Is hydrogen peroxide still an item you should have a lot of in your prep closet?
Posted by gwhh@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 178 comments
I read a lot of places as of late. That hydrogen peroxide is not as good as it once was for injuries. Since there are a lot of other stuff you can put on minor wounds now. Should you still stock it up in your closert or leave it out? To make room for other stuff. Other than wound care. What is hydrogen peroxide good for?
chantillylace9@reddit
It'll save a dog or person from poisoning if you can get it into them on time. I just saved a dog that ate rat poisoning because I had some and activated charcoal around
PlatonicFinger@reddit
How?
skyrunner8712@reddit
I've used it on my dog when he ate something that someone threw in my yard ( we had someone throwing poisoned hotdogs and hamburger in yards that year).
sadjkeschtuffe@reddit
That's freaking evil, I hope they got caught!! I'm glad your dog survived.
DuckLoud6920@reddit
everyone here claims that it is not good for wounds any more or as it once was. ONCE WAS? I dont know if you are all aware of how we are just walking ATM's to corporations. How times are changing for the worse politically and humanly . I feel they are lying to us. About many things. Including Hydrogen Peroxide not being effective on wounds. Its the only thing healing this Vax induced thing on my nose. Its a small hole that is getting bigger. Untill I started using hydrogen peroxide on it. Then it heals and stops being infected. So you do you, but I am well aware of the lying scum bags that permiate life and the internet.
HughDanforth@reddit
a few drops in your ears helps clear wax.
BuckABullet@reddit
I used to do that, but I ended up jacking my ear up. Doctor told me NOT to do that anymore.
lanejosh27@reddit
Please explain further.
BuckABullet@reddit
Hydrogen peroxide is tough on organic stuff. It basically burned the inside of my ear. It got better, eventually, but it was uncomfortable enough that I went to the doctor. I am NOT one of those people who goes for every little thing either. This was the 3% drug store stuff, so nothing weird, and I didn't leave it in that long. Like I said, I used to do that all the time, and it worked. For years.
Why are people downvoting me for saying that it jacked my ears up? That really happened! It always strikes me as ridiculous when people attack plain facts. There's nothing political here, and I am not attacking people who use it; I simply related an actual event from my life. WTH is wrong with people?
DudeWithTheNose@reddit
because just saying that it "jacked your ear up" with no further info doesn't help anyone and just sounds like fearmongering over a very common treatment
BuckABullet@reddit
Okay. I said "jacked my ear up", because I am not a doctor and don't know how to describe the injury exactly. It basically burned the inside of my ear, and took some time to get better. It didn't destroy my ears or hearing, but it caused enough injury and concern that I went to the doctor (I am known amongst my friends as being VERY reluctant to go to the doctor).
It isn't "fear mongering" when one recounts a personal experience. It is merely an anecdote, sure, but "fear mongering" is when you try to hype people about a threat/risk that is merely hypothetical. This shit actually happened to me. I still don't get the logic of downvoting it. I wasn't disrespectful to anyone, I wasn't relaying poorly sourced info, and I didn't say that people have to do it my way. I relayed a personal experience that had a significant downside so that others could make an informed decision. Downvoting that is just dumb.
DudeWithTheNose@reddit
man it's fine, you explained it in the comment I replied to.
But half of your comment is so baffled that someone would downvote you, so I explained why it's not an unreasonable reaction.
BuckABullet@reddit
I dunno. In the parent comment I did say, " It basically burned the inside of my ear. It got better, eventually, but it was uncomfortable enough that I went to the doctor." Seems pretty clear to me. Not sure how I could have relayed that better with a non-medical vocabulary (I have limited medical training). How would you have phrased it?
DudeWithTheNose@reddit
You aren't properly reading what I'm typing.
I explained why your initial comment (quoted above) got downvoted, because your follow-up comment was bewildered at why it was downvoted. No further confusion is required.
HughDanforth@reddit
I went to the ear doc and he told me it does no harm. Not sure if your PCP needs better info or what. Specialist know hir stuff.
BuckABullet@reddit
Honestly, even if my doc said it was okay I wouldn't do it again. I caused myself about a week and a half of unnecessary pain. Now I use the ear cleaning kit from the drugstore and it causes no problems. I was just using the H2O2 to save a buck; with copay it ended up not working out.
YMMV. It worked fine for me until it didn't. Maybe you'll never have a problem. Still, the ear cleaning kit is like $7 and lasts half of forever. I'm not going to burn my ear again just to avoid buying one.
IgoWhereImKicked@reddit
What did the peroxide do to your ear?
Puzzled-Cranberry-12@reddit
Diluted at all or straight?
Donohoed@reddit
It already comes diluted but plain unscented baby oil is better for softening ear wax anyway
Ambigu1ty@reddit
I've always used a few drops of undiluted peroxide to dissolve ear wax (leave in ear canal until you hear the bubbling subside), then use one of those squeezy bulb things to irrigate with warm water afterwards. I have super narrow ear canals that are prone to clog. I will have to try the baby oil thing, thanks for the tip!
Alasdaire@reddit
I would consider using swimmer’s ear drops for this purpose. It’s a solution with 95% isopropyl alcohol and the rest glycerin. The isopropyl alcohol evaporates, but the trace glycerin keeps your ear from being dried out. I imagine straight hydrogen peroxide simultaneously doesn’t dry as well.
Wendigo_6@reddit
Also clears out “Swimmers Ear”
rb109544@reddit
No doubt. Saved me hundreds by not taking kids to the doc during the summer swim days. When I did go, they said "just use peroxide after swimming...that will be $200, and oh you need to go by the grocery to buy your own peroxide".
macdawg2020@reddit
This is good to know, I get ear infections and swimmers ear all the freaking time.
Wendigo_6@reddit
To further explain - I use it as a preventative. If I get water stuck in my ear, I’ll put a few drops of peroxide in to clear the water out.
macdawg2020@reddit
Oh, okay, thank you!!
TheNewOldSchool2045@reddit
Better disinfectant than bleach
Fireflyfanatic1@reddit
Better no.
Great alternative yes.
TheNewOldSchool2045@reddit
It is better. There is a reason hospitals and microbiology labs don't use bleach.
Fireflyfanatic1@reddit
And you wonder why infections from hospitals is on the rise?
Staph doesn’t survive bleach end of discussion.
TheNewOldSchool2045@reddit
Evolution is why infections are on the rise. Overuse of antibiotics play into that too. MRSA is a strain of staph.
Bleach kills by deactivating proteins over time while peroxide rips apart bacterial membranes on contact. Bleach is inactivated by excessive organic material- which increases as cells die. Bleach takes time to disinfect, while peroxide kills on contact.
Bleach has a slightly longer shelf life, I'll give you that.
There are few absolutes in science.
Fireflyfanatic1@reddit
Are you serious?
TheNewOldSchool2045@reddit
How am I misleading anyone? I study this stuff for a living, lol
Fireflyfanatic1@reddit
So you are literally saying hydrogen peroxide pound for pound is much more effective than bleach?
That is what you are stating?
TheNewOldSchool2045@reddit
Your comment history shows you are going to be contrary no matter what I say. I'm glad I don't know you in person. Have a nice life.
Or prove me wrong with data and facts. Up to you
Fireflyfanatic1@reddit
Glad you found me so interesting that you felt it necessary to look personally into my comment history.
Anyone can do the research. At this point you do realize peroxide is an alternative to bleach and not the other way around.
CookieAdventure@reddit
I keep it on hand. It is good as a mouthwash / rinse. I just had my dental appointment and she was quite impressed with the improvement.
J701PR4@reddit
It’s the best thing ever invented for getting blood out of clothes!
melungeon2smart4u@reddit
And red wine too! Lol
kojiros@reddit
Oxiclean has some hydrogen peroxide in it as well. It’s been my go to for blood removal, but may try regular hydrogen peroxide in the future.
Oxiclean has a bunch of other stuff in it, but being a powder it does have a better shelf life, so may be worth keeping some on hand if you don’t already.
otusowl@reddit
You can buy pure sodium percarbonate instead. I got sick of the fragrances and other junk in Oxiclean, so am about to make the switch once the current box of Oxiclean is empty.
Bigredscowboy@reddit
Not sure where you are buying but it’s almost three times the price of oxiclean on Amazon.
otusowl@reddit
Being more concentrated / less riddled with fillers, I don't find this a problem.
KountryKrone@reddit
And likely bleach the clothing you are treating.
EmbarrassedNaivety@reddit
I see you’re being downvoted a bunch but just want to chime in to say that I noticed that when I’d get my period, I’d soak any undies that might have gotten blood in them in hydrogen peroxide. I noticed what looked like bleach stains in the black pairs. What I learned though is that the stains weren’t from the hydrogen peroxide. The acidity in your vaginal discharge can cause bleach-like stains in your underwear, and seeing as how all of the stains were localized to where the blood and discharge were, it makes sense.
Dolphinsunset1007@reddit
I use it on everything to spot treat and have never bleached clothing. You can dilute it though if that’s a concern.
1lazydaisy@reddit
I used HP as a stain remover on all our clothes. Have not bleached or ruined any clothes I e used it on. I use liberally on stains and let it soak. Been using it for over a decade.
DerpisMalerpis@reddit
Same here. I was a combat medic for 12 years, and I used it on my uniforms. It’s like magic for old and new blood stains, I’ll die on this hill.
likka-stoh@reddit
Thank you for your service.
DerpisMalerpis@reddit
It doesn’t bleach at all, as long as you rinse it after. I used it for 12 years on my uniform as a combat medic.
It’s like magic, for old blood and new.
Foreign_Oil_6354@reddit
True, but it’s 10/10 for white sheets or other white clothing articles that get blood in them (like underwear).
DerpisMalerpis@reddit
Exactly. I was a combat medic for 12 years. It gets old blood and new blood up like magic, without damaging your clothing.
TangledMyWood@reddit
Hydrogen peroxide is not to be used long term for cleaning wounds as it causes tissue damage as well as it cleans. However, it still has some uses. For example, I recently impaled my leg pretty good on a dead sapling sticking out of the ground, where hydrogen peroxide was very effective at cleaning debris out of the wound. because of the foaming reaction it has. After that first clean I switched to alcohol for the remaining wound care.
I have also had wounds with stitches that continued to bleed a little for a few days. The Dr. instructions I got where to use hydrogen peroxide diluted further in water to help scrub the scabbed blood off of the wound.
Also, TIL lots of useful garden applications for it, which I plan on trying out.
HappyAnimalCracker@reddit
When I’ve burned something in a pan and can’t soak or scrub it off, I put just enough peroxide in the pot to cover the burnt on material and boil it. Lifts right off. It’s astounding how well it works.
WeekendQuant@reddit
Have you tried this with water and making pan sauces?...
HappyAnimalCracker@reddit
If I understand your question correctly, you’re asking me if I’ve tried boiling off the burnt on stuff using water instead of peroxide? Yes I have and it doesn’t work remotely as good as peroxide.
WeekendQuant@reddit
Odd. Everything comes off when I use water and I get a delicious pan sauce every time.
Western_Entertainer7@reddit
You definitely should not use hydrogen peroxide to make gravy
jimmychitw00d@reddit
More lies from Big Bacon Grease if you ask me.
BuckABullet@reddit
How do YOU make gravy?
Yoda2000675@reddit
But it’s so flavorful!
HappyAnimalCracker@reddit
I think the burnt stuff I’m referring to is far more burnt on than what you’re dealing with. There would be nothing edible in the level of burned that I’m thinking of. 😆
WeekendQuant@reddit
You can avoid getting stuff that burnt on. I cook everything ripping hot too.
holistivist@reddit
Could definitely be wrong here, but I seem to recall that you shouldn’t boil peroxide as I creates some harmful gas?
HappyAnimalCracker@reddit
From what I’ve read, boiling 3% peroxide releases water and oxygen. So I wouldn’t stand directly over a boiling pot and inhale deeply, but the handful of times I’ve done this in my kitchen have caused no problems for me.
Disclaimer: Always do your research before trying anything you read on the internet, of course.
tesla1026@reddit
Just a heads up, it does expire. Not so much like how food does, but from an ongoing chemical reaction where it becomes just water.
You’ve got like 6 months with an open bottle and a year or two with a closed bottle.
Alasdaire@reddit
Hydrogen peroxide is a good disinfectant for surfaces, linens, etc.
For context, bleach is the gold standard for disinfection. But bleach has its drawbacks. Bleach has a short shelf life, it can be highly toxic/reactive, and it makes colors run.
Hydrogen peroxide is a pretty good disinfectant even if not as good as bleach. And it has the benefits of lasting longer, having a better safety profile, and removing stains without making colors run.
Burkina_Faso_@reddit
It decomposes way too easily.
Docella@reddit
Keep up to date with the latest or better products. Do you research. Replace them as you go along
beluga_nyc@reddit
it is the perfect thing for getting a dog (or any other animal?) to puke. a few tablespoon got 9 chomped up rib bones of out ma dog
Dolphinsunset1007@reddit
Nurse here. Alcohol and peroxide are no longer the standards for wound care. Saline and good old fashion soap and water are the gold standard. You may see peroxide used occasionally when a lifting action is needed (when my husband sawed into his finger they used it to lift any dirt out of the wound plus tetanus booster lol). Being said, I always keep it on hand because it is the BEST for removing blood stains. There’s many uses but I’ve also used diluted peroxide to wash my dog after she was sprayed by a skunk. It’s truly a great cleaning product.
duTemplar@reddit
Emergency physician here. Yea, clorhexadine and octenadine is pretty much the standard for minor wounds and sutures.
Hydrogen Peroxide is still the go-to for clearing out an abscess and debridement as you said.
9chars@reddit
not as good as it once was for injuries??? what moron did you hear that from? its a debriding agent and wondering for initially clearing out bad shit from wounds among many other uses like inducing vomiting, etc. It's absolutely a prepper must, but its shelf life can be limited. If exposed to light and oxygen it can degrade within a year.
Madgyver@reddit
Healthcare professional? Combat medics? Doctors without borders in 3rd world countries?
Nobody who has to desinfect wounds on a daily basis uses H2O2 anymore. That like cold war era medicine.
grumbol@reddit
It is still used for deep puncture wounds and wounds where you could reasonably suspect anaerobic infection. No, it is not for when you cut yourself or get a scrape. No, it is not to clean the wound daily because it will eat new skin. It is for the initial treatment of a chainsaw or deep puncture wounds where anaerobic infection might reasonably be a concern.
Madgyver@reddit
Do you have literature or anecdotal evidence from trauma care personell?
grumbol@reddit
And combat medics think ibu 800 is over the counter. Believe what you will, I don't need to convince you of anything.
Madgyver@reddit
Then shut your pie hole.
QueerTree@reddit
It needs to be rotated frequently (it loses potency), but it’s good to have on hand if you have a dog who loves to eat things he shouldn’t, like for example an entire bird food suet cake or a box of chocolate cookies. Hypothetically speaking, of course.
Snoo49732@reddit
It's a food safe disinfectant for your counters and cutting boards.
em_goldman@reddit
Doctor here: the best thing for wounds is water.
Nothing fancy. Literally just flush a lot with clean water that you would drink.
Hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol both kill healthy cells, which increases scaring, and creates dead cells that bacteria love to eat.
Skyyacht@reddit
I’ve used it to induce vomiting on occasion
Neat-Finger197@reddit
Unpopular fact but hydrogen peroxide is toxic to human tissue, should never be used to clean out a sound. Ever seen hydrogen peroxide used in the ER?! Nope.
malaliu@reddit
Dental. My 77yo friend swishes with some diluted hp every night and still has all her teeth.
charlestontime@reddit
😎
capt-bob@reddit
Mom said you can brush your teeth with baking soda and peroxide to whiten and help with gum problems, and to gargle with diluted peroxide or salt water for throat problems. I've added small amounts to a netti pot when I had sinus infection, but I have nothing to back that up medically.
SebWilms2002@reddit
Some studies have found that it inhibits wound healing, and the argument is that it's damaging effects outweighs its antiseptic properties. Plain soap and clean water, saline solution, and diluted alcohols or vinegar, are all thought to be equally effective at cleaning wounds without any of the potentially damaging effects. I personally don't keep hydrogen peroxide, I keep rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol is generally considered to have more potent antiseptic properties than hydrogen peroxide, with less negative impact on healing, and it is easier to store and lasts longer. Rubbing alcohol also has the benefit of being a very clean and safe fuel, for example for use in stoves, which hydrogen peroxide isn't.
I don't think there is anything terribly wrong with keeping and using it, but I don't think it is the best option if the primary use is for hygiene/sanitation.
grumbol@reddit
It does because it isn't used correctly. You use it once in deep puncture wounds (dog bite) or wounds that might have anaerobic bacteria (such as gangrene from a chainsaw wound) to destroy them. You do not use it in its undiluted form continually to clean the wound.
Dolphinsunset1007@reddit
This is true it’s meant to be used on very specific types of wounds. When my husband sawed into his hand they cleaned it with peroxide before the stitches. Unfortunately the layperson may not know or be able to determine the most appropriate times to use it and if used improperly or continuously as mentioned, can delay wound healing.
grumbol@reddit
You are very correct with everything you said.
Madgyver@reddit
Totally agree and for people who think that H2O2 still is the go to wound antiseptic when SHTF, combat medics dont use it, they use Chlorhexidine Gluconate solutions. This stuff is cheap and in 3rd world countries is even used for like 99% of all ambulatory surgery.
It's slowly being replaced by Octenidine dihydrochloride, expecially in europe. It's even cheaper and highly effective and idiot proof in use.
jaywalker108@reddit
This comment needs more upvotes. Before this thread, I didn't even know that people are still using peroxide as disinfectant.
byteuser@reddit
Cool. Thanks. Any clue by what name they sell it in North America?
NoRelevantUsername@reddit
Hibiclens usually, they also sell generic chlorhexadine.
Madgyver@reddit
Betasept seems to be popular, there are various products under that brand, read carefully what they are used for.
I am only aware of Oktaseptal, it seems like you can buy it in the US, but I am not sure about general availability. Your pharmacist might be able to help out.
neutrino46@reddit
If I wash a wound with soap and water, and apply alcohol, the wound still gets infected, usually requiring oral antibiotics, the only thing that has helped is sugardine, but the iodine irritates my skin.
KountryKrone@reddit
The likely cause of your wound infection is the alcohol. It kills healthy tissue. Damaged tissue is much more likely to get infected.
DazedWithCoffee@reddit
If you do not care for your wounds properly that is your issue. Anecdotes are not facts, get better at treating yourself and stop spouting this nonsense
Puzzled-Cranberry-12@reddit
Rubbing alcohol was used in the sterile instrument storage at my last job in surgery. That was the only thing we could clean the shelves with. The instruments were already in sterile bundles so we just wiped off any dust.
RememberOola@reddit
People hardly use hydrogen peroxide anymore.
https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/ss/slideshow-wound-care-dos-and-donts#:~:text=Using%20hydrogen%20peroxide%20or%20rubbing,dirt%2C%20debris%2C%20and%20bacteria.
I would advise isopropyl alcohol or carbonated water that do the same but are far less toxic.
WeekendQuant@reddit
I use hydrogen peroxide to pour in my AC condensate line throughout the summer to prevent mold buildup and keep the line clear. I keep about a half gallon around for that. I keep a good supply on hand, but not a lot on hand. If SHTF, I could forgo clearing my condensate line for a season or 2 and use it for many of the other uses it's used for. Unless SHTF, there are much better things to use than peroxide for many of those things. Peroxide is just versatile, but not the best at really any of the things people use it for.
rehashed1984@reddit
Oh wow I'm glad I just read this. My aircon clogged up last time I used it and flooded my lounge room overnight! It's still cold here but it will be a hot summer in a few months.
skyrunner8712@reddit
It's good in gardening. A diluted solution can be applied to plants as a means to control blight. I also use it to santitize my gardening tools.
musical_shares@reddit
I use it to germinate seeds by soaking them.
Science indicates it both helps seeds germinate faster and leads to healthier seedlings from said seeds.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3405688/
TheCookie_Momster@reddit
Thank you. I don’t know how I’ve never heard of this before
EmbarrassedNaivety@reddit
Yup, it’s also great at getting rid of fungus gnats. Spray some in the soil when watering until they’re gone. Worked wonders for a couple of my plants!
chrs_89@reddit
It’s also useful in hydroponics for keeping algae growth down
NJShadow@reddit
This is fascinating.
evermorecoffee@reddit
TIL! Very cool, thanks for sharing 😄
likka-stoh@reddit
I can attest to hydrogen peroxide also killing any beneficial bacteria in your soil when growing though! I'm not dissing h2o2 at all trust me, but something to keep in mind if you're at all worried about that for organic grows (of whatever really).
woolen_goose@reddit
Same!
electricboogaloo1991@reddit
You can do a lot with a concentrated solution too lol.
gvictor808@reddit
Like rocket jet packs. Remember that dude that flew into the Super Bowl?
Particular_Bobcat_52@reddit
Came here to mention your second point.
I use it to sanitize roots on transplant/ diseased items, my gardening tools and small planting pots.
Realistic-Point-5973@reddit
If I was you I would get online and Google all the uses for things like peroxide, white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, rubbing alcohol etc. Then print off all the uses and put waterproof covers over the pages and keep next to those supplies once you have read them. You would be surprised in a pinch how even things like a paperclip or a staple can solve many problems when the grid goes down.
pjpotter14@reddit
It's good for dental and ear care. It's awesome for getting blood stains out of fabric. And it's a common ingredient in homemade cleaning solutions. I know a lot of carpet cleaners (particularly those for pet messes) have it as their primary ingredient
tronic50@reddit
Hydrogen peroxide is cheap, has a lot of uses, and is easy to store. IMHO it is a no brainer to have a few bottles stashed away.
Madgyver@reddit
It's actually not easy to store, compared to virtually all antiseptics. It gases out and has to be stored in a cool and dark enviroment. It's also not inherently safe to use. I can get antiseptic into my eye and beside irritation there is no side effect. Hydrogen peroxide can cause blindness.
And from personal expierience, I can tell you that even low level concentration of 3% solution will destroy 600D Nylon and leather if you give it enough time (2-3 days). It will make the material brittle and your backpack will just start to disintegrate.
magpie_killer@reddit
this is why I buy sodium percarbonate (dry powder). a tiny bit + a bunch of water = hydrogen peroxide
NarcolepticTreesnake@reddit
That's a fantastic piece of knowledge I was missing, thanks! 👍
Madgyver@reddit
Sounds fun. It's also the stuff they sell as active oxygen bleach, right?
magpie_killer@reddit
yep, oxiclean etc. Anyway to rebrand a common thing and make more money on it I guess. I bought my bag of percarbonate from an online mechanic supplier, guess they use it in their shops to clean stuff. bought it 10 years ago and still have 10 lbs left.
definitely do not use it on wounds, just to clean stuff
less_butter@reddit
It's not easy to store. Once unsealed, it starts to go bad within a month and will last 6 months at the most.
9chars@reddit
It's more like a year.
NarcolepticTreesnake@reddit
It doesn't keep well, it loses potency rather fast especially if opened. Same with povidone iodine BTW. It's pretty much toast in 2 years.
Sea_Vermicelli7517@reddit
I wouldn’t put hydrogen peroxide on any open wounds. Hydrogen peroxide isn’t discriminatory, it damages cells so it damages healthy tissue as well as pathogens. In short, wounds won’t heal well because the hydrogen peroxide will damage healthy tissue.
10/10 for getting blood and snot out of materials.
Fireflyfanatic1@reddit
Interesting it’s the wounds that don’t heal properly that this fixes. At least in my last 50 years or so.
Sea_Vermicelli7517@reddit
Anecdotal data and survivor’s bias are poor science.
Fireflyfanatic1@reddit
I’ll take Field tested proof. Your science has lead us to resistant bugs.
cinesias@reddit
Hydrogen peroxide is great for debriding wounds. Use other antiseptics to clean wounds.
Electric_Stress@reddit
It's useful for debriding a wound, the bubbles do a pretty decent job loosening debris, but otherwise there are better options.
marvinrabbit@reddit
The tough part (as everyone mentioned) is that hydrogen peroxide gets weaker with age.
I use a "daily shower spray" of 1 cup hydrogen peroxide, 1 cup rubbing alcohol, 2 tbsp dishwasher surfactant, 1 tbsp dishwashing liquid. Put in a 32 floz sprayer.
That way I actually use my supply of hydrogen peroxide and my stock rotates. Now, when I have an injury I don't find that it is 10 years past expiration.
IndependentWeekend56@reddit
It loses its punch in like a year so I only keep a bottle at a time.
It's a good mouth wash though. It's used for sprouting seeds too. I never used it but it might help if you have a limited number of seeds.
slogive1@reddit
I learned something today. Well a few things. Thank you.
EmberOnTheSea@reddit
It is absolutely a good thing to have on hand for dental/oral care. It isn't ideal as a topical antiseptic, but it is cheap and better than nothing.
chud3@reddit
Yep, I brush my teeth, gums, and tongue with it.
Sleddoggamer@reddit
Hydrogen peroxide is pretty general use. Not all antiseptics can be used on yourself, seeds, gardening tools, or around the house just preventing mold, and I'm think you can use it as a crude refining agent for some things if your a workshop kind of person who knows how to appropriately use chemicals during reworks
HappyFunTimethe3rd@reddit
It seals minor cuts
schrodngrspenis@reddit
Good for improvised explosives
madpiratebippy@reddit
It expires over time. If you put some on a potato and it does not fizz, it's not good as a disinfectant anymore. Iodine is better for long term preps.
That said I use hydrogen peroxide in my laundry a lot so I always stock up when the prices are good, because it removes bloodstains better than anything else.
Ok_Replacement8094@reddit
There’s a recipe w/ hydrogen peroxide & dish soap & baking soda, that truly works to remove skunk spray from dogs. Speaking from experience & multiple use cases.
fridayimatwork@reddit
It’s still good for injuries
Madgyver@reddit
It's not recommended to use in open wounds anymore, because it can and will disturb wound healing. There are better alternatives, formulated as distinct wound antiseptics that are more effective and very shelf stable.
9chars@reddit
Completely bad advice dude. It's good for initial cleaning of the wound esp if there is dirt and bullshit in there you need to get out. Yeah it hurts health tissue, but using it sparingly will help keep the wound area clean making it easier for healthy tissue to grow back into place. I really wonder how many people on this sub are actually going to survive when shit really hits the fan.
FireRescue3@reddit
No.
Madgyver@reddit
Healthcare professionals disagree.
https://healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/health-library/all/2023/04/should-you-use-hydrogen-peroxide-clean-wound
fridayimatwork@reddit
Really? Link? I’d like to know because my husband is a pourer
Madgyver@reddit
Link to what? That it's not recommended anymore?
https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/ss/slideshow-wound-care-dos-and-donts
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-is-hydrogen-peroxide-good-for/
https://healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/health-library/all/2023/04/should-you-use-hydrogen-peroxide-clean-wound
Alternatives:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7794247/#:\~:text=Octenidine%20dihydrochloride%20(OCT)%20is%20a,scar%20quality%20after%20surgical%20procedures.
One product from a few is Oktaseptal
Side effects: Tastes bitter and and may cause burning sensation
https://pharmedio.pl/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Oktaseptal_Ulotka_13.09.2021-clean_.pdf
fridayimatwork@reddit
This is what I wanted thank you!
Flat_Boysenberry1669@reddit
Now adays it's widely accepted soap and water are best for an open wound to clean it.
For the first few days maybe some anti biotic ointment but then let your body and air do the rest the second the scab forms.
Atleast this is what my doctor told me when I had a fishing hook destroy my hand lol.
AdditionalAd9794@reddit
My understanding with hydrogen peroxide is it works fine as intended but people are dumb and use it incorrectly. You use it for the initial cleaning of a wound. Problem being people including professional who were trained to do so, used it continuously to clean wound after re bandaging, which actually slows down healing and increases scars.
kfrenchie89@reddit
I use it for stains! Especially menstrual blood which works like a charm.
smsff2@reddit
Hydrogen peroxide will give you a bad itch if not handled properly. If you have it on your fingers, you will need to wash it with water. But water might not be always readily available.
Hydrogen peroxide is definitely good for wounds in your mouth. This is one area, where hydrogen peroxide beats alcohol. In all other areas, alcohol is better. It's great for hand washing, for cleaning oily things. I use it to wash dirty and messy wounds, where paramedics would normally use sterile water.
Personally, I keep a lot of alcohol, and only a few bottles of hydrogen peroxide.
KountryKrone@reddit
Yes, it can help. I caution to dilute half and half with saline and use it no longer than you have to. Why? It can cause black hairy tongue.
I did a review of the literature on various oral care solutions when I worked with adult cancer patients.
ConclusionMaleficent@reddit
For injuries I keep tea tree oil. The Australian army doctors used it as a topical antibacterial and antifungal prior to penicillin.
john_abs@reddit
Don't stock up, it decomposes over time and essentially "goes bad". However, having a way to make peroxide solution is likely a good idea. Alcohol doesn't go bad, so if you would stock up on anything it should be that, along with antibiotic, antifungal, etc. creams, iodine, bleach tablets, and so forth.
Upset-Pin-1638@reddit
Before anyone "stockpiles" it, please do some research. It has very limited use in a healthcare setting. The main thing used for cleaning open wounds, in our ED, was sterile saline.
rodeoclownboy@reddit
Can use it to disinfect h20in a pinch so worth keeping around imo if only for that
OnTheEdgeOfFreedom@reddit
Hydrogen peroxide is fun in chemistry experiments, especially if you can get your hands on the 40+% stuff, which generally you can't unless you want to deal with industrial suppliers, and at high concentrations they'll likely have... questions. Fun stuff though.
In a prepper closet, standard 3% probably isn't worth it unless you plan to replace it every 6 months. And even then, it's no longer recommended for wound cleaning, though it's still considered very good as a mouthwash. The stuff just decomposes too fast for long term storage.
Stocking it for dental care might make sense, but rotate through your supply.
therealharambe420@reddit
I keep several bottles in my med kit. It is a very useful multipurpose chemical.
magpie_killer@reddit
I picked up a 40lb bag of pure sodium percarbonate. easy to store and when you add water it turns into hydrogen peroxide and a bit later breaks down into component ingredients, so is safe to flush. the cleaning industry is using this more and more, several laundry detergents are variants of this or exactly sodium percarbonate. I use it for cleaning all my gardening and rabbitry stuff, it really works well
9chars@reddit
Get educated derps -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debridement
Reduntu@reddit
That link does more to support the use of maggot therapy than hydrogen peroxide, king derp.
Madgyver@reddit
I might have mist the part where H2O2 is mentionend.
ross570@reddit
It cost about $1 per bottle . Why not keep some?
Guilty_Jackrabbit@reddit
For treating wounds, povidone iodine is better. Plus, it can be stored indefinitely.
But, hydrogen peroxide has some uses like helping to clear ear wax.
lizards_sk8boards@reddit
People are probably defaming it just to put other stuff in the market.
It's great on whitening your teeth but somebody else defamed it and I remember after listening to them I started having problems with my teeth and now I have porcelain fillings for listening to the wrong mouth. It could have saved me those semi torturous appointments to the dentist and those killing mouth bacteria. I'm back to using it at times but I dilute it in water
The only problem with hydrogen peroxide is it does if,if you'd drink it ,it would kill some of your intestinal flora.... It would have saved many pre-gun era warriors 🗡️ ⚔️ because many of these wouldn't necessarily die of bleeding out or unable to be saved but slashes in the intestines the flora would go into other parts of their orgasm causing damage because they're finding your intestines because that's where they're natural from with their dangerous anywhere else including e coli, responsible of fabricating our poop.... but hydrogen peroxide would have saved many ancient to medieval warriors
Stockpile on it,man !!! It's disinfectant because it won't kill us & it's not like you're going to drink it plus mouthwash diluted in water plus if you accidentally swallow your flora recuperates fast enough.. I've got a bottle in my stockpile among my (household medicine )bug out elements
DazedWithCoffee@reddit
It is a useful chemical oxidizer, but it is not really suitable for wound dressing. The ozidization will denature anything in the applied area that might be healing your wound naturally. Alcohol or iodine povidone is a better disinfectant
FlashyImprovement5@reddit
I have providone iodine, alcohol, muripucin, honey and peroxide,
I also carry pool shock and a few other items. Mostly herbal like comfrey, yarrow and plantain.
PhoenixHeat602@reddit
Let me clear up one major point regarding the foundation of Prepping and having Hydrogen Peroxide in your stash: having it in your preps should not mean you have it in your bathroom, under the sink. You prep for a situation/crisis where the system is failing or collapses. When the system of logistics stops for whatever reason, you have planned and prepped to be self sufficient/reliant for an extended period of time, or forever. Therefore, you can use hydrogen peroxide for oral care/maintenance and external wound care…period.
Oral issues killed frontier dwellers when teeth rotted and became infected, the same with wounds. You won’t or shouldn’t use a multi-use liquid like (hp) for cleaning, making fixtures cleaner or some other ‘grandma’s recipe’.
Store, rotate, use and replace your (hp) as you can, thus keeping a regular storage of your stash. HP is cheap at the moment, just as bleach (unscented) and ammonia (unscented). The last two (bleach and ammonia) can be used for cleaning your living quarters) but NEVER-NEVER mix those two, as they will immediately react and potentially cause catastrophic results to anyone in the area of the gas.
Bleach can be used in a SHTF situation to fish in streams, as it removed the oxygen from the water, but only in a SHTF situation as the damage to the creek will persist for a very long time. Also in purifying water.
When cleaning pots, pans and laundry, use the proper soaps, until you run out, after that you will need to get used to smelling a little, until you learn to make lye soap.
nheyduck@reddit
The only problem with hydrogen peroxide I have is the white foil tamper seal under the cap degrades rapidly when trying to store sealed bottles otherwise hell yeah imma stock it.
RegNurGuy@reddit
When using for wound care, please know that hydrogen peroxide does damage healthy tissue. I would suggest cleaning the wound once with it, rinse with saline or water. Only if a wound looks infectious or has dead tissue, would I reapply.
RutCry@reddit
What are other uses?
G00dSh0tJans0n@reddit
Mouthwash, cleaning stuff, etc. I keep some around but not for wound care and rarely use it. I will say, though, that peroxide taste terrible. Like so terrible it's interesting and should be tried at least once (don't drink it though). It's like what I imagine water would taste like in Stranger Thing's The Upside Down (or in the shadow realm)
WhiskeyFree68@reddit
I keep hydrogen peroxide and isopropyl alcohol in some quantity.
harrypotterobsessed2@reddit
I do. It has a lot of uses.
horse1066@reddit
Oxidiser in rocket fuel
Blueporch@reddit
You can use it for lots of stuff — gum care, bleaching your hair blond (or orange)