Hydrogen Peroxide - Cleaning, Sanitizing Wonder

Over the years, we have offered many great cleaning tips that use hydrogen peroxide. Ever wonder why it’s such a great cleaning agent? Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂O₂) is a mild acid, but it is a very strong oxidizing agent which means that as it combines with other molecules, it gives off oxygen. Because of this, Hydrogen Peroxide can be used very successfully as an anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-mold cleaning agent. It also is very good at bleaching surfaces.

Hydrogen Peroxide is safe to use around the house and is non-toxic, especially in the low concentrations that we recommend using. It is also fairly inexpensive, and easy to obtain at almost any grocery or drug store. It can also be bought in bulk at restaurant supply stores.

When you clean with Hydrogen Peroxide, you get an added bonus. It sanitizes your sponges every time you use it. No need to worry about spreading nasty stuff around!

Practical uses of hydrogen peroxide:

• Spray on and wipe down wooden cutting boards to disinfect
• Use to sanitize bathrooms and kitchens, just a splash on a sponge will do
• Can be used to clean toilets, and is septic system safe
• Can be diluted into a spray to clean vegetables and fruits
• Can be used in your washer instead of bleach, just treat it as if it were bleach
• You can even bleach your hair with a highly diluted mix of H₂O₂ and water!

Some of our classic cleaning tips using Hydrogen Peroxide are:

• Removing Blood From Carpet and Microfiber
• Disinfecting Your Phones
• Organic Stains on Granite Counters
• Get Your Vinyl Strap Patio Furniture Looking Like New
• Make Your Caulk Look Like New
• Removing Stains From Enamel Bathtubs
• Safely Sanitize Countertops
• Removing Grass Stains from Clothing
• Homemade Odor Remover

2009 – The Green Cleaning Year

Looking back at 2009 one trend in the home cleaning industry has overshadowed all of the others. Green Cleaning has turned from a buzzword into actual mainstream products and services over the last year. There have been plenty of green cleaning products available for many years, but there was no easy way to buy them. You used to have to order them from catalogs and eventually the internet, but the prices were so high only the most committed eco friendly cleaners would pay the price. Luckily for us and the earth, companies like Johnson & Johnson and Proctor and Gamble have gotten on board the green cleaning product train. Now there are many products available nationally.

Green Cleaning Products

• Simple Green – Simple green has been making environmentally friendly cleaning products for over 30 years. Their products are available at discount retailers across the country.
• Green Works – Clorox has started marketing their Green Works Natural Cleaners nationwide. These lines of products are 99% natural and are plant based cleaners. Surprisingly these work better than many of Clorox’s other products. They do not sanitize though.
• Method – Method also makes a line of natural cleaners that is available nationwide. Their products have some of the best fragrances.

With all of these reasonably priced products available on the market, it is easy going green. You can also clean in an eco friendly manor using cleaners you make at home. Not only do you save the environment, but you will also save yourself a lot of money. Here are just a few of our best homemade cleaners:

• Green carpet cleaning is easy with our tough carpet stain removal recipe.
• Homemade general purpose cleaner great for the kitchen.
• Homemade oven cleaner is much greener than the commercial stuff.
• Hundreds more natural homemade cleaners for your toughest cleaning jobs.

This article is part of the Daily Blog Tips Group Writing Project - 2009 in Review. Be sure to read all of the other great posts in the writing project.