How do you disinfect your house with hydrogen peroxide?

Author: Devante Graham  |  Last update: Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Sanitize Surfaces “To disinfect, apply 3 percent hydrogen peroxide onto frequently touched surfaces such as countertops, cutting boards, light switches, and doorknobs, let it sit for five to 10 minutes, and wipe clean,” shares Mock.

How to use hydrogen peroxide to disinfect a house?

The CDC and Consumer Reports recommend hydrogen peroxide among the options for disinfecting surfaces in your home. Spray it undiluted onto a surface to be cleaned and let it sit for at least 5 minutes before wiping. Read on to learn how I have been using it for many years to clean my home.

Do you need to rinse after cleaning with hydrogen peroxide?

If you want to kill the most germs possible, let it sit until the oxygen has all fizzled out. There is not a huge amount of oxygen available in a 3% solution, so it can take time to work. You do not need to rinse after cleaning with Peroxide, since what's left behind is water.

What shouldn't you clean with hydrogen peroxide?

Things that you shouldn't do with hydrogen peroxide
  • Don't use hydrogen peroxide to clean cuts. ...
  • Don't use hydrogen peroxide without wearing gloves. ...
  • Don't drink hydrogen peroxide. ...
  • Don't mix hydrogen peroxide with vinegar.

What surfaces does hydrogen peroxide damage?

Peroxide can damage any material damaged by oxygen. If you look around, that is almost anything that is not an oxide. Many rocks, to a first approximation, are metals that have been oxidized.

Does Hydrogen Peroxide Bleach Carpet?

How to get rid of mold with hydrogen peroxide?

Pour 3% concentration hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle. Spray the moldy surface completely to saturate the area with hydrogen peroxide. Leave the surface to sit for 10 minutes. Scrub the area to make sure to remove all the mold and mold stains.

Do you need to wear gloves when cleaning with hydrogen peroxide?

Use peroxide in a well-ventilated area and wear gloves. “There's a chance of toxicity if you inhale it, and it can irritate the skin and eyes,” Dr. Beers says. To disinfect, first clean any visible dirt or grime off the area with plain soap and water.

Is hydrogen peroxide a good household cleaner?

While no cleaner is perfect for all challenges, hydrogen peroxide is an extremely common cleaner for a reason. It can help disinfect surfaces, remove stains, and even whiten grout. In addition to being used in its liquid form, it is also commonly mixed with baking soda to form a cleaning paste.

How do you rinse with hydrogen peroxide at home?

Mix two parts water with one part hydrogen peroxide. Gargle, swishing the solution all around the mouth. Tilt the head back and continue gargling for 30 seconds. Spit the solution out.

Which disinfects better, vinegar or hydrogen peroxide?

Vinegar is better at killing some germs and hydrogen peroxide is better against others, but dwell time can still take up to 30 minutes each and there are no definitive studies to guide users if you want to kill a specific microbe.

How to sanitize the kitchen?

Many different sanitizers can be used: an easy homemade version is to make a solution of 1 tablespoon of liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water, or you can use a commercial sanitizer or sanitizing wipe. Pour or spray your sanitizing solution on surfaces and wipe them clean with a paper towel.

What do hospitals use to clean?

Common low- and intermediate-level disinfectants that can be used for environmental surfaces in healthcare settings include:
  • Quaternary ammonium compounds.
  • Alcohol (ethyl or isopropyl).
  • Chlorine releasing agents (e.g., bleach).
  • Improved hydrogen peroxide.

What should you not mix with hydrogen peroxide?

Hydrogen Peroxide reacts violently with FINELY DIVIDIED METALS; REDUCING AGENTS; COMBUSTIBLES; STRONG BASES (such as SODIUM HYDROXIDE and POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE); OXIDIZING AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE); ORGANICS; ALCOHOLS; ETHERS; KETONES; ...

How to disinfect a home?

Clean surfaces with soap and water or a household cleaner, using paper towels or rags. Next, completely wet cleaned surfaces with a disinfectant solution, spray, or wipes. Find a list of EPA-registered products at epa.gov. Leave surface wet for the time listed by the manufacturer on the label.

Can hydrogen peroxide disinfect the air?

Today, hydrogen peroxide is emerging as a game-changer in air purification. It is a simple chemical compound, H₂O₂, and acts as an effective oxidizer. This means upon contact, it can break down harmful pathogens, including viruses ) and bacteria, in the air.

How do you clean your house with hydrogen peroxide?

Surface Cleaning: To clean surfaces, simply pour or spray hydrogen peroxide onto the surface and let it sit for at least 10 minutes before wiping it off. This allows time for the hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria and viruses.

When should you not use hydrogen peroxide?

This product should not be used to treat deep wounds, animal bites, or serious burns.

What are the disadvantages of hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant?

The main disadvantage is the small disinfecting and oxidising ability of hydrogen peroxide at active concentrations (tens of milligrams per litre), which are required for swimming pool disinfection. Another problem is the quick decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in water and the presence of oxygen radicals.

Why do doctors say not to use hydrogen peroxide?

Depending on the concentration, breathing hydrogen peroxide vapor can cause eye and throat irritation, coughing, and breathing difficulty. Serious eye or skin burns and bleaching of the hair may result from contact with hydrogen peroxide solutions.

How to clean a toilet with hydrogen peroxide?

Toilet Bowl Stains. – Pour hydrogen peroxide directly into the toilet bowl and let it sit for about 20-30 minutes. – Scrub the bowl using a toilet brush to effectively break down and remove stains. Flush the toilet to rinse thoroughly.

What precautions should be taken when using hydrogen peroxide?

Concentrated vapors cause discomfort in the mucous membranes and the eyes. Contact of the eyes with hydrogen peroxide is particularly dangerous because corneal burns can occur very rapidly. Therefore, safety glasses or, preferably, goggles should always be worn when handling concentrated hydrogen peroxide.

What kills 100% of mold?

Hydrogen peroxide, commonly used to disinfect wounds, is active against a wide variety of micro-organisms including mold. It acts by releasing oxygen at a rapid rate, which kills mold by oxidizing the surface and breaking down proteins and DNA.

How to clean a shower with hydrogen peroxide?

Step 3: Clean with hydrogen peroxide
  1. Fill a spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide.
  2. Spray the hydrogen peroxide all over the surface of the shower.
  3. Let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes.
  4. Scrub the shower with a soft bristle brush or sponge.
  5. Rinse the shower thoroughly from top to bottom with warm water.

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