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If you’ve been reading here for any length of time, you know that I love making my own cleaners and coming up with natural ways to clean just about everything. It occurred to me that I haven’t shared on the blog one of my favorite ways to disinfect the gross stuff around the house (I have some hydrogen peroxide tips in my book, The Organically Clean Home).
Hydrogen Peroxide
What is it? Its chemical compound is H2O2 – water and oxygen. It’s a colorless and odorless liquid (it looks like water) with non-toxic whitening (bleaching) properties. These same properties are also EXCELLENT at killing germs. It’s typically sold at a 3-6 percent dilution.
How can it be used? Because of its non-toxic-ness it can be used to disinfect toothbrushes, clean wounds, lighten hair, and CLEAN!
Where can it be used to clean? Bathrooms and kitchens and laundry rooms – it’s especially good for disinfecting, mold removal, and stains on white clothing.
Are there any precautions? Hydrogen Peroxide is unstable when it comes in contact with light so you need to keep it in the original brown bottle. If it comes in contact with colored clothing, carpet, towels, etc. it will bleach the fibers. It also has an acidity of 3.5 and a pH of 4.5 so DO NOT use it on stone (granite, marble, etc.) as it will etch the surface over time.
Where can I find it? Target, Wal*Mart, any pharmacy and Amazon.
How can I use it? Use straight out of the bottle if you’re pre-treating a stain (on white clothing). Mix up with a little baking soda for a cleaning paste, scrub and rinse clean. This works great for icky grout. My favorite method? Simply put a sprayer on the bottle, spray on a surface that needs disinfection, let it sit and then rinse clean. If you want to give germs the one-two punch, you can spray a surface with hydrogen peroxide and follow with white vinegar. Let it sit and rinse clean. This is a very potent combination and the two ingredients should NEVER be combined in a container, always keep them separate. (Personally, I am fine with just the hydrogen peroxide and I don’t spray one after the other.)
Spray on cutting boards – I only do this if I’ve cut up raw poultry or meat – and run through the dishwasher or hand wash.
Spray in the kitchen sink to disinfect – let it sit and rinse clean. I always spray quite a bit in the drain part to disinfect the drain and garbage disposal area.
Use it in the bathroom to disinfect toilets and sinks. Spray liberally, let it sit for 10 minutes or so and wipe clean.
If you’re using a cloth to wipe surfaces down after spraying with hydrogen peroxide, make sure that it’s white so you aren’t bleaching out any colored cloths. The Clean Mama Home white bar mops work great!
Lindsay Bezzant Says...
I read in a book once that they did a study and if you spray vinegar,followed by spraying hydrogen peroxide and let sit, it disinfects as well as bleach! Thanks for the tips! 🙂
Becky Says...
Post authorYes, that’s true! I updated the post 🙂
Maggie Fowlie Says...
But it also says you shouldn’t mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. Doesn’t spraying one and then the other on top of it mix the two? Why is this OK and mixing them in a bottle not OK?
b r Says...
Post authorMixing them in a container is a no-no but spraying the vinegar FIRST and following with the hydrogen peroxide is a great way to disinfect!
jane carter Says...
The answer to the original question is that you don’t spray one on top of the other. You spray the first, then wipe that one up. Then you spray the second, and then wipe that one up, as well. ( And you give each substance a short time to work before wiping up.)
That way, you are not spraying them together, but in sequence. Whereas, if you pour both together into a closed container, you’re making an entirely new mixture,
Judy Says...
I read somewhere about using Hydrogen peroxide mixture to spray in shoes to get rid of odors. I made a mixture and used it and it worked like a charm, But I have forgotten the combination, I also wanted to know if you could use a few drops of an essential oil like orange, lemon etc without making any negative changes
Love reading your tips
Becky Says...
Post authorSorry Judy, I’m unsure of that mixture and I wouldn’t add any essential oils to the container 🙂
Brittany Says...
Can I leave this to sit and not rinse and it still work? I’m thinking of things like light switches and door knobs and toys and such. I have 5 kids and we all have the plague and Itd be amazing if I could just spray it and leave it. We could even make “a game” out of it😂
Claudia Miller Says...
Thanks so much for your valuable suggestions for cleaning. I’m 73, and haven’t heard about some of these good ideas. I really enjoy having my little apartment clean and smelling nice! My worst problem is the kitty litter box so I change it often and mix baking soda in it.
Diane Coto Says...
I was wondering if spraying Hydrogen peroxide would work to clean a microwave. Thanks for your site; it’s very valuable to me. 🙂
Becky Says...
Post authorYes it would!
Mira Born Says...
I’ve used hydrogen peroxide in my laundry and around the house for years. Not once have I seen it bleach dark fabric, in fact I’ve used it in the washer with darks without any problems. Can you explain in which situations we should be careful around colored fabric using hydrogen peroxide (e.g. letting it sit beyond a certain amount of time)?
Grammy25 Says...
Easiest way to clean a microwave oven is to fill a 2-cup Pyrex measuring cup and microwave for 4-5 minutes. The interior of the microwave will be steamy and moist. Wipe down and perhaps wash the glass plate. Works on even the worst of microwaves although a really nasty one might require a second “steaming”. So simple and quick.
Marianne Says...
What do you put in the 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup?
Lisa Says...
I do this with white vinegar. Works like a charm.
Lindy Says...
Plain water also does the trick. I’ve added some lemon rind to the water just to add a clean smell (don’t know if it helps to sanitize though).
Beverly Jones Says...
I have several Reader’s Digest condensed books that are from 1986 + and have been apparently stored in the
garage or cellar. They look yellowed on the pages. I have read the hydrogen peroxide spray will help but I cannot
seem to find the formula again on the internet. Please help.
Becky Says...
Post authorI don’t think I would spray the peroxide on the pages.
Melissa Lamb Says...
Where did you find a spray nozzle to fit a hydrogen peroxide bottle?
Becky Says...
Post authorYou can re-use a sprayer – mine are from my shop:
https://clean-mama-home.myshopify.com/collections/spray-bottles-1
Cristina Says...
At a drugstore where I live, they have a very nice 8 oz. store brand spray bottle of hydrogen peroxide. The bottle is dark brown, protecting the hydrogen peroxide from light.
Lo Val Says...
Is it safe to use hydrogen peroxide on granite? I have a problem spots around the faucet where it has turned white probably hard water stain? Any suggestions from you or your readers will be appreciated
Jules Says...
Copy and pasted from the article above.
It also has an acidity of 11.75 so DO NOT use it on stone (granite, marble, etc.) as it will etch the surface over time.
Amber Says...
11.75 would be basic – acids would be 7 or smaller. (The smaller the number the higher the acidity.)
Jenna Says...
I’m SO glad you posted this! I’ve been trying to convert to all natural cleaning products but a lot of times I need whitening action. Now I can get rid of bleach!! Yay!
Alice Says...
I read that you can add lemon, lavender, or tea tree oil to hydrogen peroxide for cleaning. I put lemon essential oil in my hydrogen peroxide. Was that wrong?
b r Says...
Post authorI haven’t tried that but I would just be concerned about the chemical makeup of the hydrogen peroxide long term….Did it work for you?
Roz Says...
I always add lavender and lemon and it works great smell so good
Jess Says...
How much of each? 😁
Anna Says...
Where do you buy your sprayers?
b r Says...
Post authorI sell them:
https://cleanmamahome.net/collections/spray-bottles-1
Patty Says...
Traveling to hotel rooms drives me crazy, the rooms may look clean but I know they are not. I would like to take HP with me and spray. I can keep it in a plastic bag in my luggage, I hope that’s enough! Any suggestions?
Maggie Says...
I have heard of the HP/vinegar 1-2 punch before, but if you aren’t supposed to mix the two, why is it OK to spray one on top of the other? Don’t they mix at that point?
b r Says...
Post authorMixing them in a container is a no-no but spraying the vinegar FIRST and then the hydrogen peroxide is a great way to disinfect!
Debra Frysinger Says...
How do you know when to use hydrogen peroxide as opposed to rubbing alcohol? Thank you.
b r Says...
Post authorHP cannot be mixed up with another cleaner, it has to stay in the container alone. Rubbing alcohol is shelf stable and can be mixed if needed.
Laurie Wilson Says...
“Simply put a sprayer on the bottle” – where can I get such a sprayer? Thank you!
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorLaurie, you can check out this spray bottle in my shop: https://shop.cleanmama.com/products/clean-mama-s-make-your-own-cleaner-16-oz-printed-glass-spray-bottle
Pat stephens Says...
FYI – Read the article about cleaning with hydrogen peroxide. My husband is an EMT and when his Uniform comes in contact with blood on their clothing they spray undiluted Hydrogen peroxide directly onto their clothing. Surprisingly, the uniforms are black and dark blue and do not get bleached out from application of the disinfectant. Thought you would’ve interested in knowing this!
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorYes! Thanks for letting me know!
karen Says...
Hi Becky , Can I use non-chlorine bleach which is Hydrogen Peroxide and water, for disinfeting? No clue s the dilution though.
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorI would stick to HP.
Jeanna Brack Says...
Can Hydrogen peroxide be used for making disinfectant wipes… Cannot find any anywhere and we have used all we had. I have plenty of HP, and no alcohol. can I mix with water and dawn to make it. or does it need to be straight?
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorNo, I wouldn’t do that, it has to be kept in the bottle and not diluted.
Judy Woodruff Says...
Where did you get the spray top for the bottle of hydrogen peroxide?
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorI sell them in my shop!
https://shop.cleanmama.com/collections/labels-bottles
Sedika Gazey Says...
Where can I buy the individual spray nozzles instead of buying a whole spray bottle and tossing out the bottle.
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorI sell them:
https://shop.cleanmama.com/collections/labels-bottles
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