Remove Carpet Stains

Having white carpets should be something reserved for places where children, pets, and coffee do not exist. But if you happen to have light colored carpet and any of the above things, hydrogen peroxide should be an under-the-sink staple in your house. Not only can the solution help to remove all different kinds of stains, from pet to red wine and more, but it can also help to whiten it.

Use an empty bottle and fill it with five ounces of hydrogen peroxide and one ounce of Dawn dish soap. Shake the bottle lightly to mix both liquids and spray it on the affected area of the carpet. Let the solution sit for a couple of minutes and scrub in with a clean rag. Then, spray with a water bottle that contains pure H2o and wipe again until all of the cleaning solution is gone. Repeat until you can no longer see any visible stains.

Clean Your (Or Your Pet’s) Ears

Although it may feel amazing to use a cotton swab to clean out your ears, it’s also not the best idea. Doing so can lead to pushing wax inwards and/or damaging the eardrum. And, if you can damage your own ear by cleaning them, imagine what you can do to your pets, whose ear’s anatomy you don’t truly understand. To clean your ears safely and effectively, use an eyedropper to fill it with a few drops of hydrogen peroxide, and drip it slowly into the ear canal.

Let it sit for a couple of minutes with your head tilted so it can fill up and do its job. Then, tilt your head to the other side, with the ear full of fluid over you sink. Use a cotton ball or tissue to wipe any remaining fluid from the accessible part of your ears. If you’re using the solution on a pet, you don’t need to hold their head for two minutes. Just be sure that the drops go into their ear canal, rub their ear lobes a bit to really saturate the area and go ahead and release them. They will shake their head, which is a good thing and will naturally release any build up within.

Clean Your Beauty Tools

Sure, you can spend $15 on a bottle of makeup brush cleaner, which is certainly one option – and a good one, if you’ve got the money to blow. But, a lot of the solutions you can buy in stores includes alcohol and some other less-than-desirable ingredients that you don’t want to smear all over your face.

A safer and much more affordable option is to use a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water to clean your brushes and sponges. Simply mix one-part hydrogen peroxide to one-part water in cup or another small container. Put your brushes in the solution for 10 minutes, and then swirl each one around and rinse them off in clean water from the sink.

Lift Pit Stains

If you’re human and you’ve ever owned any sort of white clothes, then you understand the struggle of dealing with stains caused by things going on with the body. Pit stains are basically unavoidable in white t-shirts, and when you’ve got kids, blood stains happen pretty regularly too, with all of the scraped knees and sports scars.

Luckily, hydrogen peroxide can help make sure that your family’s white clothes stay just that: white. You can pour the solution directly on blood stains and watch as it bubbles out the stain right before your eyes. Make sure to do it over a sink and rinse with water afterwards. The same process applies to the dreaded yellow pit stains. After you apply the solution directly to the stains, throw all of your whites in the washer with a cup of peroxide to whiten even more!

Bring Pots and Pans Back to Life

If you’re a fan of deep-frying foods, or any kind of pan frying, you’re probably all too familiar with the (seemingly) permanent brown spots that can develop after using it for some time. But the good news is, you don’t have to run out and buy a new set of pots and pans for the kitchen. You also don’t have to continue to live with stained pots that look like they’re decades old (even if they are.)

If you’re ready to liven up your kitchen, grab your trusted hydrogen peroxide and some baking soda. Pour a half an inch of the liquid into your pan, followed by ¼ cup of baking soda and turn the heat up. When it starts to bubble, remove it from the heat and let it sit and cool for about 10 minutes. Then, scrub vigorously with a scruff pad. Empty out the pan and rinse. Dry and shine with a clean cloth or dry foam sponge.

Slough Dry Skin Off Your Feet

You could spend a fortune trying to fix dry, cracked heels. You may have tried every lotion, from the drugstore variety to the more expensive types. If it seems as though nothing’s doing the trick and you’re done wasting money on stuff that doesn’t work, try this home remedy using hydrogen peroxide!

You will need about a half an hour for this solution to really work its magic, so set aside some time. Fill a large bowl or tub, large enough to put both of your feet in, with two cups warm water and two cups hydrogen peroxide. Immerse your feet in the mixture and sit for 30-35 minutes. Use a pumice stone to exfoliate your heels one at a time during the treatment. Pat your feet dry with a towel when you’re done and coat feet with thick, moisturizing lotion. Slip on a pair of socks to hold the moisture in and leave them on overnight. Remove in the morning and check out how amazingly soft your feet are!

Clean Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and veggies are hands down some of the healthiest foods for you. Unfortunately, bugs love them just as much as we do. Because of this, they’re sprayed with pesticides when they’re grown. And unfortunately, many times they don’t get rinsed enough (or properly) before they make it home with us. Some brands are more careful than others, but you should always rinse them yourself just to be on the safe side.

You can try an expensive fruit and vegetable cleaning spray, you can simply rinse them with water, which may not completely rid them of the chemicals, or – you can try this DIY solution. Combine one part of hydrogen peroxide with one part of water in a spray bottle and shake softly to combine. Spray the combination on your produce and let it sit for a couple of minutes before rinsing with water.

Add to Laundry for Whitening

Not only can you use hydrogen peroxide directly on stains to lift them right out of clothes, but you can also add it to your loads of whites to whiten and brighten the laundry. While bleach does the same job, it’s also a lot harsher to deal with.

While the washer is filling with hot water, add a cup of hydrogen peroxide. This solution will not only lift stains and brighten clothes and towels, it will also help remove odors. Doing this instead of using bleach or expensive and harsh whitening ingredients is safer on your skin and will save you money.

Clean the Tub

You can remove stains and odors from all sorts of different materials and surfaces with peroxide. Mix one-part water with one-part of the bubbly liquid in a spray bottle and shake lightly. Keep it stored under the bathroom sink for easy access.

Whenever it’s time to clean the bathroom counters, bathtub or toilet, use your homemade solution instead of reaching for an $8 bottle of chemicals. Spray the mixture on the surface, let it sit for a few moments, scrub if necessary and wipe clean with paper towels or a rag.

Keep Your Retainer Clean

Retainers are something that should be kept as clean as possible. Our mouths are full of germs, which means so is your retainer. As peroxide is amazing for dissolving odors, you can imagine how beneficial it can be as a DIY retainer cleaner. Plus, it’s non-toxic and safe to use orally, so you don’t have to worry about swallowing any harmful chemicals.

To create the solution, mix equal parts peroxide and water in a small glass and soak the retainer for 30 minutes. All of the bubbles you see are fizzing away the bacteria and odors. For a minty fresh kick, you can add a couple of drops of mint essential oil to the glass, as well. Just make sure to stir it up a bit so you don’t end up with a concentrated area of oil in your mouth!

Get Rid of Canker Sores

Canker sores can be triggered by some types of foods and are very uncomfortable to deal with. Luckily, hydrogen peroxide can help heal them in no time. The peroxide can help keep the bacteria around the canker sore to a minimum, which in turn helps promote faster recovery.

Mix equal parts water and peroxide in a small container and apply directly to the affected area. Repeat the application three times per day until the sore disappears. You can simply swish the solution around in your mouth to apply. Just be sure not to swallow any peroxide.

Teeth Whitener

Peroxide can be used to make those pearly whites, well, white again. So many different foods and drinks can cause stains on teeth; coffee, soda, tea, and juice, among others. You could waste a ridiculous amount of money to go to the dentist and have your teeth professionally whitened. Or, you could use those drugstore tooth whitening trays that leave you unable to swallow comfortably for like, an hour.

But if you’d rather avoid doing either of those things, you can make your own teeth whitener at home, using only hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Dip your toothbrush into the peroxide and cover with baking soda. Brush your teeth for at least a minute before rinsing. This method has been proven to be pretty tough on your tooth’s enamel, so don’t do it every day. Instead, aim for once or twice per week.

Nail Whitener

Just like many other surfaces, your nails can also benefit from the lightening power of hydrogen peroxide. Nails may turn yellow for a variety of reasons, including smoking, health issues, stress or beauty products. To make sure your nails stay their natural color, try this at-home solution.

Fill a small container with a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide and a teaspoon of water. Let each nail soak for 10-30 seconds on the mixture and wipe dry with a clean towel. Alternatively, you can soak a cotton ball in the mixture and let it sit on your nails for the same amount of time.

At-Home Highlights

Going to a salon for highlights can cost upwards of a couple hundred bucks. And, the at-home highlighting kits you can buy from drugstores are notorious for being terrible for your hair and producing less-than-desirable results. Read: your hair might turn orange or fall out. Instead of breaking the bank (or your hair), why not try the at-home peroxide solution? Mix one-part peroxide with one-part water in an empty spray bottle and shake to combine. You can also add a bit of lemon juice for a strong effect.

Spritz the mixture directly onto the areas you want to lighten and head out into the sun for some fun with friends or family. Better yet, camp out in the yard or at the pool, or somewhere where you can relax for an hour or two. Bring the spray bottle with you to re-spritz throughout the day. Make sure to wear your sunblock to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. If you do head to the pool, remember that the chlorine in the water can create a greenish tint in lighter hair colors. Don’t forget to rinse hair when you’re done swimming to prevent unwanted neon hair.

Glass Cleaner

Mirrors can be a very finnicky thing to clean. If you don’t do it enough, you’ll wind up with spots that make it hard to see your own reflection. If you do it too much, or if you don’t do it correctly, you’ll end up with streaks that have the same negative effect.

The solution? A trusty mixture of one-part water and one-part peroxide in a spray bottle and shake lightly. Spritz onto mirrors and use balled-up newspaper to wipe them down. Say hello to your new, favorite (and green) glass cleaner!

Destroyer of Mold

The mold destroyer may sound like a badly named villain in some educational film about housecleaning, but mold is no joke. Mold problems in the home can cause serious respiratory and other health issues.

Of course, this solution won’t do you any good if you have found black mold in your walls or something, but if you’ve got a bit on the shower curtain or somewhere else visible and easy to reach, pull out your trusty hydrogen peroxide and pour some into a spray bottle. Spray the concentrated solution directly onto the moldy area and let sit for 15 minutes. Then, scrub the mold off and wipe the area down with a rag to make sure all of the spores have been removed.

Give Your Dishwasher a Boost

Hydrogen peroxide can work wonders within the insides of your dishwasher. Adding some 3% solution to the machine before a wash cycle can oxidize and sanitize the entire area. Simply add ¼ cup of peroxide to the bottom of the machine before you close it and push start.

You can buy dishwasher cleaning fluid at the stores, but there’s a good chance it will be full of chemicals. Do you really want toxic chemicals inside of the thing your dishes that you eat food off of go into every day? This at-home solution is non-toxic, so you don’t have to worry about what you’re ingesting.

Clean Your Humidifier

Among the many amazing benefits of hydrogen peroxide is keeping your air clean. Now, you can’t just toss it around the room and hope for the best but using it in tandem with your humidifier can help ensure the air you’re breathing is clear.

Add a few drops of the solution to the water tank to help keep bacteria at bay. Make sure that you’re using the three percent peroxide. This method will work best if you’re using filtered water in your humidifier. Brita’s reusable filters make it easy to keep it refilled without spending a ton of money.

Keep Bugs Away

No one in their right mind enjoys bugs biting them, or destroying the crops in their garden, or transferring disease. But with the crazy number of mosquitoes around the world, it seems almost impossible to get away from it all. Bug sprays from the store are full of chemicals and make your skin smell absolutely terrible. Sure, they might keep the bugs away, but they’ll also keep your significant other away.

To avoid being bit and smelling like something no one can pronounce, try this DIY peroxide pesticide. Mix one-part peroxide to one-part water in a small spray bottle and spray directly on skin to deter bugs. Hydrogen peroxide can actually kill insect eggs and larvae of some kinds, as well.

Clear Up Your Skin

Acne is caused by having a buildup of sebum (oil) on your skin. There is an array of expensive products out there, but if you’ve struggled with acne for a while, you know they don’t always work. Next time you get a breakout, grab an extra bottle of hydrogen peroxide and some cotton balls and head to the bathroom.

First, wash your face with your regular cleanser and pat dry with a washcloth. Dip one of your cotton balls in the peroxide and dab it all over the affected areas of your face. Be sure not to use the solution for any longer than five minutes, as overdoing it can cause your skin to dry out too much.

Rust Buster

Much like many other impure elements, rust is something else that can be dissolved by the miraculous powers of hydrogen peroxide. To remove rust from small metal objects like nuts and bolts, simply fill up a tub with the bubbly liquid. Pop the bolts into the tub and let them sit for 30 minutes.

When the half an hour is up, use a copper cloth or something equally as rough and scrub the metal until you no longer see any rust. For larger pieces, you can try pouring the peroxide over them, if they’re positioned in such a way it won’t just roll right off of it, and then follow the same scrubbing instructions.

Kill Bad Breath

Rinsing out your mouth with a hydrogen peroxide solution a couple of times per week can help keep it free from the bacteria that cause bad breath. Keep a small plastic cup in your bathroom and mix one-part water with one-part peroxide. Swish and gargle the mixture for a minute, spit and rinse with water.

Doing this will actually have multiple benefits – both visible and invisible. Not only will swishing with the peroxide help kill bad breath causing germs, but it will also keep your teeth nice and white! Don’t do this anymore than 2-3 times per week, however, since you do need the good bacteria, and you don’t want to be too tough on your teeth.

Relieve Tooth Pain

Even though overusing hydrogen peroxide on your teeth can cause some sensitivity, using it occasionally will do wonders for the inside of your mouth. Not only will swishing with the peroxide help to whiten your teeth and freshen your breath, but it can also alleviate tooth pain, depending on the cause.

If your toothache is the result of an infection, hydrogen peroxide can help to remedy the issue. Simply mix equal parts peroxide and water and swish throughout the mouth for 3-5 minutes, concentrating on the part of your mouth that hurts. The solution should help to get rid of some of the bacteria that are causing you discomfort. Taking a Tylenol won’t hurt, either.

Kill Underarm Odors

Most deodorants on the market today contain aluminum, which may deter you from wanting to smear it into your skin. And, there are some natural deodorants on the market that actually work, but they can be pretty expensive. So, the next logical step is to create a natural deodorant of your own. You can do this using hydrogen peroxide and baking soda.

Add one-part water to two-parts hydrogen peroxide in a small spray bottle and shake lightly to combine. Spritz the solution onto your underarm area and dab a bit of baking soda on afterwards. This will work to prevent odors, but it does not work as an antiperspirant, which means you may still sweat, it just won’t smell as bad.

Keep Your Sponges Clean

Kitchen sponges do one hefty job keeping all of the dishes that we eat, drink and cook out of clean. But what about keeping them clean? You don’t want to let bacteria build up on your sponge, which in turn can end up back on those dishes and make you sick. Sure, you can always spray them with bleach and let them soak for a while before rinsing. However, if you prefer something a little less harsh, why not use hydrogen peroxide?

Keep some straight hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and spray it directly onto the sponge, on both sides. Let it sit and soak for 15-20 minutes and rinse completely, squeezing out any excess bubbles. You can also simply pour it on your sponge, but you may end up using more than necessary if you choose to do it this way. To save money, use the spray bottle.

Disinfect the Kids’ Toys

When you’ve got a little one, everything in the house (within reach of baby arms, of course) is in danger of being ingested. That means that everything they touch is basically just one giant germ factory. And the last thing you want to do is use harmful cleaning agents on anything your baby touches.

But you can keep their toys clean and disinfected without risking them touching (or eating) any sort of chemical. Mix one-part water to one-part hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and spritz toys at the end of each day (or as much as you can possibly remember) to keep them germ free.

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.

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 the 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.

Lift Blood Stains

Blood stains 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, it will 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.

Kill an Ear Infection

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.

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 a 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 solution. 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.

Kill Fungus

It shouldn’t come as any surprise after reading all about how hydrogen peroxide kills bad germs and bacteria, that it can also work to get rid of nail fungus. Fungus under your toenails can be embarrassing, especially during the warmer months when you want to wear open-toed shoes. Luckily, hydrogen peroxide works like a charm in this case.

Fill up an old bucket or Tupperware with a mixture of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water (one-part to one-part works well.) Soak your feet in the liquid for 30 minutes, rinse in the bathtub and pat dry. A lot of the advice you’ll see floating around may tell you to use 35% hydrogen peroxide, but don’t. It will be much too concentrated and can lead to adverse reactions.

Sanitize Kitchenware

Dishes can be a tricky thing to keep clean. You use them every day to put your food on and ingest the things that come off of them. You use your cutting boards to chop meat, and then vegetables later on. Without keeping everything sanitized, you’re risking getting sick from cross contamination. You can spray your cutting board and knives with a bleach spray and then wash them with regular dish soap, but that can be pretty harsh.

If you prefer a more natural (and affordable) alternative, you guessed it; it’s time to grab the hydrogen peroxide. Mix one-part peroxide to one-part water in a spray bottle and use it to spray down kitchenware before you wash it regularly. Let the solution sink in for a few moments before washing off. Then, use your dish soap and sponge and rinse with clean water.

Brighten White Curtains

White curtains look absolutely stunning – as long as they stay white, that is. After a while, they may start to turn a bit off color, and the last thing you want is to have formerly white, yellow curtains gracing your living room when guests are over. But don’t fret, because there’s an easy solution to this problem.

Toss the curtains in the wash with a cup of hydrogen peroxide for whitening all over. Alternatively, you can also grab your spray bottle full of equal parts water and peroxide and spritz down the curtains if there are just some spots you’d like to whiten.

Keep Shower Curtains Clean

Hydrogen peroxide is good for all types of curtains, including the one you have hanging in your shower. The bottom of a plastic shower curtain can start to get discolored, or moldy after a certain amount of time. Since you’ve probably got a bottle of peroxide under your sink anyways, here’s another trick for using it in the bathroom.

Keep a spray bottle full of hydrogen peroxide mixed with water (equal parts) next to your shower, or somewhere else that’s convenient. After every shower, spritz the inside of your shower curtain and the walls to kill and prevent bacteria growth and mold. You don’t even need to rinse, since the steam next time you hop in will handle all of that. Plus, the longer the solution is left to sit, the better.

Kill and Prevent Germs on Grocery Bags

Using reusable shopping bags is a great way to do your part to protect the environment. But after you use your bags for a little while, they may start to stink. Or, something may come open during transport and you’ll need clean the bags and make sure they’re good to go for future use.

You can clean the bags in a couple of different ways, depending on how dirty they are and/or how much time you’re willing to spend on them. You can use your one-part water to one-part peroxide spray bottle and spot clean the inside of the bags by spritzing and using a clean rag to wipe clean. Or, you can soak your bags in the bathtub for about 15 minutes or in the same solution, rinse them clean in cool water and hang them up to dry.

Keep Your Fridge Bacteria-Free

Your refrigerator probably isn’t something that you clean all of the time, but you should at least clean it out once every couple of weeks. After all, your family’s food all comes from inside of the kitchen staple, so you want to make sure you’re keeping it free of harmful germs that may make them sick.

Hydrogen peroxide makes an excellent refrigerator cleaning solution, thanks to its superb disinfecting skills and mild makeup. A bleach spray is a great way to kill germs, but it can also cause issues in itself if it gets on something that’s then eaten. Instead, use hydrogen peroxide and water to spray the shelves and crevices, and use a clean rag to wipe and scrub everything clean.

Soften Corns and/or Calluses

Corns on the feet can be extremely uncomfortable and irritating. If you have them, you’ve probably tried all of the store-bought stuff that you can find. Instead of spending all kinds of money every month on expensive creams, try this at home solution next time your corns start to bother you.

Create a foot soak with one-part water to one-part three percent peroxide in a large Tupperware or some type of tub you can fit both of your feet in. Soak feet for 20-30 minutes, which can also be measured as one whole episode of a comedy on Netflix. Repeat this process every night for as long as it takes to feel relief.