Hydrogen peroxide destroys germs, like most bacteria and viruses. An effective disinfectant typically found in retail shops is a concentration of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. Some surfaces can be affected by hydrogen peroxide, and it is a more harmful chemical than some disinfectants, so be careful when handling it.
Does Hydrogen peroxide kill bacteria on your mouth and skin?
Hydrogen peroxide is frequently used to clean skin wounds and prevent the disease from minor cuts and scratches. It is used in the treatment of the skin as an antifungal agent for comparatively tiny cuts and bruises and as a mouthwash remedy for the discharge of mucus as well as other mouth irritations.
As a household cleaner, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC), hydrogen peroxide is also an important antioxidant that can kill viruses, bacteria, and other germs. Here seems to be what you need to do about your home’s use of hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant.
Hydrogen peroxide does kill germs and viruses
By killing critical characteristics of germ cells, hydrogen peroxide acts as a disinfectant and can disable a wide variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores.
A 3% hydrogen peroxide concentration will inactivate rhinovirus, the respiratory virus that mainly triggers the common cold, within eight minutes, according to the CDC. Furthermore, a 2018 study found that in destroying certain types of bacteria, hydrogen peroxide was more effective than the quaternary ammonium chemicals present in many household cleaning items.
How to use hydrogen peroxide to kill viruses
Using a mixture of 2.5 parts water and 0.5 parts 3 % hydrogen peroxide, the standard 3 % hydrogen peroxide concentration used in supermarkets can be used as a disinfectant, or you can dilute it to a 0.5 percent concentration, which still has some efficiency.
The CDC advises the use of soap and water to clean the area before disinfecting every surface with hydrogen peroxide. You can pour or spray hydrogen peroxide on the area after you have done so, and clean it with a paper towel or sponge.
Remember to leave it on the surface for at least one minute before drying after you’ve used hydrogen peroxide to give it sufficient time to kill pathogens.
When handling hydrogen peroxide, be careful
It is safe to use hydrogen peroxide alone, but it should not be combined with other domestic cleaning solutions, such as vinegar or bleach. If you ensure that the area dries between applications, both vinegar and hydrogen peroxide can be used on the same surface, but they should not be mixed in the same bottle.
Hydrogen peroxide is biodegradable, but it can be harmful to have concentrations greater than 3%. For instance, when mixed with metals like copper and iron, hydrogen peroxide concentrations greater than 30 percent may cause explosions.
Furthermore, hydrogen peroxide’s effectiveness can decrease when it is exposed to light. The CDC suggests keeping hydrogen peroxide in a dark container for optimum use to maintain its concentration steady and successful at destroying germs.