is pretty effective, but it should be noted that pure hydrogen peroxide shouldn’t be applied directly to your ears as this may cause irritation. However, you can use hydrogen peroxide mixed with water to clean your ears. To do this, mix hydrogen peroxide with warm water.
The solution should be 50% hydrogen peroxide and 50% warm water. When the mix is at a comfortable temperature, use a glass dropper to drip the solution into your ear, or use a cotton bud and dip it into the solution and apply it to the inside of your ear to dislodge excess ear wax.
Can You Mix Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide?
It’s not advisable to mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide together. Combining the two creates peracetic acid, which is potentially toxic and can cause irritation to the skin, eyes, and respiratory system.
Can You Use Hydrogen Peroxide to Clean Your Ears?
It’s not advisable to clean your ears with pure hydrogen peroxide as it may cause irritation. However, hydrogen peroxide can be mixed with warm water or baby oil, making it safe to clean your ears with.
How to Clean a Glass Top Stove With Baking Soda and Peroxide?
To clean a glass stove top with baking soda and peroxide, empty half a box of baking soda over your stovetop and place ¾ of a cup of hydrogen peroxide onto the baking soda, making sure the solution covers the whole area you’re looking to clean. Leave the solution in place for around 20 minutes; after this time has elapsed, mop the mix up with paper towels, and your stovetop should be clean. If further cleaning is required, repeat this process.
How to Clean Feet With Hydrogen Peroxide?
To clean your feet with hydrogen peroxide, mix some peroxide with some warm water into a clean bowl or a container. Leave your feet to soak in the solution for 30 minutes before rinsing with water and patting dry with a towel.
Are you looking for ways to manage your money and better your budget? Here is what we recommend:
 |  | Swagbucks pays you to take surveys online and is one of my favorite survey websites because of its countless survey options and trustworthiness. They pay you via PayPal or gift cards if you take surveys through their website. You also get a $5 welcome bonus using this link. |
 |  | CIT Bank offers high yield savings accounts and term CDs that are great for people who are looking to invest their cash and earn interest. One of the reasons they are so famous among savers is because they have one of the nation’s top rates- 6x the national average (your typical savings account earns you just 0.09%). |
 |  | FlexJobs is great if you are looking for remote work opportunities. The team at FlexJobs monitors every job posting to make sure the standard is maintained so you will find well-paying job opportunities and zero scammy ones. |
 |  | For wise parents with their children’s futures in mind, an early tax-advantaged investment account specifically tailored for children is a fantastic idea. Programs such as UNest are designed to help you achieve this goal of crafting a better future for your children. |
 |  | Credit Saint is my top pick when it comes to credit repair agencies. It has a 90-day money-back guarantee, an A+ rating from the BBB, affordable pricing and it has also been voted the best credit repair company by consumer advocate. Credit Saint |
