Hydrogen Peroxide Hacks
I see a TON of things floating around the internet promising cleaning hacks with different household items, and one of the big ones I see is hydrogen peroxide cleaning hacks.
I’ve gone through and picked the most popular hydrogen peroxide for cleaning hacks, and tested them myself to see if they really work. Keep on reading for the results!
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Peroxide for Cleaning
Before we get started, I want to make a few disclaimers. These are extremely important and have some safety information so please, do NOT skip this section!
First, I have seen some very, VERY BAD advice. Like, extremely bad advice, when it comes to hydrogen peroxide. I’ve also seen this same advice when it comes to cleaning with vinegar.
I can’t believe how many people out there suggest mixing some of these cleaning solutions and chemicals!!!
You should NEVER mix hydrogen peroxide and vinegar. NEVER EVER.
In fact, mixing them creates a toxic gas that is extremely damaging to your health.
So, ALWAYS check ahead of time with a reputable source before mixing anything.
I Neve mix peroxide with anything other than water, and baking soda (which I tried for two of these hacks). Please make sure to do your research before mixing it with something – or JUST DO NOT MIX IT WITH ANYTHING!
You can also check out this list of cleaning solutions you should never mix.
Okay, maybe that disclaimer was a little overboard, but I really want you to understand!
The second disclaimer I’d like to make is that before using any new cleaning agent, you should always do a small spot test to make sure it doesn’t harm or discolor the surface you’re using it on.
And third, before claiming something is a disinfectant, make sure to do the research on that, too!
I’ve done a little bit of the research for you (and myself).
Is peroxide a disinfectant?
According to the CDC website:
“Commercially available 3% hydrogen peroxide is a stable and effective disinfectant when used on inanimate surfaces.” You can read the full article here.
You can also check the EPA’s website for a list of registered disinfectants.
For these tests, 3% hydrogen peroxide was used.
Alright, now that we’ve got that important information out of the way, let’s move on to the 7 hydrogen peroxide cleaning hacks!
Cleaning with Hydrogen Peroxide
#1: Toilets
Since peroxide does disinfect, you can use it to clean your toilet!
If you actually read the instructions on most disinfectants, you will see that you don’t just spray it on and wipe it off. Surfaces generally need to remain wet with the disinfectant (in either spray or wipe form) for anywhere from 4-10 minutes.
The back of my peroxide bottle doesn’t specify how long to let it sit wet on the surface for disinfecting, so I’d be most comfortable assuming it would also take 4-10 minutes.
But once again, that’s a guess!
I think if you’re cleaning and disinfecting your toilet as part of your weekly cleaning schedule, you could easily spray the toilet with peroxide between cleanings, let it sit for 5-10 minutes, and then wipe it off.
Your toilet will be sparkling clean after this!
#2: Shower
Since we know hydrogen peroxide can disinfect, it’s also great to use in the shower (and sinks)!
If you’re going to transfer the peroxide into a different container (like a spray bottle), you’ll want to make sure to put it in a dark bottle, like this one.
The reason you want to keep it in a dark bottle (and the reason it COMES in a dark bottle) is because exposure to light can make the properties break down quicker.
There’s obviously some science behind this, and I recommend checking out this article Why Does Hydrogen Peroxide Come in a Brown Bottle? To get a better understanding!
#3: Glass & Windows
This one was super easy for me to test out because I wipe a few of our windows every day! Yes, every day.
We have two amazing rescue dogs, and they love to look out the windows. Their noses definitely smudge up the glass, so it’s a daily thing to just wipe them down.
Typically I use vinegar for this, you can learn more about how I clean with vinegar here. I like vinegar because it doesn’t leave streaks.
So, when trying the peroxide, I was concerned about it leaving streaks, but I am happy to report the windows are clear and streak-free!
All I did was put a little bit on a microfiber cloth and wiped the windows clean!
The peroxide dries pretty quickly, and I kept wiping the window until it was mostly dry. If you leave too much peroxide on the window, it might leave some streaks.
If you have pets, definitely check out these Pet Hair Cleaning Hacks, too!
Want more cleaning & organizing ideas? Checkout my Ultimate Guide to Deep Cleaning Your Home Workbook! It has 49 pages of printable schedules in different colors and formats, along with sample schedules AND checklists! Use code INTRO20 to get it for 20% off…only for a limited time! GET IT HERE!
#4: Grout
So, I’ve heard a few different ways of using hydrogen peroxide to clean grout.
The first, is to create a paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda.
I tried this about a year ago, and I can tell you that it did work, but I did not like the process. Unfortunately, I didn’t take any pictures at that time. But I’ll describe to you what went down.
In the past, I made a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. I’d say it ended up being about half and half, and then added in a little dish soap.
I then put the paste on the grout and let it sit for at least an hour. Afterward, I scrubbed it off with a sponge, and then wiped it clean with some water.
This did work, but it got to be a mess when it came time to wipe everything up. I have not done the process since, and I’m still looking for better ways to clean the grout (so stay tuned!).
Another tip I saw was to put hydrogen peroxide on the grout, undiluted, and let it sit for about 10 minutes.
I was skeptical of this one, I think the baking soda paste works better because the baking soda acts as additional scrubbing powder when you’re scrubbing off the paste.
Anyway, I put the peroxide on, undiluted, and let it sit for about 30 minutes. I then used a sponge to scrub it off. I really put some elbow grease into it. But I have found that this DOES NOT work.
To recap: Baking soda and peroxide paste DOES work. Just peroxide DOES NOT work for cleaning grout.
#5: Mattress
This is a great way to refresh your mattress! Since hydrogen peroxide disinfects, while you’re washing the sheets you can lightly spray it on your mattress and let it dry.
Do not completely drench the mattress, you just want to lightly spray it.
Make sure to put it in a dark spray bottle, like these. Like discussed earlier, light breaks down the properties of hydrogen peroxide so you need to make sure it stays in a dark bottle, and it’d be helpful to store it in a dark place as well!
#6: Toothbrush disinfectant
Sanitizing you toothbrushes can be a really good practice, especially after someone in the house has been sick. And, continuing on our hydrogen peroxide disinfecting road, you can use it to disinfect your toothbrush!
Simply soak your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide for at least 5 minutes, and then rinse it REALLY well.
I’ve heard of some people using peroxide on their teeth, and I’m not going to talk about that here (because I don’t do it, and I don’t know the best practices for it), but I don’t really like the taste that it left on my toothbrush when I didn’t rinse it super well.
If you’re looking for other ways to sanitize your toothbrush, you can also just soak it in the regular mouthwash you use! This will help to sanitize, and you also don’t need to worry about the taste afterward!
One last way to sanitize your toothbrush, is to use a UV sanitizer specifically for toothbrushes.
#7: Cleaning the refrigerator
This is honestly a great way to wipe down areas in the fridge that need cleaning!
I like to wipe the shelves every week when I put groceries away and rearrange stuff, and this is a nice and quick way to do so! It’s also a great bonus that this will also disinfect!
While you’re cleaning the refrigerator, you might want to think about making a freezer and pantry inventory. I’ve found that after making an inventory of what I have, I let fewer things get expired AND I am able to quickly look to see what I already have.
This also saves me so much money! Just a quick story:
One year, I bought a ton of cinnamon for holiday baking. But I already had a ton of cinnamon. And it has a long shelf life. And now I have an unnecessary amount of cinnamon. Cinnamon is not the cheapest thing to have a surplus of!
Anyway, just like the windows, it’s super easy to put a little peroxide on a cloth and wipe down the refrigerator as you’re going through and putting things away!
Cleaning with Hydrogen Peroxide: What Did NOT Work
Like I said in the grout section, straight peroxide on grout did NOT work.
But since the peroxide and baking soda paste worked on the grout for me a few months ago, I was hopeful about all the claims I saw that it worked well for cleaning baking sheets.
I tried both peroxide and baking soda, and peroxide and cream of tartar. I tried these methods mixed with a little dish soap as well. I could not get our baking sheets clean.
I was super disappointed! I thought this would be amazing, but it just didn’t work for me. But, just like the grout, I will continue to work on the baking sheets and update with the best information on how to clean them!
Want more cleaning & organizing ideas? Checkout my Ultimate Guide to Deep Cleaning Your Home Workbook! It has 49 pages of printable schedules in different colors and formats, along with sample schedules AND checklists! Use code INTRO20 to get it for 20% off…only for a limited time! GET IT HERE!