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.
Keep the Toilet Bowl White and Bright
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.
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.
Lift Blood Stains
Bloodstains are a common, but unfortunate, reality in life as a human. They’re especially frequent in a house with children, but adults can experience them at any given moment, too. For instance, remember that time you sliced your hand open trying to help out with dinner at the in-laws place on Thanksgiving in 06’? Most likely, your mother-in-law ran off to grab a bottle of hydrogen peroxide after the incident, both for your cut and the clean towel you had to use to stop the bleeding.
To remove blood stains from clothes (yes, even white ones,) pour the hydrogen peroxide directly onto the stain and let it sit for several minutes. Rinse the area and repeat as many times as necessary to completely erase the discoloration. Then, when you throw your whites in the washer, add a cup of peroxide to the wash to further whiten and brighten the affected clothing, towels, or sheets, etc.
Keep Towels Fresh and Clean
After a towel’s been used for a few days, bacteria can start to form – especially when it just sits around your bathroom and stays damp. While it may not make sense to use a new bath towel every day, you should at least rotate yours out 2-3 times per week to make sure you’re washing them as much as they need to be.
As an added bonus to keep the towels at their best, try adding a solution of ½ cup vinegar and a ½ cup peroxide to the wash next time you throw them in. Not only will it help to kill all of the germs and bacteria on the material, but it will also always deodorize to keep them smelling fresh.