I love giving readers of my blog great cleaning tips that actually work, but as a business owner, I certainly don't want to give away all of my secrets. Too bad for me, but the cat is out of the bag. I just happened to see an article about many uses for the common medicine cabinet staple, Peroxide. So I figured that i might as well share my best tips about the cleaning power of peroxide. It's inexpensive, easy to find and more than likely you already have a bottle or two sitting in your medicine chest. We all know that peroxide is the go-to product when you cut yourself, or, as my sister Kristin tells me, peroxide is also used as a hair lightener among pre-teens and teens. Can anyone say Bright Orange Hair?!!! But peroxide is also a very powerful cleaning agent on one of the most dreaded types of stains around. So here are a few of my top cleaning tips using peroxide.
-BLEACH ALTERNATIVE- Peroxide is an amazing, and less stinky, alternative to bleach. If you want your clothes whiter and brighter, just add 2 cups of peroxide to the wash cycle. It brightens and whitens your whites without all of the damaging effects of bleach. I do have one big no no when it comes to peroxide, NEVER use it on wool. You will destroy your wool sweaters, socks and even carpeting. By the way, have you ever saw those "oxygen" based cleaning products? They boast that they clean and whiten without the harmful effects of bleach. Guess what?! They formulate their products with peroxide based detergents. Save a few bucks and just pull out the bottle of peroxide that you already have at home. Who knew, right!
-SANITIZER- Peroxide, as we already know, will prevent cuts and scrapes from getting infected. So why not try it around your house. It becomes especially handy in the kitchen. Use it to sanitize your cutting boards and counters after they have been exposed to raw meat and dairy products. Just put some peroxide in a spray bottle. Spray down your counter or cutting boards and wipe clean with a cloth or paper towel. Pretty easy, don't you think?!
-DISINFECTANT- Peroxide is a great product to have on hand in other rooms of your home. As I said before, just put some peroxide in a clean spray bottle. Use it in places where germs are spread the most. For example, telephones, doorknobs, computer keyboards, light switches, dish racks, faucets, counters, etc. Peroxide will eliminate the germs. This is great especially around cold and flu season. If you have any adverse reactions to commercial cleaners and disinfectants, reach for the peroxide instead. It wont leave any residue on the item your cleaning and there is no nasty odor or fumes.
***This last tip is my number one secret and the best cleaning trick I have ever learned or heard. The credit has to go to my father, Michael Bowerman Sr. Thanks Dad!
-BLOOD STAIN REMOVAL- By most people's standards, blood and peroxide sort of go hand in hand. If you get a cut or a scrape, you reach for the peroxide to clean your wound and prevent infection. Well, I'm here to tell you that peroxide can do a whole lot more. If you have ever gotten blood on your carpet, sheets, clothes or furniture then you know how quickly the stain can set, and sometimes, never go away. Peroxide is the answer to your prayers when it comes to blood stains. On laundry, just pour a bit of peroxide on the item and dab or blot the stain with a clean towel. Continue to pour and blot until the stain is gone. If you have blood stains on your carpet, use the same method as the laundry but test the peroxide in an inconspicuous place before you move on to the stain. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER use peroxide on wool rugs. It will create an entirely different type of stain or can cause bleaching. But as for all the other types of fabric and carpeting, peroxide is the most effective blood remover I have ever seen. Don't be alarmed if you see the peroxide "bubble" when you apply it to the blood stain. It does the same thing on your cuts as it does on blood stains. Just keep blotting until it is completely gone. You can use a clean terrycloth towel dampened with water to blot the area that was treated with the peroxide. Just blot with the clean, water dampened towel a few times, and then let the spot dry. I know that these tips about peroxide work because I use them every day and I'm so glad that I could share them with you!
Comments(4)