Hydrogen Peroxide Magic: 19 Clever Ways to Transform Your Home and Health

Mix 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda, and 1/4 cup water in a bowl. Use a soft-bristled brush to work the solution into underarm stains and allow it to sit for at least 30 minutes. Give it one more final scrub with the brush and then wash as usual.

Apply undiluted hydrogen peroxide to the blood stain as soon as you can. Once it stops fizzing, dab (never rub) the stain with a clean cloth. Continue to apply hydrogen peroxide and dab at the stain until it's gone.

Hydrogen peroxide sanitizes and removes stains from wood and plastic cutting boards. Pour it directly onto the cutting board, scrub with a clean sponge, and let it sit until it fizzes, then rinse thoroughly.

Apply hydrogen peroxide using a spray bottle to clean the inside of your refrigerator or any appliance that needs it — especially the door where condiments may drip. Wipe with water and dry to complete the job.

Soak the sponge in a mixture of equal parts hydrogen peroxide and warm water to sanitize and remove odor. Let sit for 10 minutes and rinse thoroughly.

Make a 3:1 mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide until it forms a paste. Scrub grout with a clean, stiff-bristle brush, let it sit for a few minutes, and wipe off with a wet rag.

Pour one cup hydrogen peroxide directly into the toilet. Let sit for at least 15 minutes, then scrub with a toilet brush and flush.

For streak-free results, pour hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle and use it as you would a store-bought glass cleaner.

Make a 2:1 mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide until it forms a paste. Scrub with a brush and rinse thoroughly.

Millions of dust mites could potentially be on your mattress right now, feeding off of dead skin, moisture, and oil. Use a spray bottle to apply hydrogen peroxide to the mattress and allow time for it to dry before remaking the bed.

To whiten whites, pour hydrogen peroxide directly into the washer. To remove tough stains, make a mixture of equal parts hydrogen peroxide, water, and baking soda, rub it on the stain with a brush, let sit for 10 minutes, then wash the garment in the regular wash cycle.

Pour hydrogen peroxide directly onto the stain and let sit for a few minutes (or longer for tougher stains), then rub and wipe with a clean, dry cloth.

Keep your humidifier free of bacteria and mold by pouring a 4:1 mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide into the tank. Let the solution sit for 30 minutes, empty the tank, rinse with clean water, and let it air dry.

Safely sanitize toys by placing them in a bin filled with equal parts hydrogen peroxide and warm water, then rinse thoroughly. You can also spray hydrogen peroxide directly onto the toys, then rinse or wipe with a cloth.

Powdery mildew limits a plant's ability to nourish itself and flower or produce fruit. Hydrogen peroxide is an organic solution — add one tablespoon hydrogen peroxide per half cup water to a spray bottle and spray thoroughly once a week.

After a camping trip or tailgating at the big game, your cooler is bound to collect some grit and grime. Before storing it away, disinfect with hydrogen peroxide using a spray bottle and then wipe it dry.

Each time you use tweezers, manicure or pedicure tools, and eyelash curlers, they come in contact with body soil and bacteria. A dip or rub-down with a bit of hydrogen peroxide will sanitize them.

Smelly feet are caused by odor-causing bacteria. Mix a foot soak with one part hydrogen peroxide to three parts warm water — the same treatment helps protect against spreading athlete's foot fungus and even softens calluses and corns.

Reusable grocery bags should be washed frequently and correctly, but if you don't have time for a thorough cleaning, give the interiors a quick spray with hydrogen peroxide to kill potentially harmful bacteria.