Disinfecting With Hydrogen Peroxide‏.
‏Hydrogen peroxide is perhaps one of the most well-known cleaning agents in the world.
It’s intense strength, its distinctive smell, and its amazing cleaning and cleansing properties
are second to none. ‏
‏However, with great power comes great responsibility, and hydrogen peroxide needs to be used properly,
and safely, to prevent injury to you, or your property.
Continue watching to learn how to clean, disinfect and sanitize with hydrogen peroxide in a safe
yet effective way. We’ll also explain where in your home to use the disinfectant and where
to take caution.
‏What is Hydrogen Peroxide?‏
‏Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound consisting of peroxide and an oxidizing agent.
It has the formula H202 which means it only contains one extra oxygen molecule than water.
However, this extra oxygen molecule creates a strong and powerful oxidizer that’s capable
of killing bacteria and viruses.
‏Hydrogen peroxide breaks down fairly easily when it comes into contact with air or water
and is sold in various strengths depending on its purpose, with the most common being
a 3% solution for household use.
‏Why Clean and Disinfect with Hydrogen Peroxide‏.
‏Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful chemical that has disinfectant, antiviral and antibacterial
properties. It has the strength to kill all bacteria,
including staph, and viruses such as the H1N1 virus, SARS, and coronavirus.
It also kills mold and mildew. It’s more effective than chlorine bleach at reaching
and killing mold on porous surfaces. It serves as a brilliant multi-purpose disinfecting
cleaner that can be used all around the home to clean on multiple surfaces and materials.
It’s one of the safest and most natural cleaning products and is free from dangerous,
toxic chemicals. This means it won’t damage the environment or pollute the air and carries
no risk of causing cancer. It’s also extremely affordable and serves
as a superb budget cleaning solution.
‏How to Make Disinfectant with Hydrogen Peroxide‏.
‏When disinfecting with hydrogen peroxide, we recommend using a 3% hydrogen peroxide
solution. This is the solution usually found in stores. Be careful not to use a stronger
solution as this could potentially damage some surfaces.
‏To create a hydrogen peroxide disinfectant spray, you can pour the 3% solution in a spray
bottle and use it as it is, or you can dilute it to a 0.5% concentration, which will still
be effective enough to clean with. To dilute, use a mixture of 2.5 parts of water and 0.5
parts of 3% hydrogen peroxide. ‏
Where in Your Home Can You Disinfect with Hydrogen Peroxide?‏
‏There are so many places in the home that are suitable for disinfecting with hydrogen
peroxide such as:‏
Countertops‏. ‏Floors‏.
Walls‏. Mirrors and windows‏.
Sinks and toilets‏. Showers and bathtubs‏.
Doorknobs‏. Appliances such as ovens‏.
Cutting boards‏. Trash Cans‏.
‏How to Disinfect Your Home with Hydrogen Peroxide‏.[sPause ePause]
‏Using on countertops.
‏
It’s important to note that hydrogen peroxide does require a little time to kill germs and
is not instant. After spraying surfaces, allow the solution to bubble on the surface for
5 or so minutes until it starts to air dry, then wipe off with a cloth.
‏If using hydrogen peroxide disinfectant spray on marble or granite countertops, note
it can break down the finish or cause discoloring. This is because it is slightly acidic. It’s
fine to use the solution on these surfaces now and again but, if used continuously, you
might start to see some damage.
‏Using on floors.
‏If you want to clean and disinfecting floors with hydrogen peroxide, you should mix equal
parts hydrogen peroxide and water in a bucket. Because hydrogen peroxide does have some bleaching
qualities, we advise testing the solution on colored and wood floors before using it.
‏You can also use hydrogen peroxide to eliminate mold from your home. Simply apply full-strength
hydrogen peroxide with a rag or a spray bottle to the infected area and let it sit for 30
minutes before cleaning.
Disinfect Countertops.
‏What Else Can You Disinfectant with Hydrogen Peroxide?
‏As well as disinfecting surfaces, you can create a disinfecting soak of 3% hydrogen
peroxide that will thoroughly sterilize multiple household items.
‏Here is a list of household items that hydrogen peroxide will effectively disinfect:
Earrings. Tweezers.
Toothbrushes. Thermometers (only the tips of digital ones).
Children’s toys. Toilet brushes.
‏To disinfect your household items:
Simply fill a cup or bucket with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution.
Leave your items to soak for 10 to 20 minutes. Allow to air dry completely then use it as
normal.
‏Using Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfectant on Clothes.
‏
Unknown to many, hydrogen peroxide makes the perfect stain remover for fabrics and can
brighten your white clothes too, making them look fresh and new.
To remove stains from clothes, rugs, or other fabrics, pour or spray a small amount of 3%
solution onto the stain. Allow it to soak into the fabric for about ten minutes before
washing the garment as usual. To brighten your white clothes, add one cup
of hydrogen peroxide to your laundry before washing.
‏Caution: Before you start spraying the solution on colored fabrics, remember to test
an area first to ensure it will not bleach. To test, just dip a cotton swab in the hydrogen
peroxide and rub it on the fabric. If the fabrics color transfers to the swab, don’t
use it. ‏Does Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfect Cuts and
Wounds?
‏Since the 1920s, hydrogen peroxide has been used as an antiseptic to clean small
wounds. It kills bacteria cells by destroying their cell walls, and its bubbling action
helps to remove debris that may be stuck in the wounded area.
‏However, some say that this is a hydrogen peroxide disinfectant myth. Many physicians
and dermatologists advise not to use the product to clean wounds. This is because the fizzling
action not only kills bacteria but healthy skin cells too. This can slow down the healing
process and possibly worsen scarring. Therefore, some experts believe disinfecting wounds with
hydrogen peroxide can do more harm than good.
‏Whether you choose to use hydrogen peroxide disinfectant on your wounds or not, it should
only be used once to disinfect fresh cuts or wounds. It’s also best to use it only
on small wounds such as scrapes or abrasions and not on large open wounds or deep cuts.
‏ Is Hydrogen Peroxide Safe to Use Around Children
and Pets?
‏Hydrogen peroxide is a safe cleaner to use around kids as well as anyone with respiratory
problems because it’s not a lung irritant. Additionally, it’s safe to use around pets
as it breaks down quickly, leaving behind only water and oxygen.
‏With that being said, when cleaning floors and surfaces, you should keep kids and pets
out of the room until they dry. For extra precaution, you can rinse the floors with
water after disinfecting with hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, ensure you store the solution away
from where kids and pets could access.
‏As you can see, hydrogen peroxide disinfectant cleaner doesn’t just provide a safe and
affordable way to clean your home, but it can serve many other purposes too. Furthermore,
disinfecting with hydrogen peroxide will powerfully kill all germs, bacteria, and viruses in the
home. This natural, versatile disinfectant is a staple cleaning product to have in your
cupboard at all times.