Caution should be exercised with rubbing alcohol because it is extremely flammable. It is used for disinfectant purposes when prepping instruments for surgery, and doctors use it to cleanse their hands in the same situation. It also can be used to clean electronic instruments and other delicate parts.

Misusing Alcohol and Peroxide

While both are disinfectants, there is a universal belief that disinfectants can be used on just about anything. That’s particularly true with hydrogen peroxide, which has some truly bizarre uses associated with it. The issue is that neither is a miracle substance, and both can present potential danger if used improperly. Which you choose to use matters little, and both have the major potential for misuse, thanks to their easy access and murky folklore on their properties.

Don't Try This at Home

For example, hydrogen peroxide fans have advocated using it as way to clear sinus passages or as a douche to prevent yeast infections. Before you do that, you should read the cautions that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued. They note that hydrogen peroxide’s standard household formulas can irritate the skin and mucous membranes.

In extreme cases, hydrogen peroxide misuse can cause serious problems and may even be fatal. There are camps that believe it cures canker sores, boils, foot fungus and infections. But even more troubling are those who believe ingesting it orally can cure major diseases like cancer and AIDS. Beyond the fact that there’s no medical proof of its curative powers in those cases, it can cause vomiting, burns to the throat and stomach, and breathing difficulties if swallowed. Ingesting it can form oxygen bubbles that hamper blood flow. This so-called “Oxygen Therapy” has been debunked by no less an authority than the American Cancer Society, which warns that several people who have tried it have died.