Peroxide the new Bleach

I have had the same bottle of bleach in my laundry room for as long as I can remember.  Occasionally, I find myself diluting it down with water for heavy cleaning jobs when soap and water just will not work .   Mostly it sits on the shelf because the smell leaves me with a headache, let alone it is just really nasty stuff.  I have found myself relaying more on steam cleaning or using 3% hydrogen peroxide to tackle most cleaning.  3% Hydrogen peroxide makes a great bleach replacement; it is anti bacterial, anti fungal and anti viral.   All the reason we use it on our skin for scraps and cuts.  It is easy on your washer, your clothes and septic system.  Try to keep in mind what we put down the drain ends back up in our water supply.   In some upcoming posts I will explore the other benefits of hydrogen peroxide with you that I have found myself fond of.

I just recently started using this in my wash since being deployed and my selection of clothing options are limited.  I wear the same six PT shirts, six pairs of white socks and six white sports bras to work out in and trust me when I say they take a beating.  Over the last couple of months here I have noticed a lot of peoples PT shirts including mine being extremely discolored.  We live in the middle of the desert, use non potable water to wash our cloths, perspire uncontrollably and endure temperatures of 100 plus degree Fahrenheit with 60% humidity.  Although the 3% dilution is working great given the conditions, I would prefer to have a 5% dilution. 

Just as you would add bleach to your wash use hydrogen peroxide in the same manner.  Considering the conditions I am currently living and the beating my clothes are taking I have found that soaking my clothes for an hour or so before washing helps loosen the dirt and grime.  Simply fill the washer, add powdered laundry soap and a cup of hydrogen peroxide.  After an hour I start the normal cycle. 

Cost Savings:

1 Gallon Bleach: $3.00

*16oz 3% Hydrogen Peroxide: $1.00

*This may not seem like much of a cost savings if you are buying the 3% Brown bottles from the local drug store.  To increase your buying power, purchase the 35% Food Grade and dilute to 3% with distilled water.   http://www.using-hydrogen-peroxide.com/Concentrations-of-hydrogen-peroxide.html

Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical and extra care should be taken when handling it.  Always test on a small piece of fabric before use to prevent color bleaching.  Most importantly keep out of reach of young children. 

Whiter Smile

I have been a Listerine user for as long as I can remember, there is something about the tingling sensation that just says clean!  Like many who desire unnaturally white teeth, I have spent a fortune on teeth whitening tooth pastes, mouth washes, bleach strips and professional dental whitening.  All of which are counter acted by my love affair with coffee and red wine.  Since expanding more on my new found love of Hydrogen Peroxide, it has replaced Listerine on the bathroom counter at a much cheaper price.  This is not a new idea and people have been doing this for years becasue it works. 

Gargle with two caps of 3% for a minute or two.  The important thing is to swish the liquid around in your mouth getting it in all the nooks and crannies.  Brush your teeth as usual and enjoy the extra foaming actions.  You cannot help but notice the extra clean feel.   There is a noticeable peroxide taste, similar to that found in whitening toothpaste and mouthwash.

Douse a little peroxide on your toothbrush once you are done to clean your toothbrush.

Cost Savings:

Listerine 32oz: $7.00

3% Hydrogen Peroxide: $1.00  

*This may not seem like much of a cost savings if you are buying the 3% Brown bottles from the local drug store.  To increase your buying power, purchase the 35% Food Grade and dilute to 3% with distilled water.   http://www.using-hydrogen-peroxide.com/Concentrations-of-hydrogen-peroxide.html

If you decide diluting is for you, be sure to keep your contain that will block out light and stored in a dark location. (Medicine cabinet, drawer, etc.)  Most importantly keep out of reach of young children. 

Shopping List

I came to the realization earlier this week that I should give everyone a shopping list of commonly purchased items for your clean n’ green supply locker.  I think you will be amazed at how simple and inexpensive this style of living can truly be.  I bet most of you have at least five of these already. 

Just in time for your weekly trip to the grocery store here it is.  The list is broken out into two categories, those items purchased frequently and those used frequently.  The items used frequently tend to be more expensive in comparison but they last along time.  I buy so much vinegar that cashiers always ask me what I’m canning!

Frequently Purchased

*White Vinegar

*Apple Cider Vinegar

*Baking Soda

Washing Soda

Borax

Fels Napa (or perfume free soap of your choice)

Hydrogen Peroxide

Cornstarch or Arrowroot

Witch Hazel

Isopropyl Alcohol

Frequently Used

Castile soap

Coconut Oil

Vitamin E Oil

Avocado Oil

Apricot Oil

Essential Oils

Jojoba Oil

Citric Acid or Fruit Fresh

Course Kosher Salt

* The best price for these items has been Costco or another Bulk Warehouse type store.

Boil Away Foul Air

Cooking, pets, husbands and kids can leave our home with less then desirable smells.  Most of us are horrified at the idea of a friend coming over and saying our house smells so we spend a fortune on room sprays, candles and other products that mask the odors and leave toxins in our air.  Stop wasting your money and buy the one product that eliminates odors…..Vinegar! No surprise, vinegar is one of my cleaning super products.   

Method:

Boil equal parts water and vinegar

Super easy and super efficient.  You can boil the mix while you cook, while you eat or any point during the day.  It’s important to note that too much vinegar will leave your house, less then inviting so dilute it.    

We use to live within five miles from a local pig farm and when the wind blew just right on a hot summer day our house smelt like we lived at the pig farm.   A couple couples boiling on the stove and home smelt clean again. 

Stain Fighting Power

Weather you buy your clothes new or shop resale, we pay a lot of money for our clothes.  I shop conservatively so I can wear items for multiple seasons.  I’m guilty of having clothes in my closet that are from my early college days, over ten years ago.  What I have found works best for treating stains in our family is one of three methods below.  There are hundreds of stain treatment possibilities based on stain type and materials affected.  This recipe is for your everyday food, dirt and baby poop variety stain on cotton and cotton blends. 

Ingredients:

Spray Bottle

Hydrogen Peroxide

Baking Soda or Washing Soda

Hand Soap

Water

In a light blocking spray bottle mix equal parts water, hand soap and hydrogen peroxide add 3 table spoons baking soda or washing soda.  I’ve used both and can’t tell a difference between the two.  Mix and apply as needed.  Shake the bottle before each application.

Rinse the stained article with cold water, removing any debris.  Use the above mix to spray onto the article scrub as needed or let dry.  Wash as normal

*For the best results in stain fighting treat the stain immediately.    

Some great pretreatment options include:

Mix cold water and baking soda together and soak the affected items until you have time to deal with it.  I found this method very helpful when I was used cloth diapers.  Thoroughly rinse the article and drop it in a bucket. 

For tougher stains pretreat the article using the above mix and rub in some additional Fels Napa soap.  Rub the article together to work deep into the stain.  A stiff bristle brush would also work.   

The most natural way to remove stains is with sun bleaching.  I found this especially useful to keep my cloth diapers bright white and looking new.  This was very helpful for those baby clothes after diaper explosions.  All of my baby poop stains were soaked in baking soda until wash day, which averaged every third day.   Baking soda neutralized any odor on the items.  After washing the items in cold water, hang them in the sun to dry.  The sun works as natural bleach on the stains.  Some stains will need longer exposure then others.  There are tips for line drying your clothes so they don’t get stiff, but I never followed them.  I always rewashed these items anyway.  I know not very green, but I live in the desert where it’s always blazing hot and dusty out.  Clothes just don’t come off the line smelling like a summer breeze out here.

Using these methods I really don’t recall any of our daughter’s baby clothes falling victim to permanent stains.  At least not yet! 

**Nothing on here is an exact science, experiment with ingredients and measurements.  Every recipe I have found has been tweaked from the original to work based off my needs. 

Cost Savings:

Shout 30oz: $4.52

Peroxide: $1.50

Dish & Hand Soap

This is incredibly easy and again cheap.  If you have not noticed already those are two things that perk my interest.  My Sister in Law spent the day with me a couple months back and she was amazed at how quick and easy it was for me to whip up a batch of liquid and powder laundry soap, dishwasher detergent and dish/hand soap.  When I first started out making these items she was intrigued but intimidated to try it on her own.  So that afternoon we had a show and tell session in my kitchen which my husband says doubles as the "lab".  Once she realized how easy the whole process was, she had girls day back home showing off her new skills. 

1 bar of grated soap

1/2 gallon water

2 tbsp glycerin

Decorative soap dispenser

Mix ingredients together in a large pot on the stove. Set over low heat, stirring occasionally until the soap has dissolved. Transfer to a jar and cover tightly. For thinner gel soap, use 1 gallon of water.  This works both for dish and hand soap.  Most of my dishes find their way to the dishwasher, so if you find this soap doesn’t hold up to your hand washing liking, try adding baking soda to the batch.   

For the kitchen and utility sink I keep soap made from Fels Napa bars.  These have better grease cutting properties.  Feel free to use Castile (like Dr. Bonners) or any soap of your choice.  If you want something that will not dry out your skin stick with a castile soap. 

I like to watch out for decorative soap pumps from second hand stores but you can reuse any pump you have on hand.  For a really cute look buy a “mason jar pump” from www.etsy.com.

Natural Fabric Softener

I’ve never really been keen on fabric softeners in my wash and I’ve always been too frugal to buy dryer sheets. Occasionally over the years, I would grab a bottle from Costco.  When I did use them, I always felt like there was a residue left on my clothes so those purchases were few and far between.   Keep in mind our detergents and fabric softeners untimely end up in our drinking water.   Like other commercially produced products fabric softeners are packed full of  chemicals that mimic natural ingredients and are monitored closely by the EPA.   

If you are into big business conspiracies think about this.  If not skip ahead to the next paragraph, no hurt feelings.  The same manufacturer who produces detergent also sells, fabric softener and dryer sheets.  That equals to a lot of money to have soft wrinkle free laundry.  This is where the vicious cycle of dependency begins.  We feel compelled to continue using all the products to get the results you desire, the results the manufacturer promised.  Why not have one product that doesn’t harm your clothes or your health?  For them it is all about the profits.  Most of us walk around oblivious to there being anything harmful about the products we use because the government has approved their use……..Think again.  Big business fuels big government.

But what if you could use a detergent that reduced your dependency from static cling and wrinkles?  Start by trying one of my recipes for homemade detergent or source out one on the web that works best for your needs. 

In lieu of fabric softeners try adding ½ cup white vinegar to your washer.  Not only will the vinegar break down any remaining soap residue in your laundry it will clean your washer.  No need to worry about your clothes smelling like vinegar the smell with dissipate in the dryer if any carries over from the washer.  None of my non “Crunchy” friends have never told me my clothes, bedding or towels smell, so I take that as success. 

You can also add dryer balls to the dryer to expedite drying.  My aunt was doing this year’s ago and I thought she was crazy until I went home and Goggled it.  This way you are saving money on dryer sheets and electricity. 

Cost Savings:
Downey Free & Clear Fabric Softener 103fl oz: 9.99
Distilled White Vinegar 128fl oz: 3.99