This is the main thing we used hydrogen peroxide for around our house growing up. Hydrogen peroxide, while not the most pleasant thing to use, is a simple and affordable solution to some types of ear infections in both children and adults. If using on a child, mix one-part peroxide to one-part water and use an eyedropper to pull up some liquid and drop a few drops into their ears. Let it sit for 15-30 seconds before having them tilt their head to release the fluid.
Alternatively, you can use a cotton ball to soak the mixture up from the container after combining and squeeze it to release into the ear canal. If you’ve ever used hydrogen peroxide in your ears before, you know that it creates a bubbling and fizzing which both feels and sounds strange while it’s happening, but it does help to relieve the infection. Blot the outside of the ear dry with a clean tissue or towel after you’re done using the solution.
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.
Purify Your Air
This next hack can be accomplished without spending as much money as you may think and can really be a lifesaver any time of year, but especially around flu season. The air around your home is most likely full of all kinds of germs, from you, your children, your pets, and all of the coughing, sneezing, high-fiving, and everything else that goes on inside of your walls. You can find reasonably priced air humidifiers, but even more affordable, you can find oil diffusers that also act as humidifiers.
Grab an essential oil diffuser/humidifier and load it up with water but leave a little bit of room before the fill line. Then, add about 5-10 drops of hydrogen peroxide and 4-5 drops of your favorite essential oil and press start. The essential oil will help to make all of the rooms in your house smell amazing, and the hydrogen peroxide will help to kill any germs and bacteria that may be floating around.
Take a Detox/Oxygenating Bath
Adding some hydrogen peroxide to your next bath can produce all sorts of health benefits. For starters, it helps pull toxins and bacteria out of your skin, which allows the body to detox. Add a cup and a half to your next bath while the water is running. Soak for 20 minutes to half an hour. Try to use this method between 1-2 times per month, maximum.
If you’re suffering from a yeast infection or some other type of bacterial infection, it may also help to relieve your symptoms. Additionally, hydrogen peroxide baths may help to get rid of pesky parasites like lice. Whatever you’re using the soak for, be sure to rinse off completely when you’re done.
DIY Grout Cleaner
Ah, grout, the arch-nemesis of tiles. It can be a pain to deal with, and also expensive at times if you continue buying store-bought grout solutions. Never fear, though, because hydrogen peroxide is here to save the day (and your shower walls!)
To mix up this DIY bathroom cleaner, mix up two parts of baking soda with one-part hydrogen peroxide. Put the paste all over the affected areas and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Then, use an old toothbrush to scrub the grout lines until the discoloration fades away. This solution is especially helpful because not only does it help with the color, it helps to kill the bacteria and germs that are living in the grout.