Going to a salon for highlights can cost upwards of a couple of hundred bucks. And, the at-home highlighting kits you can buy from drugstores are notorious for being terrible for your hair and producing less-than-desirable results. Read: your hair might turn orange or fall out. Instead of breaking the bank (or your hair), why not try the at-home peroxide solution? Mix one-part peroxide with one-part water in an empty spray bottle and shake to combine. You can also add a bit of lemon juice for a strong effect.
Spritz the mixture directly onto the areas you want to lighten and head out into the sun for some fun with friends or family. Better yet, camp out in the yard or at the pool, or somewhere where you can relax for an hour or two. Bring the spray bottle with you to re-spritz throughout the day. Make sure to wear your sunblock to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. If you do head to the pool, remember that the chlorine in the water can create a greenish tint in lighter hair colors. Don’t forget to rinse hair when you’re done swimming to prevent unwanted neon hair.
Teeth Whitener
Peroxide can be used to make those pearly whites, well, white again. So many different foods and drinks can cause stains on teeth; coffee, soda, tea, and juice, among others. You could waste a ridiculous amount of money to go to the dentist and have your teeth professionally whitened. Or, you could use those drugstore tooth whitening trays that leave you unable to swallow comfortably for like, an hour.
But if you’d rather avoid doing either of those things, you can make your own teeth whitener at home, using only hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Dip your toothbrush into the peroxide and cover with baking soda. Brush your teeth for at least a minute before rinsing. This method has been proven to be pretty tough on your tooth’s enamel, so don’t do it every day. Instead, aim for once or twice per week.
Nail Whitener
Just like many other surfaces, your nails can also benefit from the lightening power of hydrogen peroxide. Nails may turn yellow for a variety of reasons, including smoking, health issues, stress or beauty products. To make sure your nails stay their natural color, try this at-home solution.
Fill a small container with a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide and a teaspoon of water. Let each nail soak for 10-30 seconds on the mixture and wipe dry with a clean towel. Alternatively, you can soak a cotton ball in the mixture and let it sit on your nails for the same amount of time.
Glass Cleaner
Mirrors can be a very finicky thing to clean. If you don’t do it enough, you’ll wind up with spots that make it hard to see your own reflection. If you do it too much, or if you don’t do it correctly, you’ll end up with streaks that have the same negative effect.
The solution? A trusty mixture of one-part water and one-part peroxide in a spray bottle and shake lightly. Spritz onto mirrors and use balled-up newspaper to wipe them down. Say hello to your new, favorite (and green) glass cleaner!
Destroyer of Mold
The mold destroyer may sound like a badly named villain in some educational film about housecleaning, but mold is no joke. Mold problems in the home can cause serious respiratory and other health issues.
Of course, this solution won’t do you any good if you have found black mold in your walls or something, but if you’ve got a bit on the shower curtain or somewhere else visible and easy to reach, pull out your trusty hydrogen peroxide and pour some into a spray bottle. Spray the concentrated solution directly onto the moldy area and let sit for 15 minutes. Then, scrub the mold off and wipe the area down with a rag to make sure all of the spores have been removed.