Mix Hydrogen Peroxide With This Kitchen Staple To Cut Through The Toughest Stains

Hydrogen peroxide has many uses for household cleaning. It is also more affordable than many of the popular cleaning products on store shelves. As a result, this perfect grime-fighting ingredient is beloved by many homeowners. You might already know that hydrogen peroxide is water with an additional oxygen molecule. This chemical composition is great for cleaning, but it becomes even more powerful when combined with baking soda. Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda can be used to form a paste or liquid cleaning solution to tackle grime on white carpets, bathrooms, grout, other surfaces, and even laundry.

Medical-grade hydrogen peroxide is best for creating homemade cleaning solutions. More specifically, search for 3% hydrogen peroxide to combine with baking soda for at-home cleaning purposes. Once you have gathered both ingredients, it only takes minutes to create stain-fighting cleaning solutions to restore surfaces all over your home. You might be shocked at how well baking soda and the mild antiseptic work together, considering how, on its own, hydrogen peroxide eliminates many stubborn household stains. But when mixed, the products remove blemishes from a variety of spaces. This may even become your new go-to cleaning ingredient combination.

The baking soda and peroxide solution you will need to use will vary depending on the surface you are cleaning. To tackle bathroom surfaces like grout and tile, combine ½ cup of baking soda, ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide, and 1 teaspoon of castile soap. You can use this mixture to easily clean grout by applying it to a toothbrush and scrubbing grime away. For stubborn grout stains, let the cleaning solution sit for a few minutes before scrubbing it and washing any remaining residue away with water. To clean tile with this combination of ingredients, use a gentle cleaning brush to tackle grime. Wash away any remaining residue once you are finished. For easy bathtub or shower cleaning, simply apply the solution to a gentle cleaning brush or sponge and use it to scrub away stains.

If you have been staring at stubborn stains that refuse to come out of your white carpet, it might be time to give baking soda and hydrogen peroxide a try there, as well. Simply create a thick paste by combining the two ingredients. Use a toothbrush or gentle cleaning brush to scrub the paste into your carpet. Allow it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes to give it a chance to work its magic. Finally, use a damp towel to wipe the cleaning solution out of your carpet. This should bleach any stains that have been making your white carpet look dull.

Let's dive into the science behind why baking soda and hydrogen peroxide are the perfect cleaning solution combination. As previously mentioned, hydrogen peroxide possesses one more oxygen molecule than water. Physician Sarah Pickering Beers spoke to Cleveland Clinic about how this additional molecule makes hydrogen peroxide a great stain remover. "The extra oxygen molecule oxidizes, which is how peroxide gets its power," Dr. Beers explained. "This oxidation kills germs and bleaches color from porous surfaces like fabrics."

This is also why this DIY cleaning solution should not be used on fabrics that are not white. In addition to its stain-removing power, hydrogen peroxide has disinfectant properties. Baking soda, on the other hand, works so well with hydrogen peroxide because it dissolves organic substances that commonly cause stains. This includes oils, food stains, and more. The gritty, abrasive texture of baking soda also makes it great for exfoliating grime out of surfaces and fabrics.