I spent the better part of the weekend testing the validity of the wonders of hydrogen peroxide.
We already know that it's great for cleaning wounds, and whitening teeth. I learned when my now 18 year old middle child was just a toddler that it's an excellent way to soften and remove ear wax. Following a major surgery last year I learned that it was the recommended safest way to clean the compression garment I was required to wear.
More recently when trolling social networking sites I came across a post that touted forty some-odd ways hydrogen peroxide could be used around the house. I didn't test all forty, just the ones that could possibly solve issues I have going on...
Whitening Whites: I have a slew of white button down tops in my closet that get absolutely no wear because they're no longer that crisp bright white that we all love so much against our favorite denims.
I filled a large container with just enough water to cover the shirt, added a teaspoon of Dawn dish liquid (it's what I had on-hand, but also what the post called for), then added roughly 1/4 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide.
Swished it around a little and let is soak for about 45 minutes, then rinsed. Low and behold the bright white state was restored! I was so impressed with the results that I soaked every white shirt hanging in my closet one by one using the very same solution I initially mixed.
Stain Removal: The post stated that peroxide is the main ingredient in the high priced oxygen based cleaners (which I've used before with unremarkable results). There are a couple of stains on my sofa courtesy of my littlest one that I'd been yet unsuccessful in resolving. Tempera paint on one cushion, hyper-cement of the other, both more than a year old.
For this test I removed the microfiber slip covers and place a towel inside underneath the stain. I squirted a little bit of Dawn dish liquid directly onto the stains and worked it in with an old toothbrush. I then saturated the stains with the peroxide. After a few minutes I sprinkled a little baking soda and created a paste. I worked the paste in with the tooth brush adding more peroxide as necessary. I let is sit for roughly 20 minutes, then I threw the slip covers into the washer and ran a short cycle with water only. Tumbled dry on the "air" setting.
Results: Tempera paint, gone! Hyper-cement still slightly visible, but definitely lessened.
Plant Maintenance: It was said that mixing the peroxide in when watering your plants was good for the plants root systems. I have a few bamboo plants and one very large aloe vera plant. For some reason the leaves on one of the bamboo keeps turning yellow, and my aloe vera plant has been "droopy" lately.
These plants are the test subjects for this experiment. I'll have to do a follow up post for the results.
I also attempted to clean a scorched pan, and the grease splattered wall behind my stove with the paste mixture. Let me tell you... the pan hasn't looked as good in a really, really long time, and the wall is free of all traces of grease splatter.
Hydrogen peroxide may just be the best household "wonder" item since apple cider vinegar! I invite you to further investigate household uses for hydrogen peroxide and share your stories. Til next time...
