Hydrogen peroxide is an effective bacteria and germ killer, making it a great household cleaner and disinfectant. But is it strong enough to kill viruses?
What science says
Hydrogen peroxide is an effective disinfectant because it can deactivate germs, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a 3% concentration is enough to do this. You can find hydrogen peroxide products with this concentration in stores.
A study conducted with 3% hydrogen peroxide proved that hydrogen peroxide is strong enough to deactivate rhinovirus. This virus causes the common cold. It was able to kill off the respiratory virus within 8 minutes. In another study published by the Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control journal last 2018, hydrogen peroxide was more effective in killing off some forms of bacteria than other quaternary ammonium compounds that are being used in most household cleaning products.
This proves that hydrogen peroxide works as a great tool to reduce germs in your home, especially in disinfecting inanimate surfaces such as glass, metal, and plastic. This is pretty useful to help keep your family safe from the pandemic. As mentioned earlier, hydrogen peroxide products found in stores and pharmacies have 3% hydrogen peroxide. This is a strong enough concentration for disinfecting purposes.
But if you want to use a lower concentration, you can dilute it to a 0.5% concentration – this is still effective but not strong enough to kill off most viruses. You can dilute by mixing 0.5 parts of hydrogen peroxide with 2.5 parts of water.
The difference between cleaning and disinfecting
Before you start using hydrogen peroxide to disinfect any surface, the CDC recommends that you clean the area first with soap and water.
You may be wondering, isn’t disinfecting the same as cleaning? The answer is no – they are two very different processes. Cleaning physically removes dirt, grime, and some germs from the surface, but the process is not enough to kill the germs. Disinfecting is the process that kills the germs and other microorganisms.
So why not go straight to disinfecting since it is more effective? You have to clean the surface first with soap and water because you need to remove the dirt, dust, and grime first. The presence of dirt, dust, and grime will reduce the disinfecting ability of any disinfectant that you use. The germs and other microorganisms can also hide underneath the dirt, which could make the disinfectant ineffective.
How to use hydrogen peroxide to kill off viruses
The process of using hydrogen peroxide is pretty simple. Here are the instructions:
- Put on protective gear like gloves and mask to make sure that your skin does not come in contact with the disinfectant and that you do not inhale the fumes it may produce.
- Clean the surface first with soap and water. Wipe dry with a paper towel.
- Place a spray nozzle on your bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Use it to spray on the surface.
- Let the hydrogen peroxide sit for at least 5 minutes. This will give it enough time to kill off the virus and other pathogens.
- Wipe the surface using a clean cloth or a paper towel.
Fair warning
Do a test first
If you are cleaning surfaces such as countertops made out of granite and marble, test it first in a small spot because the acidity of hydrogen peroxide may break down the finish or leave a stain. For colored surfaces, it is also better to test it on a small spot first as the bleaching properties of hydrogen peroxide may cause discoloration.
Do not mix with other liquids
There is a trend going around on the Internet that you should mix hydrogen peroxide with vinegar. It is never wise to use chemicals, especially if you have no experience with it. Mixing hydrogen peroxide with vinegar in one container will create peracetic aid. Peracetic acid can be harmful to your skin, respiratory system, and your eyes.
Work with 3% hydrogen peroxide concentration
The household hydrogen peroxide has a 3% concentration. It is better if you do not go beyond that when it comes to disinfection. Higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide can cause dangerous reactions and even explosions when combined with other materials or applied to metals.
Store properly
Hydrogen peroxide bottles come in brown or amber color because its potency will weaken when exposed to light. The dark color of the bottles shields them from light. If you have to transfer your hydrogen peroxide to another container, make sure that it is dark-colored to ensure that it will stay stable and effective.