If you are looking for a disinfectant, you have plenty of options, and two of the most common are bleach and hydrogen peroxide. Both can be highly effective for disinfecting and cleaning, but is hydrogen peroxide better than bleach?
Producing it involves burning barium salt, which then produces barium peroxide. Once dissolved in water, this then generates hydrogen peroxide.
It is used in manufacturing and as a bleaching agent, particularly for pulp and paper. This accounts for around 60% of its use worldwide.
It is a high-level disinfectant when you add it to water, reacting very rapidly, disintegrating into hydrogen.
The free radicals released by hydrogen peroxide act to decompose pollutions in water, both oxidising and disinfecting.
Standard hydrogen peroxide inhibits bacterial growth, but stabilised silver hydrogen peroxide is also effective against organisms with high cellular catalase activity.
Here, the silver in the hydrogen peroxide reacts with the catalase, destroying it, and then allowing the chemical agent to penetrate the microbial cell wall and kill the bacterium.
Hydrogen peroxide has a good environmental footprint and is one of the safest types of disinfectants.
Its components break down into water and oxygen, leaving no harmful by-products. It decomposes completely and is biodegradable.
Because it works aggressively against pathogens, attacking their cell walls, it is extremely effective when it is the main, active ingredient in a disinfectant.
The bleaching power of chlorine bleach is much stronger than oxygen bleach (commonly known as hydrogen peroxide) and can damage many fibres such as cotton and wool very quickly. Hydrogen peroxide is not as strong and can be less damaging to fibres. Both kill most bacteria. Both are used to brighten whites in laundry.
Disadvantages of Hydrogen Peroxide
The extra oxygen atom in the hydrogen peroxide molecule makes it reactive, releasing lots of energy, but this also makes it unstable. If standard hydrogen peroxide comes into contact with other molecules such as organics or soils that have not been cleaned prior to disinfecting, it may be less effective.
Also, unless it is stabilised, it can react with the catalase enzyme that bacteria protect themselves with, and not be as effective in killing microorganisms.
When we refer to bleach, normally this chlorine bleach, which contains sodium hypochlorite.
When you dissolve sodium hypochlorite in water, it becomes liquid bleach, and, like hydrogen peroxide, it is widely used as a bleaching agent and a disinfectant.
Sodium hypochlorite, as an active ingredient, attacks protein in microorganisms, making it effective in attacking:
Another benefit of bleach is that it is widely available at a low cost. This means you can use it to disinfect larger amounts of water economically.
As a disinfectant, bleach is safer than chlorine gas, but it is still a hazardous substance that is corrosive.
It requires careful dilution for safe use, and this should only be with cold water. Hot water will decompose the active ingredient in bleach, rendering it ineffective.
Undiluted bleach can release a toxic gas when exposed to sunlight, or if it comes into contact with acidic detergents.
Sodium hypochlorite will decompose over time, if stored for too long. It’s effectiveness is compromised by temperature and pH.
Which Should You Choose?
Bleach is an economical, all-round disinfectant, but it requires careful handling and dilution for effective use.
Hydrogen peroxide has a kinder environmental footprint and for effective disinfectant and water treatment, stabilised hydrogen peroxide will work against a wide variety of bacteria.
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FAQ
Can I substitute bleach for hydrogen peroxide?
Is bleach or hydrogen peroxide better for whitening?
Can hydrogen peroxide be used as a bleaching agent?
Is bleach a sodium peroxide?
Is hydrogen peroxide the same as household bleach?
Although hydrogen peroxide has bleaching properties it is not the same as household bleach. Technically, it is classed as ‘non-chlorine bleach’ as hydrogen peroxide solution has a different chemical make-up to bleach. You could find small amounts of hydrogen peroxide in some type of bleaches, but the two liquids are very different.
What is the difference between chlorine bleach and hydrogen peroxide?
When we refer to bleach, normally this chlorine bleach, which contains sodium hypochlorite. When you dissolve sodium hypochlorite in water, it becomes liquid bleach, and, like hydrogen peroxide, it is widely used as a bleaching agent and a disinfectant.
Can you use hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine bleach?
Hydrogen peroxide in the 3 percent strength commonly sold in drug stores can make an effective alternative to chlorine bleach. For instance: Fill a spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide and spray it onto your shower walls, counters, refrigerator, lunch boxes and other surfaces. Wipe clean with a paper towel.
Is Bleach more harmful than hydrogen peroxide?
Household bleach is more harmful than hydrogen peroxide since it releases chlorine gas easily and can react with several different compounds, producing toxic gases. In addition, it’s corrosive and extremely irritating in higher concentrations when it comes into contact with the skin.