Eight Surprising Uses for Hydrogen Peroxide Around the House

A gentler alternative to a cotton swab: fill the ear canal with peroxide, stay still for a couple of minutes, then blot the outer ear with a tissue to absorb what comes back out.

For yellow underarm stains on white shirts, skip the bleach and combine two parts hydrogen peroxide with one part dish soap, let it sit for at least an hour, then spray and scrub; a little baking soda helps with tougher stains.

Soaking feet for about 30 minutes in two cups of peroxide mixed with two cups of hot water, then scrubbing dead skin with a pumice stone and following up with lotion and socks before bed, softens stubborn cracked heels.

Swishing water and peroxide together for about 30 seconds, then spitting and rinsing with plain water, helps kill bacteria in the mouth and speed healing.

A cotton ball soaked in peroxide and swiped across nails, the same way nail polish remover is used, helps lift yellow discoloration.

Swishing peroxide for about 30 seconds once a week can knock back the bacteria responsible for bad breath, though it shouldn't be overdone since it can also kill off good bacteria in the mouth.

Hydrogen peroxide is the main ingredient in many commercial lens cleaning solutions, so plain peroxide can clean lenses just as well for a fraction of the price.

A spray bottle filled with water and a bit of peroxide makes a simple, all-natural pest deterrent for wherever bugs tend to gather.