The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Joni (Illinois) on 09/09/2017
★★★★★
I had a horrible sore throat...worst ever! I tried salt water, aspirin, lozenges, etc. Nothing worked. I was in bed that night when I remembered rinsing my mouth with peroxide for a tooth infection. I thought that may work. I got up and gargled with the full strength peroxide (3%). In the morning, it was better but not gone. I repeated the process and by afternoon it was completely gone. So happy to see your post, advocating hydrogen peroxide. I am here to say it is great!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Angela (Cottage Grove, Oregon) on 02/09/2017
★★★★★
I use 3% hydrogen peroxide per instructions on the bottle. Mix half and half with water. Gargle allowing the peroxide mix to hit all infected area's. (I usually always gag) Spit out the mix.....I wait a couple minutes before rinsing with water. (just to make sure its doing the job) Instant relief!!! I would not use on a regular basis.....because tho it kills all the bad germs, it also kills all the good. Please use in moderation.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Winter (Central Texas) on 03/08/2017
★★★★★
Hydrogen peroxide in the ears will quickly stop a sore throat. Just put a few drops in one ear at a time and leave in for 10 or 15 minutes, or until it stops bubbling. Repeat in other ear. Have tried multiple times and recommended to others and it works great!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Megan (North Carolina) on 05/23/2021
★★★★★
Hydrogen Peroxide Gargle for Sore Throat
I've had a miserable sore throat from a sinus infection for TWO WEEKS! If I didn't have constant post nasal glop dripping down my throat I would be really concerned it was more serious. My only symptoms were sore ears and sore throat, with the drip but the sore throat has been miserable. I was hesitant to try the peroxide but was willing to try anything at this point. Tried it 15 minutes ago and got immediate relief. Tried a second time and feel better. I will gargle again this evening and will try the peroxide in my ears tonite. Thanks for the tip!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by K Brown (Greenfield, In) on 02/26/2011
★★★★★
Trust these posts... This really works! Just go to the drugstore and buy the brown bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide and gargle with it full strength... DO NOT SWALLOW. Rinse several times with plain tap water. NOT FOR CHILDREN since they could possibly swallow the peroxide. Note: The directions on the Hydrogen Peroxide bottle says it may be used as an oral rinse.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Ruth (Mississauga, Ontario Canada) on 02/13/2012
★★★★★
I am the most skeptic person to try home remedies. I got the cold 5 days ago which gave me fever and terrible sores on my mouth. I gargled with Hydrogen Peroxide 3% diluted with water, also put some drops on my ear. I feel 90% better than 12 hours ago when I tried this marvelous remedy. Now it is part of my survival kit. Health and happiness.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Robin (Birmingham, Alabama ) on 07/24/2016
★★★★★
Just tried my first throat cleansing using the 3% hydrogen peroxide gargle remedy and I'm already feeling the ease of my pain and irritation. Thank you so very much!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by mmsg (somewhere, europe ) on 04/04/2023
Geneaum, pls let us know how long it took for your sense of taste and smell to come back.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Steve (Canandaigua, New York Usa) on 03/08/2011
★★★★★
I have tried just about everything you can imagine for a sore throat with nothing having any immdeiate results. The only thing I have found to work and work well is 3% hydrogen peroxide. Thank you everyone for this useful and very much painless and no longer existing sore throat. :)
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Cat (Vancouver, Bc Canada) on 02/28/2012
★★★★★
Tried both ways, 3% straight and 3% mixed with an equal part of water, and they work! 3% straight works the best overall but tastes aweful. I got instant relief from the soreness, I began sneezing, my nose started to run, and I started coughing up the infection. I'm definitely putting this natural remedy onto my list of treatments!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Heather (Ontario) on 06/19/2016
3% Hydrogen peroxide is not advised for deep cuts, because it will cause healing of the top layers of skin before the lower levels heal, which can lead to serious infection. However, as a remedy for a bacterial infection like tonsillitis or a superficial lesion or scratch it is a very cheap and effective remedy that will speed healing. It is a form of oxygen, and bacteria is anaerobic, which means it does not 'like' oxygen. So, putting hydrogen peroxide on bacteria 'cuts off it's ability to breathe, ' so to speak, thereby killing it.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Geneaum (San Diego, Ca) on 04/03/2023
BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
I had a terrible sore throat - hurt to swallow. Gargled and held half peroxide and half water in mouth a few times. It definitely got rid of the sore throat, but now have no sense of taste and smell.
Perhaps if I had diluted the peroxide more than I did would have been OK, but I'll not chance it again.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Lisa (Orlando, Fl) on 09/02/2012
★☆☆☆☆
I woke up with an awful sore throat today and have been trying to kick it but nothing had seemed to work. I tried the salt water, lozenges, and decongestants with no results. I decided to give this hydrogen peroxide thing a try. As soon as I started to gargle it made me vomit into the sink. (gross! ) Needless to say I won't be trying that again...ever!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Chrissy (Akron, Ohio) on 01/29/2010
★★★★★
I have had a sore throat for a week now. I put the 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (no mix)onto some Qtips and then rubbed it onto my tonsils. It completely got rid of the white pus sacs on my tonsils and was foaming. The Qtips actually had pus all over them..Kinda gross but it worked!! I IMMEDIATELY felt better and am able to swallow now without pain..What a miracle that stuff is! I would rate the pain before using the peroxide, a 10, after using it a 1. Slight discomfort but not really noticeable. I also did it until I saw no more pus on my tonsil or on the qtips. Use a clean qtip each time. Also, this can cause you to gag..so be careful with that. Thanks so much for this website!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Shaeness (Denver, CO) on 06/14/2009
★★★★★
I have been in terrible sore throat pain for 4 days now. Been to the the Doctors 2xs and was negative to strep. The size of my tonsils measure to golf balls and the are now covered with white pus! This afternoon my mother suggested that I try her old wives tale of gargling with 3% hydrogen peroxide! I poured a small amount into a cup, approx the amount that would be used to gargle with and instantly It foamed, i began to gag as huge amounts of mucus and began to pour out! I then rinsed with water a few times. As the afternoon has passes I still continue to have to spit out mucus but it seems to be doing the trick.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Ralph (Moore, South Carolina) on 02/28/2009
The 1/2 hydr peroxide and 1/2 mouthwash is what Colgate sells for $6 for 8-oz -- as Peroxyl. Replaced it with drugstore peroxide and dollar store mouthwash for less than 25cts.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Robert (Orlando, FL) on 11/15/2006
★★★★★
Gargle with 3% peroxide first, then take a low dosage CHEWABLE vitamin C tablet (100 mg or 250 mg) place on tongue and leave it there until it dissolves. Don't swallow the tablet. It kept the scratchy throat from turning into a sore throat as well as an illness from coming on full blown. This works if it's caught in time, which is when one first detects a scratchy throat. I believe what it does is send vitamin c directly to the throat area killing the beginnings of an infection at its earliest stages. Another thing that can be done is to take some colloidal silver and put a drop in each nostril, especially after sneezing. The problem with it is that it's hard to verify that it actually DID stop a cold or flu since one can't prove what didn't happen. But it does work on a reliable basis.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Diane (Toronto, On) on 03/08/2018
I've been researching the possibility of gargling with hydrogen peroxide for my sore throat and found your site. I'm confused as to whether it's a good idea or not because of another site I found from a doctor and this is what he said: "Avoid gargling with hydrogen peroxide and/or tea tree oil, as these potent substances can actually injure the hypersensitive throat membranes." I did try it this morning but I diluted it. It did not foam in my mouth like I read so I'm not sure how effective it was. I used one cap full to 2 caps of water. Any thoughts on what the doctor said?
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Earthday78 (Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States) on 03/08/2011
Virgin Coconut Oil and Honey works everytime!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Danoj (Islamabad, Pakistan) on 01/08/2018
Should I dilute the 3% peroxide with water before Gargling?
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Jean (MI) on 07/12/2021
★★★★★
Use food grade hydrogen peroxide for children.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Dawn (Atlanta, Ga) on 02/10/2011
★★★★★
I woke up 3 mornings gargling 3% hydrogen peroxide fo a sore throat. It was majorly sore, but I didn't want it to get any sorer. It was only sore on the right side. So, I came to my faithful and trusted site. I couldn't wait to try the 3% hydrogen peroxide in my ears. I poured a couple drops in the cap and drop it in my ear and went to bed. It did feel a little weird, but not painful at all. The next morning I got up and my throat wasn't sore AT ALL. It's been over a week now and I never got a cold. I shared this remedy with a cousin who was getting over a cold, but it was still lingering. She emailed me today and said "it worked like a charm"!!!! Thanks to EC and all of you for sharing and keeping us healthy!!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Hakeem (Aberdeen, Maryland) on 03/03/2009
★★★★★
The Half 3% Hydrogen Peroxide And Mouthwash work for me. Sure it took action over night but my throat does not hurt anymore. :)
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Shawn (Louisburg, KS) on 10/29/2008
★★★★★
Hydrogen Peroxide: My throat has hurt for 2 days now and it feels like it's getting worse. I am on an antibiotic for sinus infection, but I have NEVER had such a sore throat. My DR. recommended throat spray which works for about 2 mins... ibubrofen, nope, cough drops, nope. I just found this 3% hydrogen peroxide gargle remedy and actually have it in the house. I felt instantly better, still hurts but I will continue to gargle with it. It even says it on the bottle for oral rinse.
