Hydrogen Peroxide Uses

Here is what my sister just emailed to me. I hope some of it will be useful to you:

1. Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out. (I do it when I bathe or shower.) No more canker sores and your teeth will be whiter without expensive pastes. Use it instead of mouthwash.

2. Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup peroxide to keep them free of germs.

3. Clean your counters, table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dishrag when you wipe, or spray it on the counters.

4. After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria.

5. I had fungus on my feet for years - until I sprayed a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry.

6. Soak any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for five to ten minutes several times a day. My husband has seen gangrene that would not heal with any medicine, but was healed by soaking in peroxide.

7. Put two capfuls into a douche to prevent yeast infections. I had chronic yeast infections until I tried this once or twice a week.

8. Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water and keep it in every bathroom to disinfect without harming your septic system like bleach or most other disinfectants will.

9. Tilt your head back and spray into nostrils with your 50/50 mixture whenever you have a cold, plugged sinus. It will bubble and help to kill the bacteria. Hold for a few minutes then blow your nose into tissue.

10. If you have a terrible toothache and cannot get to a dentist right away, put a capful of 3% peroxide into your mouth and hold it for ten minutes several times a day. The pain will lessen greatly.

11. And of course, if you like a natural look to your hair, spray the 50/50 solution on your wet hair after a shower and comb it through. You will not have the peroxide burnt blonde hair like the hair dye packages, but more natural highlights if your hair is a light brown, faddish, or dirty blonde. It also lightens gradually so it's not a drastic change.

12. Put half a bottle of peroxide in your bath to help rid boils, fungus, or other skin infections.

13. You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites in your laundry to whiten them. If there is blood on clothing, pour directly on the soiled spot. Let it sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary.

I could go on and on. It is a little brown bottle no home should be without! With prices of most necessities rising, I'm glad there's a way to save tons of money in such a simple, healthy manner!

This list didn't have it, but I use peroxide to clean my mirrors with, there is no smearing, which is why I love it so much for this.
***

And, I'd like to add to the above info: I learned, here at DG, that hydrogen peroxide looses its potency after a period of time. So, I'd guess that if you mix some up, you need to use it within a reasonable amount of time so it will still be effective.

http://www.vwrsp.com/msds/10/VW6/VW6237-1.pdf

3% Hydrogen Peroxide will not keep forever... a few months, maybe. The more the solution is exposed to light & air, the more it will oxidize into water & oxygen. This decomposition can be estimated by opening the bottle & listening for a "fizz"..

Flower Lady,

Thanks for some great frugal ways to use this peroxide! How clever!!! I am sure Angel with all these uses we can use it up in less than 3 months so it doesn't get wasted.

This message was edited Apr 28, 2006 5:04 PM

Do you use H202??

funny my aunt did to me to..

Angel, that's an interesting link...

It's also good for your plants. One capful to a gallon of tepid water. It helps get the oxygen to the roots better or something like that. I've been doing it for a couple of weeks now.

gardengram,

Have you tried epsom salts? I sprinkle them on all the yard stuff. They love it. Sam's Club has nice big bags.

I tried epsom salts on my African violets last year and they kept getting worse until they finally died. I am not saying the epsom salts did it, but they didn't help either.

Ive always heard about salts building up in soil and to flush them out periodically, so I've been confused about whether they are a good thing or not. I am really excited about what's happening with all my plants this year, and I have been using the peroxide. I'm kind of at that point "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

It's kind of like asking English teachers where commas should go. You ask 100 and you'll get 100 different answers. I'm beginning to think that growing plants is the same way. Just look at the threads here on DG. There are so many different opinions about things sometimes that I just have to chuckle.

How much do you put around your plants and how often do you use it? Do you use it on all plants or just certain ones? Have you been doing it for quite a while? Do you use it on houseplants also? You are saying sprinkle, so it sounds like something you don't use a lot of. I wouldn't mind doing an experiment on some plants where I can compare two of the same type, like those ads you see for Miracle Gro (this one did and this one didn't).

Diane

You can add as little as 2T to a gallon of distilled water and up to 1/2 to 1 cup in regular water can use on seed starts helps with a few things or you can use on any sickly looking or over watered house plant I have used H202 in all the above ways (really does take blood out of clothing VERY well) EXCEPT for the douche (kinda embaressing but interesting...) I also use it in my ears just pour a half a cap full in and keep head cocked to one side and let it CLEAN then to other ear I do this when I am in the bath.

MQN--Are you talking about epsom salts (2T to a gal, etc. or hydrogen peroxide?

I used the hydrogen peroxide on some seedlings that looked like they were damping off and not going to make it. They bounced right back.

Diane

Diane:

"It's kind of like asking English teachers where commas should go. You ask 100 and you'll get 100 different answers. I'm beginning to think that growing plants is the same way. Just look at the threads here on DG. There are so many different opinions about things sometimes that I just have to chuckle."

That quote from you above is my motto! How cool! Yep, it seems there is always more than one way to get something done right. How true.

Aimee

Aimee--
You gave me a good chuckle this morning.

Sometimes you just have to go with what makes sense to you. If it doesn't work, well that's too bad, but then there's always something else to try. My thing is that nothing is written in stone. You just keep trying.

Have a good day!!
Diane

Was talking about the h202, I love it as a mouthwash - every morning I brush, then rinse with the H202 then rinse with mouth wash - have not been to the dentist longer then I care to say.

Epson salts I used for the first time on my asparagus patch - have always heard to do it but this is the first time I tried. I am also going to try using it as a foliar spray on my pepper plants. Got the following off the internet @ some "Pepper Joes" site. I have never tried to do peppers before thought I might try it on 1/2 my plants for a controlled experiment....

"Epsom salt delivers a immediate shot-in-the arm of magnesium to the plants and boost growth when applied as a foliar spray. Mix 2 tablespoons of Epson Salt in an average size spray bottle...shake it vigorously and apply to plant every 2 weeks with a thorough soaking. My favorite fertilizer is Fish Emulsion. I like it because it is a great all-around fertilizer and 100% organic. An alternative if Organic isn't important to you is Miracle-gro or it's equivalent.
Use your choice of fertilizer every other week on alternate weeks from the Epson Salt spray. Therefore, your Chile plants are getting fed weekly.
Fiery Regards,
Pepper Joe

Gardengram is right I proof read for my printing company and thought I knew a thing or 2 had a project go out that I had caught a few typo's on for a youth "learning/detention" center and it came back with comma's littered ALL over it apparently every teacher had to add a couple. Off topic I know but my cutest typo to date is for UNLA (Utah Nursery & Landscaping Assoc.) where they were going to have Thurl Bailey be a guest speaker and one of the credits attributed to him was "Thurl leads a busy life as a professional speaker, singer/songwriter, business man, community advocate and game annalist for the Utah Jazz and the University of Utah Men's Basketball."

Poor spelling and poor grammar is an epidemic.

I keep a bottle of peroxide on hand in case my dogs get sprayed by a skunk.

half peroxide, half water, 2 tsp. baking soda, and a squirt of dish soap in a spray bottle.
Spray on dog (until saturated), let sit 15 minutes and bathe.

This works so good. Much better than tomato juice or other store bought remedies.

I also keep it on hand to treat scrapes and scratches on the animals.

Good idea!

I'm a little concerned about the use of peroxide as mouthwash/rinse. I used to do that. I learned it from someone who had braces (years ago when they were all metal and hard to clean around). I used it for quite a while without incident. Some years later, I experienced a sudden, sharp pain in one of my teeth when rinsing with peroxide. Later, I read that it can kill the nerve in the tooth if exposed. Don't know how true that is, but I stopped using it just in case. When I went for treatment of the tooth mentioned above, the Dentist did a root canal but said that the nerve was necrotic (dead). If you are going to use peroxide in your mouth, you might want to ask your dentist first.

I do use it in my ears. I also find it invaluable for removing blood. I have WHITE carpet. Once I cut the poor dogs ear with the scissors (I know) and got blood all over the carpet. Poured peroxide on it, let it bubble until the color was gone - still have white carpet. A friend of mine went dove hunting (I know), put the birds in his coat pocket, and came back with a blood soaked coat front. Again, peroxide to the rescue. Works great.

Some of those other ideas sound interesting. Think I'll give some of them a try. Thanks.

Scutler,

Thanks for your experience! I think I have 1 tooth with an exposed nerve and am glad to hear the peroxide rinse may not work for me. I will check around before trying. The idea on removing blood stains is incredible! Who'da thought?

I got a dog bite recently...not a deep puncture but rather a gash. I have used peroxide on it and it looks good.

I pre-soak hard-shelled seeds like okra in hydrogen peroxide for about a half hour before planting. Seems to speed germination.

Yuska,

GREAT TIP!!!!!! I love pickled okra the most.


This message was edited Jun 1, 2006 2:20 PM

I am 60 something, and I remember my mom putting hydrogen peroxide on scrapes and such. I guess with all I've learned on this thread, I will try it first before I use any other remedies. I'm going to print this all out and keep it handy. Thanks for all the ideas.

Diane

1 tablespoon of peroxide down your dogs throat will make him throwup anything he shouldn't have eaten. works within 5 minutes. doesn't keep dog sick, just empties his stomach. vet recommended.

I read that hyperlink up there and it's really scary!! The one posted by Angel Song. Cancer and all... but.. that is a report on 3% peroxide. I am thinking that we are supposed to be using the 20% instead... the more commonly used one. Well. I hope it's safe. I'm a hairdresser and have been using 20 AND 10%'s forever on people! And you just can't beat the 20% straight to get those windows shining like crazy!!! Fingers crossed!

For more on the "cancer threat", be sure & read the "Chronic Effects on Humans" section. "Classified A3" means carcinogenic at high doses. That basically means if you stuff a rat with nothing but 3% hydrogen peroxide, they will get cancer. I don't anticipate any of you drinking your body weight in peroxide, so I think you're safe.

20% hydrogen peroxide is stronger than 3%.
http://msds.fmc.com/msds/100000010225-MSDS_US-E.pdf

Annette, can I go to a beauty supply house, or maybe Sally's, and get some 20% peroxide? The kind they sell at Kroger is 3%... I don't think they sell 20% everywhere... thanks!

Here is a source of 35% food and technical grade hydrogen peroxide.
I think that the common drug store peroxide might have stabilizers and such in it. I don't think a little is going to kill you. LOL

http://www.dfwx.com/h2o2.html?OVRAW=hydrogen%20peroxide&OVKEY=hydrogen%20peroxide&OVMTC=standard

I can't afford that...

The bottles weren't to bad but the S&H was scary.

A few months ago Jack had a sore on his foot and I use peroxide on it. The podiatrist told me when we told him about it that peroxide and betadine are NOT good to use on wounds. They only kill the red blood cells and that slows healing. Just good old water and soap if you can stand it is the best way to clean a wound. He use to work in surgery and said it was really hard to break that habit in there as well as on the hospital floors. And even harder to get the fact accepted by the general public.

That's really good information. That's one of those old things we all just have done forever without really knowing why.

I use peroxide on wounds all the time and they do just fine. Also use it to brush my teeth once a day, and have had no new cavities for the first time ever! I think it is good for germs at the gumline especially...

Thanks for all the information, everyone,especially about the reduced efficacy over time, gardening tips, and window washing (which is one of my least favorite chores because of the streaking).

I recently learned about using it to induce vomiting when a neighbor came to me about a pup that had (apparently) eaten rat poison. I had no idea what dose to give the little guy, but he survived my treatment.

I use peroxide or betadine (now mostly betadine, since peroxide stings) to initially clean wounds, thereafter usually water, depending on the situation. Vetrinarians recommended the betadine at a very diluted rate.

On a cynical note, what doesn't cause cancer these days?

Don't know if this was brought up or not, but Peroxide is used somehow in the process of making methamphetamine.
I learned that when the News ran a spot on things that the stores were going to keep tabs on. Now you can't buy some antihistamines unless you go to the pharmacy window at certain places because they are keeping score of large amounts being bought.
Before this segment was run I bought two large bottles of Peroxide for seed starting purposes and two big bottles of meds for my husbands allergies.
After I heard this, I wondered if the clerk thought I had a lab somewhere.
Now I am afraid to buy more peroxide. LOL I have one bottle left and if I use it for all purposes listed I may run out soon.
I already cleaned my front and back storm windows with it.
Does it work on eye glasses? I hate smeary glasses.

Oh great, now we won't be able to buy peroxide?!!! I just bought a bunch at WM yesterday. Now I hear this and I'll have to go back and REALLY stock up and that means they'll REALLY look at me! Guess I'll have to be like all the druggies and buy a bottle here, bottle there, another somewhere else. What about the beauty supply shops?
Will they have to go prescription?! Maybe we should do a big co-op before it's all gone........
Sherry

lol
I was wondering if I needed to do the same thing!
What a world.

You might check out the viable shelf life before stocking up on this one.

Peroxide isn't something you should "stock up on", unless you want a lot of bottles of water around the house 10 years from now .... You can't store it like you do canned green beans and expect it to stay "peroxide" for a long time.

That is why it is in those dark bottles, but it won't last forever.
Remember those brown glass clorox bottles Mama or maybe great Grandma used to have? Probably the same concept.
I am so glad for plastic containers. I am such a clutz dropping things, I am sure I would have poisoned myself and be dead by now if everything caustic was in a breakable glass container.