Hydrogen Peroxide
Written: Dec 19 '08 (Updated Dec 19 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: lots of uses around the house ...
Cons: can be dangerous. breaks down quickly
The Bottom Line: Hydrogen Peroxide has properties that make it very useful for a lot of things...but not necessarily for the things you're thinking of.
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| naphtalia's Full Review: Hydrogen Peroxide |
Hydrogen peroxide's chemical representation is H2O2. The product available to us over-the-counter at the local drugstore is actually 3% hydrogen peroxide and 97% water. It breaks down quickly when exposed to light so it generally comes in brown bottles that filter out the sun's rays. It is known for its antibacterial qualities. These are most often available at locations that have pharmacies such as CVS or Walgreens. Because it does break down with exposure to light, heat and dust, I recommend buying the smallest bottle available to suit your needs. A sixteen ounce bottle should run you less than $2. There is no reason to buy a brand name here.
There are also 30%-35% high strength solutions available. These are typically found in health food stores and sometimes are sold as a disinfectant. These bottles will typically run $12-$15 for a sixteen ounce bottle.
There is an ongoign controversy over the use of hydrogen peroxide orally and/or through injection to treat a variety of ailments including arthritis and cancer. Proponents claim the oxygen released by the breakdown of the hydrogen peroxide is medicinal. Opponents claim there's a lack of evidence of health benefits. Further, there are circumstances in which hydrogen peroxide can be dangerous. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved those high strength hydrogen peroxide products for use internally and considers them dangerous. In July, 2006, the FDA issued a warning about the high concentration hydrogen peroxides, saying they could lead to serious health risks and even death.
The FDA has approved 3% solutions of hydrogen peroxide for use as a mouthwash. Most sources said to use it only for a short time, however, such as part of a treatment of a mouth infection. There are some folks who claim that use of H2O2 will help prevent canker sores.
Some folks will recommend letting a toothbrush soak in H2O2 to kill germs. Since it breaks down quickly in light and air, if you want to do this, use freshly poured hydrogen peroxide for this purpose.
I like H202 for cleaning counters and table tops. It does a good job of cleaning without the smell of bleach, ammonia or vinegar. Somehow, it seems less toxic than other household cleaners to me. I also like hydrogen peroxide in the kitchen killing bacteria on wood cutting boards. After I have cleaned a board, I will spray it with H2O2. It kills bacteria without leaving any chemical residue.
For many of us, hydrogen peroxide was what our folks put onto a boo-boo when we were little. That is less recommended these days because H2O2 has a downside. It can damage healthy cells that are necessary for wounds to heal. Better is to use soap and water for cleansing wounds.
There are other uses for H2O2 from tooth whitening to hair bleaching to vegetable washing. Bottles of hydrogen peroxide are likely to lose strength overtime, so if you have had the same bottle sitting on your shelf for the last five years having used it once or twice, and you need some again, you might be better off buying a new bottle.
I like H2O2, but recognize that some of the uses people recommend for it are old wives' tales. It is a great help, however, in the kitchen or the medicine cabinet. If you're going to put it in a spray bottle, make sure it's bottle that light can't get into or you'll end up just using water to clean. Be careful the uses you put hydrogen peroxide to, but it's worth learning to use.
Recommended:
Yes
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