Most toilet bowl cleaners that you can buy from a store include bleach and wind up making your bathroom smell like a public pool for hours. If you’re like those of us who prefer more natural alternatives, this may be something you want to look into.
Pour a half cup of hydrogen peroxide into the toilet bowl, down the sides if possible. Let the solution soak for at least 30 minutes to an hour. Then, use a toilet brush to scrub the inside of the toilet free of any discoloration and germs. Flush, sit back and admire the amazing whitening effects of peroxide and say “hello” to your sparkly clean throne. If you do prefer to have some type of fresh scent in your toilet bowl cleaner, you can add a few drops of lemon juice or peppermint oil the bowl when you add the peroxide as well.
Keep Lunch Pails Free of Germs
Keeping with the theme of kids being walking germ magnets, something else to think about is the lunchbox you send them to school with every day. They’re reaching in with their hands, which have been all over school doorknobs, bathroom stalls and God knows what else, to pull out their food which they’re them eating. Plus, if they trade food or anything, there will be more than one set of dirty little hands in there.
To make sure your kids' lunchboxes don’t turn into bacteria breeding facilities, keep them disinfected with a simple peroxide and water solution! Use the trusty spritz, soak, rinse, and dry method when they bring them home at night. That way, you can rest easy knowing you’re doing everything possible to keep the flu out of the house!
Clean Cuts and Small Wounds
This is most likely the main thing you associate with hydrogen peroxide being used for. After all, it was all too common for moms to keep it under the sink for busted knees and chins when you were growing up, playing hide and go seek around the neighborhood. And now, you should keep it for not only that reason but all of the other amazing ones listed on this list.
Hydrogen peroxide is good for so many things, but it’s still true that it does the job when it comes to cleaning out wounds. Put some in an eyedropper and put it directly onto the wound (or pour it, just don’t let the bottle touch the skin,) let it bubble for a few moments and then pat it dry and add some Neosporin and a Band-Aid, if needed. If you’re dealing with a deep wound that won’t stop bleeding, you should most likely head to the hospital to get checked out for stitches before trying anything at home.
Encourage Healthy Plant Growth
Keeping plants alive and well takes some seriously commitment. Well, unless you specifically opt for a low-maintenance houseplant, which still takes commitment, just not as much. In any case, plants can benefit from oxygen within three percent hydrogen peroxide.
To keep your plants looking and feeling well, mix one teaspoon per one cup of water in a spray bottle. Mist the plants, both leaves, and roots, if they look like they could use a boost of nutrients and energy. Be careful not to overdo this, as it could result in some adverse effects.
Kill Odor in Shoes
In every man or woman’s life, there comes a time when he or she must say goodbye to a favorite pair of shoes. Why? Oh, perhaps you’ve worn them so much there are actual holes in the soles, in which case that goodbye is final. Or, maybe you’ve worn them so much the odor coming from within is enough to take out a room full of people. Luckily, there are ways to freshen up those shoes so you can continue wearing them.
Spray hydrogen peroxide directly from a bottle all over the inside of your shoe to kill the bacteria. Add a coating of baking soda over the entire insole, and, if it’s really bad, a couple of spritzes of peppermint or lavender oil. Let sit in a cool and dry area overnight. In the morning, turn the shoes over and dump them out over a trash can. Use a paper towel to wipe out the inside and soak up any remaining moisture. Repeat as often as necessary to keep the smell at bay.