Most people dismiss hydrogen peroxide as an ineffective antiseptic, but there are many reasons to keep a supply of this simple chemical not only in the medicine cabinet but also in the laundry, cleaning closet and garden shed.
Hydrogen peroxide is H2O2—two hydrogen atoms with two oxygen. This compound wants to revert to the more stable H2O water molecules and O2 oxygen. The release of pure oxygen is what makes hydrogen peroxide so valuable—and so dangerous. Oxygen is critical for life, but only in diluted form (the air we breathe is only about 20% oxygen). In high concentrations pure oxygen is flammable, highly reactive and mildly toxic. High concentration of hydrogen peroxide can rapidly release concentrated pure oxygen in an extremely hot reaction (often used for rocket propellent). High concentrations of the liquid form can also chemically burn skin and other tissues. For these and other reasons H2O2 is typically only sold diluted in water—typically 3% but sometimes as high as 35% (which is still very dangerous). All the following recommendations refer to the 3% solution.
Hydrogen peroxide does work as an antiseptic. It’s ionic charge breaks open bacteria cell’s thin membranes and reacts with the catalase enzyme inside. This enzyme is prevalent in our cells too, and those with thin membranes (like in the blood and under the skin) are also susceptible to hydrogen peroxide’s oxidative damage. Hydrogen peroxide can be used to clean wounds, but it harms the cells used to repair as it kills the bacteria. Dr. Mercola recommends mild soap (not anti-bacterial) and warm water to clean wounds. I recommend pure tea tree essential oil as the antiseptic in your medicine cabinet. If you do use H2O2 for treating skin don’t continue to apply or wash the affected area with it—the fizzing action will dissolve clotted blood and impedes the bodies healing cells at the damage site.
Before you banish hydrogen peroxide from the medicine cabinet consider these other uses: Some use it to clean out earwax, spray on feet for fungus, gargle on a sore throat, kill odor-causing bacteria and generally disinfectant. For a mouthwash and oral irrigator use a 1.5% solution (dilute 3% with equal parts water). It’s fizzing kills bacteria and helps whiten teeth. You can tell when if your solution is too strong by how much it fizzes and tingles and it leaves your mouth just a little numb afterwards.
One of the most potent natural surface disinfectants is to put a spray bottle top one of the brown bottles of 3% solution and keep it next to a spray bottle of pure white vinegar (don’t mix the two). Spray vinegar on a surface and then follow it with a spray of H2O2. The resulting chemical reaction is considered as effective against bacteria, mold and viruses as bleach—yet is much more mild on humans. In fact you can almost replace your bleach with hydrogen peroxide. A cup of H2O2 in a load of whites help brighten them considerably.
Hydrogen peroxide can also be used as a fruits and vegetable wash. Wild watercress from questionable streams and any fresh berries or melons at risk for salmonella can be disinfected by soaking in water with a splash of hydrogen peroxide.
These are just a few of the many useful applications of a mild dose of oxygen. Some use it with plants, such as adding a capful to the watering can to help seeds sprout, and keep root fungus from growing (a common source of seedling failure). Anecdotal stories say you can even rejuvenate yellowing plants by spraying it on the leaves as an exfoliar mist.
Because the diluted form is mostly water, 3% hydrogen peroxide is very cheap: A liter typically sells for less than $2 at drugstores, supermarkets and at big retailers like Walmart. Light degrades its effectiveness, so it should always be stored in opaque bottles in a cool place. Official shelf life is only 1 to 3 year unopened and only a few months if opened, but I find even ten year old bottles still have plenty of life left in them. A simple test is to splash some in the sink and see if it fizzes. If it is truly degraded only water will be left. I have yet to find a bottle no matter how old (even opened) that acts like water. This is good, because it takes laboratory level work to manufacture it yourself. I suggest stockpiling a dozen bottles of 3% and one bottle of higher concentration 35% (often sold as “food grade”) to make another 10 to 15 bottles as needed.
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