Did you know that Hydrogen peroxide (that little brown bottle you’ve got sitting in your medicine cabinet) can be used to clean pretty much anything in your house?! My mom and grandmother’s generation relied heavily on hydrogen peroxide in their cleaning regimens long before there was an entire aisle of cleaners and a specific spray for everything!

I could never imagine reaching for hydrogen peroxide as frequently as I do. I have bottles of it in my kitchen sink area and in my laundry room that get used regularly.

It’s amazing how versatile it is, functioning as a whitening agent, disinfectant, stain remover, and can nix mildew! It costs about $1/bottle (3% hydrogen peroxide is fine for cleaning purposes) and it’s the best.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive cleaning hack, hydrogen peroxide is a must-have item! Here are 30 Ways To Clean With Hydrogen Peroxide, which is perfect for tackling dirty white socks (trust me on this one…two teenagers wear those out quickly), Gigi’s (our goldendoodle) carpet mishaps, and those pesky stains your hubbie never notices:

1. WHITEN DINGY WHITES IN THE LAUNDRY

Try a cup of hydrogen peroxide in your whites. It will make your white shirts and sheets brighter.

My teens’ white socks look like they’ve been dragged through the local parking lot after wearing them once. Adding a cup of hydrogen peroxide in the bleach dispenser in the wash makes them bright and white again and allows me to save money by not needing to purchase new white socks each month.

It’s not as harsh as bleach and doesn’t have a strong smell either.

2. WHITEN GROUT WITH BAKING SODA

Mix together hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to create a thick paste. Smear this paste over your grout and let it sit for 15-30 min.

Use an old toothbrush to scrub at your grout lines and rinse. This paste cuts through years of gunk and brings your grout closer to it’s original color.

I still cannot believe this trick!!! I always thought my kitchen tile grout was gray.

The white came back in a great deal!!

3. KILL MOLD AND MILDEW

Get rid of mold and mildew: Pour straight 3% hydrogen peroxide over moldy or mildewed grout, caulk, and tile. Leave for 10 minutes.

Scrub and rinse. This will remove surface mold and will also lighten dark spots.

One corner of the kids’ shower is becoming infested with something I’d rather not discuss, but the situation doesn’t look so bad after a blast from the peroxide bottle, and I don’t need to play the “I didn’t see that” game anymore.

4. LIFT CARPET STAINS

Hydrogen peroxide removes many types of stains. Especially organic stains, such as pet stains, food, and even blood.

This is a life-saver on lighter colored carpet. Apply hydrogen peroxide to the stain and blot up.

Allow it to bubble a couple of minutes then blot with water. Caution: Test an unseen part of the carpet first as it can lighten some carpet dyes!

We have a goldendoodle, so stains are a fact of life around here! It has saved many a stain I thought were hopeless!

5. THE FAMOUS PEROXIDE, DAWN, AND BAKING SODA STAIN REMOVER

Mix two parts hydrogen peroxide and one part Dawn dish detergent. Add a small amount of baking soda.

Rub into stain. Allow to sit and launder as normal.

Works on stubborn stains that wont come out with normal laundry detergent, such as armpit stains, grass, food, grease. You name it, this stuff takes it out!

This is the reason I do not throw out white shirts! It’s amazing (and very satisfying to watch!) to rub it into those nasty, yellow armpit circles and watch them disappear!

6. DISINFECT CUTTING BOARDS

Once you’ve cleaned your cutting board used for raw meat, disinfect by spraying/wiping down the board with hydrogen peroxide, waiting a few minutes, then rinsing. This tip is especially handy for plastic cutting boards.

When I cook with chicken, I get a little crazy. I wash my hands an obscene number of times, give the cutting board an anxious once-over.

It’s not until I wipe the board down with hydrogen peroxide that I’m comfortable moving on with meal prep.

7. SANITIZE SPONGES AND DISHCLOTHS

Hydrogen peroxide is good for more than just cleaning up boo-boos. It’s a great way to sanitize a stinky sponge or dishcloth.

Just leave them submerged for a few minutes and all of the germs will die, taking the stench with them! Simply squeeze them out, rinse, and the sponge is good as new.

I’m not a fan of throwing out the sponge in my kitchen. When it starts to go south, I’ll submerge it in hydrogen peroxide and it gets a few more uses.

Eventually, however, there’s no way to revive it!

8. BRIGHTEN THE TOILET BOWL

Clean your toilet with hydrogen peroxide! This is my favorite because it’s by far the easiest.

Simply pour about 1/2 a cup of hydrogen peroxide into your toilet, allow to sit for 20 to 30 minutes, scrub with toilet brush and flush. Not only does this method disinfect your toilet, it’s great for removing stains and whitening your toilet and there’s no funky smells!

Definitely a lazy cleaning tip of mine before having visitors!

9. DISINFECT COUNTERTOPS

I find it helpful to make them help with cleaning to prevent laziness I made my kids clean it because they helped make it. We were working with meat, so it was an important lesson for them.

But mainly, I just wanted to make sure that counter was safe for eating from Spray hydrogen peroxide on countertops, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe down. This will sanitize your counter, which is especially helpful in a kitchen after food preparation.

Caution: Try peroxide in an inconspicuous place before use on marble, granite, or other natural stone. My counter looked very clean when I was done!

10. WHITEN YELLOWED PILLOWS

Throw pillows, hydrogen peroxide, laundry detergent and baking soda into the washing machine on a hot cycle. When they’re done, stains will be gone and pillows will be nice and white.

I was horrified to flip a pillow over one day to see what was lurking beneath the pillowcase. However, this trick worked like a charm.

Apparently some things are better unphotographed.

11. CLEAN AND BRIGHTEN WHITE SNEAKERS

Mix hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to make a paste. Scrub it into dirty white sneakers (canvas or rubber) with an old toothbrush and leave them out in the sun to dry.

Brush off when dry and behold! Your teen’s previously dingy white sneakers will be brighter and more presentable.

My daughter has white sneakers. Within a week of being purchased, they go from looking brand new to awful.

I have given up trying to win this battle. But at least I can brighten them back up.

12. SCRUB SOAP SCUM FROM THE TUB AND SHOWER

Try hydrogen peroxide. Just spray it all over your tub/shower and let it sit.

Then give it a good scrub and rinse. It loosens up soap scum and grime and also disinfects.

Used with a good scrubber (baking soda makes a great abrasive to take out the film of soap scum) it’s a life-saver. My kids leave such a bad tub ring it’s like they take their baths in mud.

This saves me from having to get on my hands and knees for a half-hour to get it all clean.

13. STREAK-FREE MIRRORS AND GLASS

Spray with hydrogen peroxide, then wipe off with a clean microfiber towel or even some newspaper. The hairspray and toothpaste stains will come right off without leaving any residue on them.

All of us have our bathroom mirrors coated with a thin film of hairspray, toothpaste and other gunk. Only peroxide really gets that stuff out without smearing it around.

14. DISINFECT THE REFRIGERATOR INTERIOR

Empty out your refrigerator. Then, use hydrogen peroxide to give the drawers and shelves a good wipe down and sanitize.

This is especially important after a spill or when you realize that the leftovers you forgot about in the back of the fridge and that have been there for who knows how long (and that stench) aren’t exactly fit for human consumption. After using hydrogen peroxide, be sure to give the area a quick wipe down with a damp cloth to rinse it.

Trust me, it will make you feel like your fridge is safe again.

15. SANITIZE LUNCH BOXES AND COOLERS

Wipe down lunch boxes and coolers: Hydrogen peroxide should be used to wipe down the inside of lunch boxes, coolers, and re-usable bags to get rid of any smells or bacteria. Let sit for a few minutes, then wipe dry.

A teen’s lunch box that has been sitting in a backpack over a long weekend is absolutely disgusting. I would need gallons of peroxide to send my kids back to school rather than throw it away.

16. CLEAN THE DISHWASHER AND WASHING MACHINE

Hydrogen peroxide will help to disinfect your dishwasher and remove odors and break down buildup. Simply add a cup to an empty dishwasher and run on hot.

You can do the same with your washer. My washer used to have a funky smell that surprised me one day.

You would think that a machine that sits there taking in stinky old smelly laundry wouldn’t pick up a funky odor itself, right? Wrong.

Learned my lesson! So, now, every time I’m feeling guilty, I’ll stick some peroxide in my washer and let her dance.

Your machines that keep other things clean deserve some love and a nice freshen up now and then!

17. REMOVE BLOOD STAINS

If a blood stain has begun to dry, just pour some hydrogen peroxide over it, let it bubble for a minute or so, blot with a paper towel and rinse with cold water. If you’re like me and have two kids, your home and clothing will be subject to the inevitable scraped knees and bloody noses.

The sheets and shirts I’ve believed were lost causes have been rescued with hydrogen peroxide.

18. DISINFECT HIGH-TOUCH SURFACES

Clean surfaces you touch a lot: Use hydrogen peroxide to spray or wipe down surfaces you touch regularly such as doorknobs, light switches, TV remotes and cabinet pulls. Let it sit and air dry for several minutes.

When my teenage son comes home from school with the flu in the winter and spreads it around, I get really obsessive about cleaning. Hydrogen peroxide is my go-to disinfectant.

19. BRIGHTEN DINGY DISH TOWELS

When it comes to dish towels, my poor babies see heavy-duty service. They witness spaghetti sauce clean-up duty, help out with my dog’s messes and end up gray, dingy and often times, stink like death.

This hydrogen peroxide tip saves me from constantly buying dish towels. Soak heavily soiled dish towels or kitchen rags before washing with a solution of hydrogen peroxide in hot water.

Hydrogen peroxide will help to get them smelling nice and fresh. It will help to bring them back to life, soften them and revive the fabric!

20. CLEAN BAKED-ON OVEN GRIME

Use a paste made of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Smear it onto the burnt on dirt and let it sit for several hours before wiping it clean.

You don’t have to breathe in the harmful fumes that you would get from using store-bought oven cleaner. I’m not much of a fan of cleaning the oven; I’m more like those people who refuse to go to the dentist.

But at least with this method, I don’t have to hold my breath because of the chemicals.

21. DISINFECT WOODEN CUTTING BOARDS AND SPOONS

I still have the wooden spoons from years ago. You can tell how much I use them.

I try to remember to oil them regularly (I make it about 1/2 the time, which is pretty good) and use peroxide in an attempt to make them appear cleaner. Wooden items (i. e. cutting boards) crack easily.

Make sure they are dried well after cleaning, and oil them now and then. To disinfect a wooden item, rub it down with hydrogen peroxide, and rinse it afterwards.

22. WHITEN YELLOWED PLASTIC AND APPLIANCES

Hydrogen peroxide. It’s good for lightening aged or sun-damaged surfaces.

A few of my old kitchen tools have taken on an odd yellowish hue and I’ve been able to at least get them back towards white with some peroxide.

23. CLEAN AND FRESHEN TRASH CANS

Try a little hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and give your garbage can a nice misting, allow it to sit, then wipe off. It’s amazing what’s been accumulating in the bottom of your garbage pail, but this will help to disinfect it and eliminate any nastiest of smells.

It’s been a mystery to me in my own house how I go through numerous kitchen bags and the stench just never leaves. Spritzing with peroxide has worked wonders for me though!

Great tip for maintaining the most disgusting bucket in your house, effortlessly!

24. BRIGHTEN DINGY TILE AND VINYL FLOORS

If you want to brighten your floors and disinfect at the same time add hydrogen peroxide to the water in which you’re using your mop. This is great on tiles and vinyl.

Always test it out on a small area before use. It’s not recommended on unsealed wood as these types of materials don’t do well with liquids.

Our kitchen floor gets quite dull with muddy doggy paws and food drops but once I’ve given it a good mop with hydrogen peroxide you can see how bright our floor really is!

25. REMOVE COFFEE AND WINE STAINS

Stains from red wine, coffee, or tea? Mix together some hydrogen peroxide and dish soap and rub into stains on lighter colored clothes.

Leave for a few minutes, blot, and wash. The mixture breaks down the tannins in these beverages that create stains.

I was a klutz when it came to spilling coffee and have ruined more than one shirt over the years. However, I’ve been able to rescue a few of my favorite shirts with this mixture.

They’ll be spared a life as pajamas thanks to it.

26. SANITIZE TOOTHBRUSH HOLDERS

Fill your toothbrush holder with peroxide and let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub and rinse. Toothbrush holders can be incredibly germ-infested because everything falls into the bottom of them, making them one of the dirtiest things in your bathroom.

When I actually looked in mine for the first time, I wanted to smack myself for not having realized how nasty it was. Now, I give it a nice peroxide bath regularly.

I still try not to think about how long it had been sitting unscrubbed before I gave it that initial cleaning.

27. CLEAN REUSABLE GROCERY BAGS

Give them a good squirt of hydrogen peroxide to disinfect them. Allow to sit for a few minutes and either wipe off or allow to air-dry.

I like to do this with our reusable grocery bags after bringing them in the groceries (especially if there’s been a meat/produce leak). That way I’m not uncertain if something is lurking in the bottom seam from some mystery spill and can keep using the bags even if we’ve had a leak.

28. DISINFECT THE KITCHEN SINK

Spritz the sink with hydrogen peroxide. This one surprised me because I never once thought of cleaning my sink.

It’s the first stop for anything dirty in the kitchen! Give your sink and drain a light coating of hydrogen peroxide and allow it to dwell before washing away with water.

Especially helpful after preparing raw meats. I’ve taken to spraying a light mist into my sink after preparing a meal, it’s a great addition to my sink and gives me an overall feeling of a cleaner kitchen.

29. CLEAN A SMELLY HUMIDIFIER

Fill the humidifier’s water tank with hydrogen peroxide. Swish the hydrogen peroxide around then allow it to sit for a few minutes before emptying the tank.

Be sure to rinse the humidifier thoroughly to remove any remaining hydrogen peroxide. This will kill any mold or bacteria that may be living in your humidifier.

This should be done on a regular basis during the time that your humidifier is being used. I ALWAYS have a humidifier going during the winter months to compensate for dry air…however, if you don’t clean your humidifier often enough the tank can get pretty nasty!

So, use hydrogen peroxide to avoid an embarrassing science project!

30. TREAT SET-IN UNDERARM STAINS

Have a hydrogen peroxide underarm stain remover recipe to share! Mix together hydrogen peroxide and baking soda with a tiny amount of dishwashing liquid.

Let sit for about 30 minutes to an hour then wash as usual. Works wonderfully!

I’ve saved many of my husband’s undershirts from the donation pile with this recipe. Those pesky armpit stains just won’t budge no matter how many times they’re in the wash.

This mixture removes old deoderant/sweat buildup and unclogs the fabric. Saving an item from the donation pile gives me a sense of accomplishment!

Its versatility as a cleaner is what made hydrogen peroxide a staple in your grandmother’s cleaning cabinet. It’s inexpensive, it’s versatile, and unlike many of today’s cleaning products it doesn’t reek.

That humble brown bottle whites, disinfects, removes stains, gets rid of mildew and more. One bottle of hydrogen peroxide can replace the entire shelf of spray bottles of cleaners that only perform one task.

Remember that hydrogen peroxide should always be stored in its original, dark container because the solution begins to break down upon exposure to light. Also, if you’re going to use hydrogen peroxide on colored items such as carpets and other fabric items, always test the solution on an inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn’t discolor your item.

Start with some laundry and your grout and I’m sure once you see the results, you’ll be on your way to finding even more ways to use it around your house!

COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT CLEANING WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

WHAT SHOULD YOU NOT CLEAN WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE?

Never mix hydrogen peroxide and vinegar together and store them in a closed container as this forms an acid that can be irritating. They can however, be used separately.

Do not use hydrogen peroxide to clean natural stone (including polished marble) or brass or copper items, or on dark or colored carpets, fabrics, or other materials that could be damaged, dulled, faded, or otherwise adversely affected by hydrogen peroxide with immediate or long-term use. Always test products in an inconspicuous area before use.

CAN YOU MIX DAWN DISH SOAP AND HYDROGEN PEROXIDE TOGETHER?

Yes. This is probably one of the best DIY stain removers around.

Mix about 2 parts peroxide to 1 part Dawn dish detergent along with a pinch of baking soda and scrub into any set-in stains then let sit for a few minutes before washing. The Dawn breaks down any grease or oil on the fabric and the peroxide lifts the stain and whitens the fabric.

Mix as needed since peroxide degrades quickly in liquid form when exposed to light.

WHAT DO YOU MIX WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE FOR CLEANING?

Peroxide works best with either baking soda or dish soap. Use peroxide and baking soda together to whiten grout, ovens or white sneakers.

Add a squirt of dish soap to your hydrogen peroxide to treat stains on clothing or rugs. If you’re using hydrogen peroxide to kill germs and bacteria, don’t add anything to your 3% hydrogen peroxide, just apply the pure solution.

But don’t mix hydrogen peroxide and vinegar in a spray bottle.

WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF USING HYDROGEN PEROXIDE FOR CLEANING?

Hydrogen peroxide breaks down quickly in light, so you’ll need to keep it in the original opaque container and use it as soon as possible. It can also strip out dye from colored fabrics, grout colorants and carpets.

Always test it on a small section first. It’s a slower disinfectant than chlorine bleach, so let it sit for several minutes before wiping it off.

DOES HYDROGEN PEROXIDE KILL MOLD AND DISINFECT SURFACES?

It will. The standard 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution kills mold and mildew on surfaces after being sprayed on, left for about 10 minutes, then rinsed or wiped away.

You can also use it to sanitize high-touch areas like counters, cutting boards and doorknobs. It also will clean up black mold stains.