Self-Reliance Tip of the Week - Powerful Peroxide

It was a dark and stormy night....(ok, maybe not stormy, but it was night time), I was doing my thing as a young teen downstairs in my family's home. Then I heard a "THUD THUD.... (door slam)"

"Marsha! Call an ambulance!" I heard my mother call with some panic in her voice.

"What the?" thought I.

"Oh, I don't need an ambulance! We'll drive there faster than they could send someone." my dad said. "Lets go."

When I got upstairs my dad's ankle was bleeding. Apparently the chain had broken off the chainsaw he was using to cut wood for the wood burning stove. It whipped around like a viper and bit him on the leg smack dab on that ankle bone. So they went to the hospital and several hours he came back with some stitches. He spent some time several times a day pouring peroxide on his wound to prevent infection.  It would fizz and bubble as it did its job. It was nearly magical...in a unique way.

The point of me telling you this story is not to share my family drama (which is much less than you'd find on General Hospital and the like - though I'd rather clean my toe lint than watch them - just me). Before I knew about using honey for skin injuries, I would have used peroxide. Even though peroxide does a GREAT job killing germs, it is really harsh on skin, especially if it is damaged. But, it does have many amazing uses. Honey isn't the best thing to actually clean with...it makes things rather...sticky. 

Amazing Uses for Peroxide 

Because peroxide is so awesome for killing germs, it has several applications:

Clean Your Wooden Cutting Board. An improperly cleaned cutting board is a breeding ground for bacteria. Clean it thoroughly, without harsh chemicals, with hydrogen peroxide and vinegar.
Make Sure Your Veggies are Safe. Nobody wants bacteria-filled vegetables. Place 3% hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle and mist over your produce, letting it soak for about five minutes before rinsing off and drying.

Clean Sponges. Just can’t seem to get that funky smell out of your sponges? Combine equal parts hydrogen peroxide and warm water in a shallow bowl, and let the sponge soak for about 15 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.

Use as a Mouthwash. Dilute in water (the mixture should be about half water-half hydrogen peroxide) and use as a mouthwash, being very careful not to swallow any of the stuff. It’ll kill germs & whiten your teeth. Some experts even think it helps alleviate toothaches and canker sores!

Clean up Mold. Hydrogen peroxide works wonders on pesky mold — even the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agrees!

It also has great cleaning capabilities:

Disinfect Countertops. Hydrogen peroxide is great for keeping your countertops clean and safe. Spray onto counters, let it sit, and wipe clean.

Clean Toilet Bowls. Easy: just pour the stuff into the bowl and let it soak for about 20-30 minutes before scrubbing clean.

Clean Out the Fridge. Non-toxic hydrogen peroxide is an ideal cleaning tool for your fridge. Apply, let it soak, and wipe clean. You can also do this with dishwashers.

Armpits. Sweaty? Get rid of embarrassing armpit stains by placing a mixture of 1 part dishwashing liquid and 2 parts hydrogen peroxide on the affected area. Let it sit for about an hour before rinsing away in cold water.

Blood. Hydrogen peroxide is a bleach, so it’ll help get rid of pesky blood stains. Pour it directly onto the stain and let it sit for about five minutes. Blot and rinse in cold water. You may need to repeat this once or twice to fully lift the stain. Word of warning: as a (albeit mild) bleach, it can also whiten your clothes — use caution!

Stained Tiles & Stone Countertops. No matter what the culprit was, hydrogen peroxide works wonders on removing stains from stone and tile. Combine it with flour to create a thick paste and apply to the stain. Let it sit overnight covered in plastic wrap. Carefully remove in the morning.

I got these ideas from : http://www.care2.com/greenliving/15-surprising-uses-for-hydrogen-peroxide.html#ixzz3NVxBTHJP

Keep in mind with peroxide that if it can come into direct contact with skin without being rinsed, it can burn. To share this example, my friend couldn't understand why her little guy had a burn/rash on his hiney. When speaking to her friend who had watched him the day before, her friend was complaining her kids had the same thing. They finally realized that when the toilet seats are sprayed with peroxide for "disinfecting" , they must also be rinsed to remove the peroxide and prevent "bum burn". :)

Peroxide has many wonderful uses. It is a good idea to have several bottles in your storage. Peroxide is an inexpensive cleaning agent that doesn't have strong smells that can irritate lungs and cause headaches. In a pinch, if you have to disinfect a wound, it still does a good job. So, go on. Gotta getcha some.