The invention discloses a general method for improving the sensing properties of metal oxides through hydrogenation. According to the method, sensing materials made of metal oxides like NiO, CuO, Fe2O3, SnO2, ZnO and TiO2 are subjected to hydrogenation in a hydrogen atmosphere at different temperatures for different time without changing the crystal structures and microscopic morphology of the metal oxide sensing materials. The method is simple to operate and low in cost, can substantially improve the sensing properties of the metal oxide sensing materials, and allows the sensitivity of the sensing materials to be obviously improved along with prolongation of hydrogenation time and rise of hydrogenation temperature; and the method is good in repeatability and consistency and applicable to a wide variety of other sensing materials.