Hydrogen Peroxide

By Rebecca  Mundt from her book 101 Home Uses

Preface

Before we go diving off in to the deep end of the pool…

Just wanted to share a few thoughts with you before you find yourself sailing along in the bright new world of hydrogen peroxide…

First.

Hydrogen peroxide is what it is because it is what it is. Does that sound redundant? Actually, it’s not. H2O2, as it’s chemically named, is a chemical compound.

It is created in our atmosphere as a natural process, as well as in our bodies, in plants and generally… all over the place.

But we humans have this capacity to take simple chemical compounds like hydrogen peroxide… and make them stronger.

So all the great advice in this ebook IS great. Use it. Apply it. And experiment… a little.

But don’t forget that you’re dealing with a very powerful organic chemical compound that, in high concentrations, is an oxidizer. That means it burns.

At concentrations higher than 5% it can cause permanent eye damage. So don’t put it in your eye!

And respect the fact that it is strong in human created dosages. 35% hydrogen peroxide kills all microbial and bacteria life on contact in less than 20 seconds.

If you’re battling the creeping crud of all mildews… that’s terrific! If you’re not careful how you handle it, that’s not.

Common sense is, unfortunately, not a salable commodity. So, just please, don’t be illogical. Think science.

If you find yourself getting sloppy in your conduct, just remember…

You may be playing with 8%, 10%, even 35% hydrogen peroxide…

Those space shuttles are launching off the pure stuff… it IS that powerful.

A little respect is not so much to ask.

1. Over 3%: Wear gloves. Don’t inhale mist. Ventilate area for large applications.
2. Even at 3%: Don’t inhale the mist, ventilate, let it work without working on you.
3. Any applications of eardrops, etc. never use stronger than 3% solutions.

 

It’s like all great and good things in life. Some is wonderful, and applied correctly it gives nothing but joy. Too much makes trouble. No one thing is good all the time.

So, use hydrogen peroxide with an awareness and respect of its power, and it

will serve you very very well.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way…

Let’s talk about what is right, good and sensible about hydrogen peroxide.

You see, that’s where all the good stuff is.

Whether you are working with liquid hydrogen peroxide or sodium percarbonate dry compounds, the results and the outcomes are the same:

1. The oxidizing power will work when you apply it.
2. The same power will break down in water (any flow of water) almost instantly.
3. The end result of all actions of hydrogen peroxide will be water and oxygen, non-lethal, non polluting, non invasive, and not proliferating of toxic by-products in the environment.

 

Even if you really mess up and pour 35% hydrogen peroxide on your foot instead of into the hot tub… Running water will mitigate any problem without long-term ill effects.

The inverse of the nuclear age, hydrogen peroxide, even if in concentrated form, once exposed to the natural environment will quickly, readily and reliably break down to common elements, which are non-toxic and life sustaining rather than life threatening.

If you want more of the details check the Appendices for reference materials.

 

Keeping Your Home Clean, Beautiful, and Healthy

Introduction

The wonders of cleaning and personal care with hydrogen peroxide are as surprising for their variety as for their efficacy. A naturally occurring compound, hydrogen peroxide is formed within the cell structures of plants and animals, in the earth’s atmosphere and in the waters that cover the earth.

Formed in the upper atmosphere when water and ozone combine to produce oxygen and hydrogen peroxide, its true chemical role in the mechanism of climate and rainfall is far from being clearly understood even today.

As a commercial chemical it was first used in the restoration of famous paintings to remove sulphur build up without damage to the paint or canvas beneath. It has been long favored in textiles pulping, fabric production and bleaching for its ability to whiten with minimal damage to fiber structures, and has been used as an environmentally sustainable replacement for chlorine bleaching in many paper and pulp operations around the world.

Hydrogen peroxide is manufactured, stored and shipped all over the world in vast quantities, yet its application as a simple and effective household chemical cleaning compound has never really come of age.

Clearly, hydrogen peroxide is a healthy, environmentally clean and sound approach to not only clean bleaching of paper pulp; cleaning of hydroponics and water garden waters, aquaculture and other industries, but is equally useful around the home. Perhaps the first thing you’ll notice once you begin using hydrogen peroxide for your household needs is a distinct lack of odor. No smells of perfumes, chlorine, cleaners, pet, or bathroom odors… Instead there will be a simple clean sweetness of additional oxygen and fresh clean air.

What else can this little wonder couple do around the home? The easiest way to understand the vast array of practical applications of hydrogen peroxide is to take a closer look at what it is, and how it interacts with the rest of the world.

Hydrogen Peroxide: H2O2

Hydrogen (H) and Oxygen (O) – building blocks of the natural world. What makes hydrogen peroxide preferable to Chlorine, Ammonia, Window Cleaner, Oven Cleaner, Pine Cleaner, Branded Disinfectants, Toilet Bowl Cleaners, and Chemical Abrasives.

Unlike chlorine, ammonia and other toxic cleaning products, hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen. The two elements that make up hydrogen peroxide (hydrogen and oxygen) in their most common form make water (H2O).

Hydrogen peroxide was discovered by French Chemist Louis-Jacques Thenard in 1818. Coining the phrase “eau oxygenee” to describe its properties, Thenard believed it to be an oxygenated form of oxygen.

Hydrogen peroxide is produced naturally within plant biomass and plays diverse and pivotal roles within the plant kingdom. It is present in trace amounts in rain, water, and snow. It is also present in higher concentrations in such natural healing springs as Lourdes, Fatima and St. Anne’s.

Oxidation:

An oxidizing agent is a chemical compound that readily transfers oxygen atoms. Hydrogen peroxide is a common oxidizing agent. It breaks down readily in water, becoming water and oxygen as the oxidizing agent releases its extra oxygen atom. This action of releasing the extra oxygen atom bound in the hydrogen peroxide is what is defined as oxidation.

Without water to dilute the effect, highly concentrated formulas of hydrogen peroxide are volatile, unstable, caustic and downright powerful. It is this powerful action that makes hydrogen peroxide an exceptional rocket and space ship propellant. The simple power of oxidation when concentrated becomes capable of creating enough energy to lift spaceships off of launch pads and into outer space.

Simple yet effective, the actions of hydrogen peroxide in household concentrations (3 to 9 percent by volume in a distilled water solution) are also oxidative, and therefore, solutions of dry hydrogen peroxide once mixed with water become reactive upon contact with the water, and will lose their potency after approximately five hours. Liquid solutions will maintain their potency so long as they are stored properly. Both dry and liquid forms of hydrogen peroxide offer a powerful, effective, non-invasive and environmentally clean household cleaner, disinfectant, odor eliminator and all around useful chemical compound.

Liquid household and cleaning dilutions range from 3 to approximately 9 percent. Released oxygen molecules act on the micro organic level to kill pathogens, molds fungi and anaerobic life forms. In this way, hydrogen peroxide oxidation could be said to be the least toxic form of antiseptic germicidal action.

This is not to say that hydrogen peroxide is not toxic and even fatal in higher concentrations if ingested. Household strength solutions of hydrogen peroxide should kept out of reach of children, and should be stored away from sources of heat, moisture and direct sunlight. Gloves should be worn for direct applications. Should skin become sensitive if exposed to hydrogen peroxide, the solution is always to run copious amounts of water over the affected area.

Hydrogen peroxide breaks down in UV light, when exposed to air (open container) or when mixed with water. Storage of hydrogen peroxide should be in a cool, dark location in containers which block UV light. Because hydrogen peroxide is volatile, tightly capped bottles should be loosened periodically to allow the release of built up oxygen. Under these storage conditions, hydrogen peroxide will lose its potency only very slowly, at a rate of less than 10 percent per year.

All commercially available hydrogen peroxide is date stamped for freshness. Over time hydrogen peroxide will lose its potency, and old containers of hydrogen peroxide should be emptied and recycled.

Hydrogen Peroxide Liquid and Dry Formulations

There are several forms of hydrogen peroxide available for household use. For many applications simple 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution (same strength as found at the local drug or grocery store) will work perfectly. Particularly effective in kitchen disinfection, food grade hydrogen peroxide at 3 percent solution is the preferred choice for most applications where humans or their food come in contact with the surfaces being cleaned.

For some cleaning jobs that require more powerful deep cleaning and stain removing action, the most practical and reliable solution is to use a sodium percarbonate solution. Sodium percarbonate, also known as “dry hydrogen peroxide” is a mixture of soda ash, and hydrogen peroxide that is readily available from many environmentally friendly cleaning companies, from agricultural suppliers and directly from chemical suppliers.

For both food grade hydrogen peroxide (as the commercial 35 percent solution) and quantities of sodium percarbonate larger than two pounds, federal regulations require HazMat packaging standards for shipping. For this reason it is easier and less expensive to purchase food grade hydrogen peroxide solutions at 3, 4.5, 6 or 9 percent solutions when buying online or where shipping will be required and to purchase sodium percarbonate in 2 lb bucket containers. (You may purchase as many 2 lb bucket containers of sodium percarbonate as you need and have them shipped together and still not be liable for HazMat shipping containers. Hazmat shipping containers are only required for bulk packaging of sodium percarbonate (over 2 lb container size).

If you’re having trouble finding sodium percarbonate or do not want to purchase it online, most agricultural and garden supply centers will either carry it, or can easily order it for you. Agricultural grade sodium percarbonate does not differ from commercial cleaning grades and all sodium percarbonate remixes to an approximate 27 percent hydrogen peroxide solution when water is added in equal amounts.

If you’re thinking these are exotic or new materials that you should know more about before using, you may be surprised to know that sodium percarbonate in dilute mix with soda ash to reduce its strength to a 78 percent sodium percarbonate dry solid has been used in laundry and household cleaning for many years.

Perhaps you have heard of a rather popular “oxygen bleaching product” which entered the home cleaning market a few years ago: “Oxyclean”. Oxyclean is nothing more than sodium percarbonate and soda ash in this 78 percent strength formulation! Hydrogen peroxide, whether in its dry sodium percarbonate form or in a liquid solution, breaks down into non-toxic, environmentally friendly components: water, oxygen, and, in the case of sodium percarbonate, soda ash.

Liquid hydrogen peroxide is available in a variety of grades and dilutions, ranging from 3% drug store solutions all the way to 90% oxygenizers for rocket fuels.

 Using Hydrogen Peroxide

We’ve been taught by the chemical industry to expect instant results. The price of these instant results is often toxic chemical corrosives, acids or worse. When using sodium percarbonate or liquid hydrogen peroxide solutions, it may be necessary to allow the solutions to ‘work” actively for a few minutes.

When dealing with serious staining, either of concrete, carpeting, surfaces or clothing, a pre-soak period or activation time may be required. Throughout the e-book we have provided specific instructions including necessary activation time if needed for total effectiveness.

In some cases, adding a mild surfactant (a mild hand dishwashing liquid is an excellent choice) will assist the hydrogen peroxide in removing the stain. Often this is simply to help the hydrogen peroxide adhere to the stained surface in question, and/or to create a slight viscosity or “slipperiness” to the cleaning solution which aids in application.

In general, hydrogen peroxide can be safely and effectively combined with baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) to form an excellent cleaning and deep deodorizing paste. A few drops of liquid dish soap will add fragrance if desired, and viscosity.

Hydrogen peroxide should not be mixed with toxic commercial cleaners. It is a powerful oxidizing agent on its own, and without knowledge of the potential chemical reactions of toxic cleaning agents to oxidizers, it is unwise to experiment. Because hydrogen peroxide is such an effective anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial agent, no other chemical agents are required to accomplish proper cleaning.

The second thing about hydrogen peroxide to understand is that it is caustic at higher concentrations. The applications therefore specify which concentration of hydrogen peroxide is best suited for each particular purpose.

The human tendency to think “stronger is better” could lead to inadvertent bleaching or lightening of fabrics or other when working with hydrogen peroxide. 35 percent hydrogen peroxide solution is not suitable for direct application in any cleaning process, as it can cause oxidizing, or burning (quite literally burning holes through fabrics, for instance). A 3 to 4 percent solution of liquid hydrogen peroxide is perfectly effective for many household cleaning jobs; and higher concentrations are only advised for certain, specific tasks. Rather than assuming that a stronger concentration is needed, always repeat a single application at the same concentration in order to achieve the desired result.

Amazingly, once you learn this approach, you will find that hydrogen peroxide can do almost anything around your home when it comes to cleaning, and leaves a wonderful, fresh and really and truly clean home in its wake.

Finally, hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound. It is a cleaning agent, among many other things. So wear your gloves when you are getting down and dirty and digging into those chores. Your skin will not be harmed by hydrogen peroxide, but prolonged exposure can cause itching and dry the skin. Besides, who wants their bare hands in whatever is being cleaned up? For simple counter top wipe downs gloves are not necessary, but if you’re headed into the boys’ bathroom with a toilet brush and scrubbing tools, by all means, don the gloves!

All hydrogen peroxide should be clearly marked as to their dilution ratios. Most common dilutions of 3 percent are completely adequate for most household cleaning jobs, and in fact, this is the standard dilution we use throughout our home. In many cases, using sodium percarbonate diluted to regular cleaning strength will work quite well for more difficult to clean areas, and a stronger concentration is recommended for removing black mold, feces, urine and other odor causing organic stains. Specific dilution ratios are included in each section of the ebook.

We have included a handy reference guide and cleaning formulations table in the back of the ebook. We recommend that you print this up and keep it where it is easily accessible until you have become familiar with using hydrogen peroxide for your household cleaning.

The Color Code System in This Ebook

Regular Strength; 3% liquid H2O2 or 1 oz (1/4 c) Sodium Percarbonate to 1 quart water (100 to 150 F)

 Double Strength ; 4.5 % liquid H2O2 or 2 oz. (1/2 c) Sodium Percarbonate to 1 quart water (100 to 150 F)

Extra Strength; 6 – 9% liquid H2O2 or 3 oz. (3/4 c) Sodium Percarbonate to 1 quart water (100 to 150F)

For more info please read the entire book.

Hydrogen Peroxide Science Related Resources:

               NSF (National Science Foundation)

               ESA/International Hydrogen Peroxide Propulsion Conference

               Scitation.org Digital Science Documents

               Pure Energy Systems Wiki – Community-built energy information site

               Chinese Showcase Eco-friendly Cars

               Dr. Majid Ali’s Aging Healthfully Virtual Library – Dr. Majid Ali- Integrative Medicine Editor of Integrative Medicine Journal

               The Many Benefits Of Hydrogen Peroxide – Article