Hydrogen Peroxide: When To Use It and When To Skip It

Remember the days when a tumble off your bike inevitably led to a cotton ball dipped in hydrogen peroxide? If you’ve never been subjected to the sting, consider yourself lucky. And rest assured that healthcare experts no longer recommend using hydrogen peroxide for cuts and scrapes.

But it still has a lot of other uses around your home.

We asked family medicine physician Sarah Pickering Beers, MD, to explain how to use hydrogen peroxide safely — and when to leave it on the shelf.

What is hydrogen peroxide?

Hydrogen peroxide is water with an extra oxygen molecule (H2O2 instead of H2O). That extra boost of oxygen gives it serious cleaning and germ-killing power.

“The extra oxygen molecule kills bacteria,” Dr. Pickering Beers says. “It’s also what removes color from porous surfaces like fabric.” (In other words, it bleaches them.)

Is hydrogen peroxide safe?

Yes — but with limits. Hydrogen peroxide can be helpful for disinfecting and stain removal.

But don’t use it directly on your skin.

“Hydrogen peroxide has fallen out of favor as a wound cleanser,” Dr. Pickering Beers says. “It irritates the skin and can prevent the wound from healing. Essentially, it can do more harm than good.”

Instead, wash minor wounds with soap and water, pat dry and apply antibiotic ointment and a bandage.

It’s a similar story with acne. In the past, hydrogen peroxide may have been a suggested remedy for pimples, but it’s no longer recommended.

“It’s too irritating for skin and doesn’t stay active long enough to help with acne,” she explains. Opt for acne-fighters like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide instead. They penetrate your skin and fight acne-causing bacteria longer — and are gentler on your skin.

What is hydrogen peroxide used for?

Hydrogen peroxide can be used all over your home — from the bathroom to the fridge — as long as you use it safely.

Follow these precautions:

• Keep it out of reach of kids and pets. Hydrogen peroxide can be harmful if swallowed or spilled on skin in large amounts.
• Use gloves and ventilate the space. Peroxide can irritate your skin and eyes. And breathing it in can be harmful.
• If it stops bubbling when you use it, it’s expired. Pour it down the drain and replace it.
• Keep it in its original container or a dark spray bottle. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down over time, especially when exposed to light.
• Stick with 3% medical-grade peroxide. Stronger concentrations, like 35% food-grade peroxide, aren’t safe for home use. “Food-grade peroxide can be toxic if you inhale it or get it on your skin,” Dr. Pickering Beers warns.

With those ground rules covered, let’s clean up.

Cleaning and disinfecting

Hydrogen peroxide kills germs. Use a 50/50 mix of water and peroxide in a spray bottle to disinfect shared objects and surfaces, like:

• Counters
• Cutting boards
• Doorknobs
• Mirrors
• Garbage cans
• Refrigerators
• Sinks and bathtubs
• Toilets
• Toys

Spray, let sit for five minutes and rinse surfaces that touch food.

Washing produce

Want a cheap, chemical-free way to clean fruits and veggies?

Add 1/4 cup of peroxide to a large bowl or sink full of water. Soak your fruits and veggies, rinse them well and allow them to dry.

This method helps remove germs and pesticides — and may even help your produce last longer.

Removing household stains

Hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleach. It works great on white or off-white surfaces — but test a small area first. Like bleach, it can remove color, so avoid using it on colored fabrics.

Try it on:

• Carpet stains: Spray on white carpet and blot gently.
• Clothing stains: Soak white clothes in a mix of water and 1 cup of peroxide for 30 minutes. Or add peroxide to your washer’s bleach compartment.
• Grout: Spray on white tile grout, let it sit, then scrub.
• Cookware: Sprinkle baking soda on ceramic pots and pans, spray with peroxide, let sit 10 minutes and rinse.

Cleaning beauty tools

Hydrogen peroxide isn’t a skin care product, but you can use it to sanitize tools, like your:

• Nail clippers
• Tweezers
• Eyelash curlers

Nails

Noticing yellow or discolored fingernails? Or did opting for midnight blue during your last mani-pedi leave your nails stained?

Soaking your nails in warm water and 3 tablespoons of peroxide for three minutes can brighten them up.

This method works best on natural nails. Don’t use it if you have cuts or broken skin around your cuticles, and stop if you notice irritation.

Teeth

Hydrogen peroxide is found in many over-the-counter teeth-whitening products. It can help lift stains, but use it with care.

“Talk to your dentist before trying whitening products,” advises Dr. Pickering Beers. “They can make your teeth more sensitive.”

You can also try gargling with diluted peroxide to kill everyday germs in your mouth. Or choose mouthwash that already contains peroxide (and probably tastes better). Just be sure not to swallow it.

You can also try using hydrogen peroxide to clean your toothbrush. Dip it in peroxide for five minutes to kill germs and rinse thoroughly with water. If you choose this method, be sure to change out the peroxide daily — and always replace your toothbrush at least every three to four months.

Bottom line

Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful cleaning solution — but it’s not for your body. So, if you haven’t already, it’s time to move your brown bottle of bubbly stuff from the medicine cabinet and find it a new home with the cleaning supplies.