Hydrogen peroxide is a colour less liquid that looks like water and is usually used in cleaning or disinfecting. If you have it in your home, you probably use it to clean minor wounds or to clean your kitchen counters.
For the longest time, I considered it to be a milder form of bleach and equated it with other household cleaners. I was pleasantly surprised when I incorporated it into my beauty routine, so I always keep a bottle in my bathroom. Let’s look at some of its amazing uses.
1. Get rid of bad breath
Hydrogen peroxide is an effective mouth wash as it kills the unhealthy organisms that cause bad breath. Use it once a week or when needed. Mix one part water to one part hydrogen peroxide and swish around your mouth for 30 seconds. Don’t overuse it as it could also get rid of the good bacteria in your mouth.
2. Whiten your teeth
Hydrogen peroxide acts as a bleaching agent therefore regular use will lead to whiter teeth. Mix a little bicarbonate of soda with the hydrogen peroxide and brush as you normally would. The mixture tastes a little strange, but leaves your teeth squeaky clean. Use this mixture once a week until you achieve the results you want. Rinse your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide to keep it free from germs. This is especially important when someone in the family is ill.
3. Whiten your nails
Soak a cotton ball in hydrogen peroxide and dab it on your nails. You could also soak your nails for a few minutes in mixture of warm water, hydrogen peroxide, and bicarbonate of soda. This also gets rid of nail polish stains.
4. Get rid of foot fungus
Mix one part hydrogen peroxide to one part water and spray your feet with this mixture. It will get rid of germs and keep your feet smelling fresh.
5. Clear acne
Clean your face with a gentle facial wash and pat dry with a towel. Dab hydrogen peroxide on the pimples to help clear acne, or on your entire face to help prevent breakouts. Avoid the eye area and eyebrows as hydrogen peroxide can cause bleach hair. Rinse it off after one or two minutes. Hydrogen peroxide can dry out your skin therefore ensure that you moisturise with an oil-free lotion.
The best thing about hydrogen peroxide is that it’s safe, inexpensive and widely available in supermarkets and pharmacies. It is a naturally occurring substance, it’s basically oxygen and water, therefore it doesn’t contain any chemicals. Hydrogen peroxide is for topical use so you should not ingest it.